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Boston Bruins newest prospect Pavel Shen: What you need to know

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As Paul of Online-Casinos.co.uk predicted, on Monday the Bruins announced that the team has come to terms with 2018 seventh round pick forward Pavel Schen.

Where’s he been?

After being drafted in the seventh round in June of 2018, Shen decided to stay in Russia and continue playing Russian junior hockey (MHL). He totaled 12 goals and 15 assists in 34 games, while managing a plus 11 rating in juniors. Shen played in Russia’s second highest league (VHL) during the 2018-2019 season, totaling two assists in 13 games. Shen also played 49 games in the KHL. In those 49 games he had two goals and one assist. You can see a full history of Shen’s Junior and professional career here

Offensive upside

Schen’s offensive game has carried him so far in his career. Before being drafted by the Bruins, Shen was named to the MHL All Star team in the 2016-2017 season. During that season he lead the Mamonty Yugry in total points, with 45 in only 46 games played. In those 46 games, Schen scored 16 goals and had a team high 29 assists. Of the players who played only 46 games that year, Schen had the most goals, assists, and points. A plus minus of 16 also put him fourth in that category. Those numbers didn’t exactly translate for Schen as he moved leagues however. Much like Bruins first round pick John Beecher’s situation, once Pavel moved up leagues, he became buried by talent.

Where does he go from here?

Given the forward depth in Providence, Shen will likely see the bottom side of the top nine at best. Shen is a natural center that can move over to the wing spot if needed. Shen can join the top six, but he’ll have to show improvement in his overall game. If he can prove to make plays on a regular basis, Shen could find himself being plugged into the top six because of injuries or call ups. If he can play with the top six, he’ll really be able to show off his talent in the AHL.

Perhaps a move to the right wing would work for Schen. The stacked center depth might prove to difficult to crack for any future Bruins prospect. With a move to the wing, it’ll be easier for Schen to play with the more talented prospects, seeing as how the Bruins are so shallow on the wings.

Whatever the case may be, don’t count Schen out just because he was a seventh round pick. He has some very raw talent, but talent that could be enough to get him to the NHL level some day. Only time will tell.

Featured Image via nbcsports.com.

Goalie

New goaltender coming to Boston?

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Don Sweeney Announced that the Boston Bruins will be diving into the goalie free agent market come Monday. What does this mean for Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak?

Changing of the guard?

NHL free agency opens on Monday. Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney has already confirmed that the Bruins will be active come Monday. One surprising note that Sweeney mentioned was that the Bruins will be active in the goalie market. Some fans immediately jumped to conclusions that Tuukka Rask and or Jaroslav Halak might be on the move. Rest assured, that isn’t the case.

If its not broken, don’t fix it.

Last year the Bruins goaltending tandem was one of if not the best in the NHL. While there is the never ending debate surrounding Tuukka Rask, this move will hardly effect him. After one of the better years of his career and a stellar postseason performance, Rask is still the guy for the Bruins. That turns the attention to Jaroslav Halak. While some might think that Halak is just a backup goalie, he’s much more than that. Now Halak might be the backup for Tuukka Rask, but that doesn’t mean Halak isn’t good enough to start elsewhere.

Amongst the best

Last season was one of the better seasons throughout the career of Jaroslav Halak. Despite being the Boston Bruins backup goaltender, Halak made his mark. Halak had one more shutout than Tuukka Rask despite playing in six less games, but still played in enough games to qualify for rankings in the league leaders. Again, playing in six less games than Tuukka Rask, but the numbers are impressive nonetheless. Halak ranked seventh in goals against average (GAA), and ninth in save percentage (Sv%). Both ranked higher than Tuukka Rask. Halak has one more year on his contract and has definitely earned the right to play out his deal in Boston. The only way this isn’t the case is of the Bruins decide to trade him at the trade deadline because they don’t think they’ll make the playoffs. I highly doubt that’ll be case.

What’s the big idea?

When the Bruins address the goalie situation in free agency, its likely gonna be the Providence Bruins that it effects the most. A starting goaltender for Providence is most likely what Don Sweeney will be looking for come Monday. Zane McIntyre is currently the Providence Bruins starting goalie. Despite a pretty good year last year, McIntyre looks like he’s the odd man out in the Bruins goalie race. McIntyre’s contract expired this season, making him a free agent. A free agent that likely doesn’t come back to the Bruins organization next season.

Inside options? Not quite yet.

