Bruins
“They clearly see the talent and the flexibility, however is he prepared to do it?”
Georgii Merkulov’s bombastic play on the ice stands in stark distinction to his phlegmatic presence away from the frozen sheet.
The 22-year-old heart would possibly provide the best offensive upside inside the Bruins’ prospect pipeline. However he’s not often one to self-praise as he tries to carve a path as much as the NHL.
“His character is sort of stoic,” Windfall Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel stated of Merkulov final week. “He doesn’t actually offer you a lot.”
Slightly, Merkulov opts to let his play do the speaking. And up to now, the Bruins have been impressed.
After a standout first season with the P-Bruins in 2022-23, Merkulov has opened Boston’s camp with regular reps alongside Jake DeBrusk. After a sluggish begin on Thursday, Jim Montgomery was impressed with the offensive possibilities generated by Merkulov in his second full-squad skate.
“I like the way in which he rebounded as we speak,” Montgomery stated of Merkulov. “I assumed he was so-so yesterday. I assumed he was actually good as we speak. It was very evident, he was on high of pucks, I assumed his tempo of play was quite a bit higher as we speak. And I feel that line specifically was fairly dominant on the market with what number of targets they’ve scored.”
Even with some anticipated rising pains in opposition to professional competitors, Merkulov has made regular progress since first becoming a member of the Bruins group again in April 2022. After enjoying only one season at Ohio State (34 factors in 36 video games), Merkulov inked a three-year, entry-level cope with Boston.
The Russian-born ahead didn’t decelerate upon making the leap as much as the AHL ranks, main Windfall final season with 55 factors (24 targets, 31 assists) over 67 video games.
Mougenel and the Bruins weren’t stunned to see Merkulov gentle the lamp early and sometimes. Within the offensive zone, he’s already a poised participant with an efficient, pro-ready shot. Regardless that he might not have elite pace, he’s methodical and poised with the puck on his stick.
What Merkulov wanted to indicate the higher-ups was enchancment down the opposite finish of the ice, in addition to a dedication to the crew recreation.
“He was cussed, I’d say, early on (final season),” Mougenel stated of Merkulov. “I’d say his attributes clearly that separates him a little bit bit is his offensive thoughts. … His capability to purchase in was one thing that we had been questioning at first and I feel everyone had these questions. They clearly see the talent and the flexibility, however is he prepared to do it? For us, we had been extraordinarily happy together with his willingness. … Enjoying within the D zone is one thing we preach.
“It’s a little bit little bit of a separator for us with the Bruins. … Merkulov is a participant that you must give him a ‘why’ on a regular basis. He’s tremendous inquisitive. The ‘why’ with Merk was we need to be out and in of our D zone. We wish your vitality for offense. There’s a sure approach of promoting it and a sure approach to purchase in, and he purchased in. His offense was actually attributed to how properly he defended, to be trustworthy with you, as loopy as that sounds.”
The Bruins haven’t any scarcity of intriguing choices in camp who can fill out the bottom-six grouping within the NHL ranks. Regardless that veteran additions and incumbent regulars maintain the early edge, Merkulov’s upside is hard to disregard, particularly if Boston is searching for a bit extra of a scoring punch both at 3C and even on the wing.
Even when Merkulov begins the 2023-24 season in Windfall, he could possibly be the subsequent man up because the 12 months carries on — particularly if he continues to spherical out his general skillset.
Bruins announce roster for Sunday’s preseason opener
Regardless that Merkulov gained’t hit the ice on Sunday, there might be a number of different children value watching throughout Sunday’s preseason opener in opposition to the Rangers at TD Backyard. Puck drop is about for five p.m.
Right here is the Bruins’ full roster for Sunday’s recreation.
Forwards: John Beecher, Patrick Brown, Jake DeBrusk, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, A.J. Greer, Brett Harrison, Fabian Lysell, Jayson Megna, Matt Poitras, Anthony Richard, James van Riemsdyk
Defensemen: Mike Callahan, Ian Mitchell, Alec Regula, Reilly Walsh, Parker Wotherspoon, Jakub Zboril
Goaltenders: Brandon Bussi, Kyle Keyser
As anticipated, will probably be a rookie-heavy lineup for Boston’s preseason opener, though it should additionally give the Bruins an prolonged have a look at some veteran pick-ups like Geekie, van Riemsdyk, and Brown.
High prospects to maintain tabs on embrace Matt Poitras, John Beecher, Brett Harrison and Fabian Lysell.
Montgomery told reporters at Warrior Ice Arena on Saturday afternoon that goalie Brandon Bussi will play all of Sunday’s recreation in opposition to New York.
Odds and Ends
After watching Milan Lucic win a Stanley Cup with Boston again in 2011, Bruins ahead and North Billerica native Marc McLaughlin nonetheless can’t consider that he’s sharing a locker room with the imposing energy ahead. He skated on a line with Lucic and fellow BC product in Patrick Brown on Saturday.
“That was actually cool,” McLaughlin told reporters on Saturday. “I grew up, he was one of many guys that I regarded as much as and the way in which he performed, the type, the quantity of coronary heart he performs with. So it’s fairly cool now to be having some conversations with him and attending to skate alongside him.”
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Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle had a brand new linemate on Saturday, with Windfall common Oskar Steen slotting in at proper wing. Regardless that the 25-year-old ahead is simply 5-foot-10, he’s stood out to Montgomery for his capability to battle down low.
“He’s very heavy,” Montgomery told reporters about Steen on Saturday. “And that’s why .. it’s extra necessary that you’re heavy to play in opposition to, then you might be a lot [tall].”
“Like when individuals discuss gamers being bodily — I’d take a 5-foot-9, 195 pound participant over a six-foot-3, 195-pound participant. They’re gonna be heavier. … If you’re speaking about defensemen — it’s completely different. You need that size.”
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