Bruins Prospects take on the 2022 World Junior Championship
The Bruins have three prospects representing their home countries in the 2022 World Junior Championship. The tournament has finished the preliminary round and will commence with the medal games this Wednesday. Here are some thoughts on the young Bruins prospects play so far.
F Fabian Lysell, Team Sweden
The buzz around the Bruins 21st OA pick in 2021 is well warranted. Through four games played, Lysell has accumulated a respectable four points. Including this highlight real goal:
Fabian Lysell 🚨 #JVM #WorldJuniors #NHLBruins
🎥 SVT Play pic.twitter.com/ttYZFvuw2d— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) August 12, 2022
(Snipe)
The point totals don’t do him justice however and this may be due to a lack of offensive talent on Team Sweden this year. Lysell has been transitioning the puck with pace and creating chances for himself and his teammates. He’s also seeing time on the secondary power play unit. The 5’ 10” forward has also shown that he is not afraid to get into the dirty areas to makes plays.  A comparison can be made to a young David Pastrnak in that Lysell also dares to push the limits with his creativity. He also appears to lose his balance a lot! If Lysell can project anywhere close to the player Pastrnak is today, that is a huge win for the Bruins.
F Riley Duran, Team USA
A last-minute addition to the Team USA roster, Riley Duran is continuing to turn heads as he did in his first collegiate season. Duran has managed to acclimate five points in four games while being primarily used in a fourth line checker and penalty killer role for Team USA. The former sixth-round pick of the Bruins has shown he is not afraid to use his big 6’2” frame to win pucks and disrupt opposing team’s defenders. All while taking care of his own end. I will be curious to see if he moves up in the lineup or earns time on Team USA’s power play as they enter the medal rounds.
F Dan Locmelis, Team Latvia
I have not had a chance to watch Dans Locmelis outside of a few highlights. However, the people who have followed him are impressed by the player. A fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, it will be interesting to see how he continues to progress in the Swedish Hockey League this year.
(Image Source: therinklive.com)
-Josh Croteau (@_jcro on Twitter)