Dan Vladar is a 22 year old goalie who sat below McIntyre on the Providence depth chart last year. Vladar managed a .500 record and only allowed 2.73 goals per game. He will likely share time with whoever the Bruins sign next season in Providence. Kyle Keyser is another very intruiging goalie prospect that the Bruins have. Keyser is 20 and he played most of last season with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL. Keyser played in 47 games with Oshawa, only allowing 2.75 goals per game and held down a solid .915 save percentage. The general consensus is that Keyser isn’t quite ready for a full time role in Providence yet. Injuries could play a big role in Keyser moving up however.

As we’ve now looked at all of the options within the Bruins organization we know that one will likely be out. My thinking is that Don Sweeney is going to be looking to bring in a veteran who can help the young Vladar and Keyser and set them on the right track to the NHL.

Studnicka

Jack Studnicka on the Rise

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This offseason one name that General Manager Don Sweeney has mentioned often is Jack Studnicka. The Bruins drafted Studnicka in the second round of the 2017 NHL draft. He has come to camp determined to win a job despite his limited professional experience. Studnicka is not the only Bruin prospects pushing for an NHL job leaving little room for error. He is a gifted playmaker with leadership skills that are rare for a 19-year-old. Regardless of whether he starts the season in Boston or Providence, he will be a player to watch.

Studnicka’s Expectations

Nonetheless making the Bruins roster will not be easy but his offensive ceiling is high. Last season Studnicka was one of the stars of the Bruins development camp. Due to a crowded forward mix, he returned to the Ontario Hockey League after only one preseason game. He was the Oshawa Generals leading scorer with 22 goals and 50 assists. He added muscle which allowed him to win more battles and improved his game. In five games for Providence, he was equally impressive recording one goal and four assists.

Studnicka

Photo Credit: Sabrina Byrnes/ Metroland

What Makes Studnicka so talented is his playing style. He is an excellent skater with an explosive first step. His speed and deception allow him to break away from coverage to put himself in the best position to score. He excels on both ends of the ice due to his competitiveness. Unlike many young players, he is not afraid of being a leader but embraces that role. He wants to be in charge and is not afraid of standing up for his teammates. The former second round pick is not a vocal leader but leads by example. These traits have caught the eye of Sweeney and the rest of Bruins management.

Where Will Studnicka End Up

Unfortunately like last season the Bruins have a crowded forward group. They do not have enough spots for all these prospects and are looking for some to distinguish themselves. Studnicka has done that after falling short last season. He has shown that he will work harder than anyone on the ice and that he is a natural leader. A lot is still determined but Studnicka has positioned himself well. Regardless of what happens, he has a bright future. Even if he begins the season in Providence it would not be surprising if he found himself in Boston at some point this coming season.

Providence Bruins Heading to Allentown

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The Dunk is rocking following two intense Atlantic Division matchups this past weekend in Providence.  The two games were split amongst the Providence Bruins and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.  Games 3 and 4 are taking place next Friday and Saturday in Allentown at the PPL Center.  If the Providence Bruins continue to play the way they are plying, this is going to be a quick series.  Going out to Allentown is going to bring some new challenges to the team.  Not to mention the last two times the Providence Bruins played at the PPL Center, the Phantoms shut them out.

Providence Bruins

 

Game 1

The Providence Bruins are playing well enough to reflect a 2-0 series lead.  However, as we all know, the puck does not lie.  Sometimes breaks do not always go your way.  Phantoms’ goalie Alex Lyon has been playing some of the best hockey of his young career.  Former Boston College Eagle Ryan Fitzgerald got the game going with a late first period, power play goal.  However, Lehigh Valley did not give up and quickly scored, ending the first period with a score of 1-1.  Notably, Ryan Fitzgerald got the Providence Bruins going quickly again, scoring early in the second period.

Multiple penalties continued to prove costly for Providence.  The Phantoms were able to score twice on a 5-3 power play, giving Lehigh Valley the 3-2 lead.  No scoring occurred during the third period.  Despite out shooting the Phantoms 15-2, Lyon was able to smoother up everything and secure a Game 1 victory.  In the end, Lyon stoned 39 out of 41 shots.  However, if the Providence Bruins keep putting shot totals like that, good things will happen.  Zane McIntrye played well, stopping 21 of 24 shots.  However, one weak goal seemed to make the difference.  Danick Martel’s blue line shot jumped over McIntrye’s glove.  How can some one blame Zane for the two power play goals?

Game 2

The Providence Bruins kept the trend of starting off strong in Game 2.  This time it is Anton Blidh and Peter Cehlarik who scored quickly.  Five minutes and eight seconds into the game the Providence Bruins secured a 2-0 lead.  Again, the Phantoms did not going down quietly.  Lehigh Valley scored twice in the second period.  Both goals occurred within one minute and eleven seconds of each other.  Momentum continued to swing in this series, as Jordan Szwarz scored a short-handed goal to give the Providence Bruins the 3-2 lead.  Peter Cehlarik continues to light the lamp this series.  The Providence Bruins went on to win this one 5-3, evening out the series.

 

Austin Czarnik is the unsung hero so far of this playoff matchup.  Czarnik currently leads the Calder Cup Playoffs with four assists.  Both he and Ryan Fitzgerald have two goals this series.  Zane McIntyre mysteriously did not play in Game 2.  Rumors were flying that he would be the third goalie in Toronto, but Daniel Vladar was on the practice lines.  Not to mention Jordan Binnington played out of his mind in Game 2, stopping 23 of 26 shots.  It is unclear who is going to be manning the pipes for Game 3.  All the Providence Bruins need to do is keep playing the way they are and things will work out.

Watch the Providence Bruins preparing for their run here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqpWgEI83ZA

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn @TA_CawHawkey

Looking to the Future

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Boston, MA–The 2017-2018 Boston Bruins are playing impressive hockey lately, especially in the last two months. This is a feat that the NHL can no longer ignore; they are the real deal. They continue to pummel through their opponents to extend their streak to sixteen points against Montreal. Their surging success is quietly carrying over to their “freshman” team: the Providence Bruins. Currently in second place in the Atlantic division, P-Bruins are racking up impressive numbers. Case in point, Providence is 10-0-1 when rookie player Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson scores.

Next Man Up

The future of this club, or any club, relies on the young prospects that are coming up the pipes. The P-Bruins have a healthy blend of rookies and those that have already played a few games for the Bruins. Down in Providence, the key focus has always been on the development of young players, paving the way for many future superstars so that they earn that spot on the Bruins roster. Former coach of the P-Bruins, Bruce Cassidy recently stated:

“We look at the growth of our players here I think it speaks for itself, the growth of Danton and Jake down there last year I understand that JFK and Zach are playing well down there right now too”.


And for some players, Providence is the place to regain confidence as they look to develop their play. Playing in the AHL is exactly what Anders Bjork needed when his game play started to suffer in the NHL. The young Michigan native had three goals and six assists while playing his first sixteen games for the Boston Bruins. Bjork was reassigned to Providence after taking a tough ice hit that sidelined him. In his first three games in the AHL he netted two goals and had two assists. Let’s take a look at some of the players making noise in their rookie year.

HOT TAKES

It’s all about speed and youth when it comes to competing at a high level. The truth is not every player will end up playing for the Bruins, nor will they stay in Providence. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, or JFK, has been making a name for himself. A former player for the BU Terriers, he made a brief debut with the Bruins against Washington last season, playing a little over eight minutes on the ice. The 24-year-old rookie has been racking up some impressive points for the P-Bruins:  25 points in 39 games.

First linesman Kenny Agostino, along with Austin Czarnik, lead the P-Bruins in points. Czarnik so far has tallied up 34 points in his last 33 games as he heads to the AHL All Star Classic. Right wing  Jordan Szwarz is equally impressive. He recorded 24 points in 24 games for the AHL and garnered 3 assists in the ten games he played for in Boston. Rookie Zach Senyshyn has amounted 17 points with 11 assists in the 38 games he has played so far.

The Providence Bruins are sprinkled with young talent that have already made their first NHL appearance. Matt Grzelcyk highlights the list, earning fourteen minutes of ice time a game. There is no doubt the 23-year-old Charlestown native has been making his mark for the Bruins defensive blue line. Grzelcyk and fellow BU alum Charlie McAvoy reunited after Adam McQuaid was injured. Also like every line on the current Bruins roster, they continue to play on their toes.

PROSPECTS EVERYWHERE

As we look to Providence in developing the next wave of Bruins superstars, other upcoming prospects are showing their skills elsewhere. In his first few games playing for University of Maine,  Bruins prospect Jeremy Swayman has posted an impressive record. He is 5-0 for the University of Maine and 8-3 in the NCAA. The first year goalie also recently won a bronze medal at the World Juniors and ranks fifth in the nation in save percentage. He recently recorded his first career shutout winning 3-0 against Boston University.

19-year-old Urho Vaakanainen is another key player to keep an eye on. The Finnish defenseman is quickly progressing into a skilled player. He is playing for SaiPa in the Finnish Liiga to ready himself to debut for the Bruins next season.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This has been an impressive year for the Bruins and as one continues to watch the progression of the many young prospects this team is currently developing, a thought remains. Out of all the talented players this organization has who will be the next Bruins superstar? The future is shining bright for the black and gold.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrl88