By: Clare McManus
The Boston Bruins had a very underrated draft, with multiple picks having the ability to be steals of the draft.
With their first pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Bruins selected Swedish winger, Fabian Lysell.
Lysell was a faller in the first-round, after being projected by most scouts as a top ten pick. The already signed Boston Bruin and 21st overall pick spent most of his young career developing in the Frölunda HC organization. This year he played 11 games for Frölunda J20 in the J20 Nationell, posting three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. After struggling to perform at his best level, Lysell was sent to Luleå HF, where he played much better. He played 26 pro games in the SHL with Lulea, posting two goals and an assist. Lysell suited up for team Sweden at the U18 international event and was tied for first place on the team in points, with three goals and six assists for nine total points.
Lysell, a 4.75 star rated player for Neutral Zone, is a dynamic winger who knows how to control the pace of play on the ice. He is a very good skater with strong agility and edgework, plus buzzing stick-handling abilities. His puck protection will continue to improve once he starts gaining more strength throughout this season, but he does well to drive the net and battle hard in the corners. Lysell can also serve as a dual-threat attack, as he has the expertise to create plays off the rush with both his scoring touch and passing abilities.
The Bruins second selection of the draft was made in the third round, 85th overall, after selecting forward Brett Harrison.
The London, Ontario native currently plays for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, but due to Covid-19, Harrison spent this past season playing in Finland with KOOVEE U20. In seven games played, Harrison posted four goals and five assists for nine points. Harrison also played one game in the Mestis and posted no points. Like many prospects, Harrison had the honor to suit up with team Canada at the U18 tournament. In seven games, he posted two goals.
Harrison is currently a 4.25 star rated prospect for Neutral Zone. “A great shot and ability to get open looks with his speed. Harrison is lanky forward with good speed and reach. He doesn’t dominate the game when on the ice but has the ability to break a game open quickly. He gets opportunities on a few shifts each period but finishes. We continue to like his hockey IQ and ability to anticipate the play in the offensive zone to get open looks.”
In the fourth-round, the Bruins selected Swedish goaltender, Philip Svedebäck.
The six-foot-three netminder recently played for the Växjö Lakers HC. In 12 games in the J20 Nationell league, Svedebäck posted a 3.47 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Svedeback also appeared in two games with Hammarby IF of the HockeyEttan, posting a 4.55 GAA and a .816 save percentage.
Svedeback was drafted by the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the fourth round in the 2021 USHL Draft. Svedeback will head to North America to play for the Saints this upcoming season.
Other than that, there is not much information in the Swedish netminder.
The Bruins fifth-round pick was Swedish forward, Oskar Jellvik.
The Täby, Sweden native recently played this past season with the Djurgårdens IF organization. He played 13 games in the J20 Nationell, posting six goals and six assists for 12 total points. Jellvik also played in three SHL games, but scored no points. This upcoming season, Jellvik will continue with Djurgårdens IF.
The five-foot-11 Jellvik “ is an athletic forward that handles the puck well at speed. He makes plays in transition and is skilled on zone entries. He finds open ice and has the edges and balance to cut to space quickly. He doesn’t panic with the puck and calmly finds teammates in space. He thinks the game well and makes smart plays positionally and spacing-wise to create offense. He uses his body well to protect the puck and buy himself time and space. He plays with pace on the cycle and keeps his feet moving to beat pressure. He gets to the net and is not afraid to play in the top of the blue paint. He likes to stretch the ice with his passing and has the skill and touch to make passes through traffic. He plays a solid game in the defensive end and commits to positioning and picking-up his man. He has a good first step to separate and jump on loose pucks.”
The Bruins sixth-round pick was American-born defenseman Ryan Mast from the Sarnia Sting.
Mast only played in one season with the Sting, posting a goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 58 games played. Before that, Mast played youth hockey for Compuware and Bell Tire. The 2020/21 season was supposed to be Mast’s second full season in the Ontario Hockey League, but due to Covid, Mast did not play a full season of hockey. Although, Mast did compete in the PBHH Invitational, posting a point in three games.
The six-foot-four defenseman is currently a 3.75 star rated player for Neutral Zone. “A big frame, he competes hard and plays a physical brand of hockey. The question mark with him has always been his footwork but he’s made real improvement in that area from his stride to his first step quickness to his lateral mobility. He is strong on his stick both defensively to knock pucks away and win 50/50 battles and also offensively to let his powerful snap and wrister go from the point and zip passes all over the ice. He gets great power off on his passes and they hit the tape every time; he can stretch the ice, he can make the simple pass, he can go off the boards and into space in the neutral zone and showed he’s confident in his puck play and in his decision making.”
The Bruins made two selections in the seventh-round of the draft, the picks being possible steals.
With the 213th pick, the Bruins select USNTDP forward Andre Gasseau.
Another star out of California, the Boston College commit played 42 games with the U.S. National U18 Team, posting 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points. Gasseau also suited up for 23 games with the USNTDP Juniors, posting three goals and five assists. Before coming to the US Development program, Gasseau played for Shattuck St. Mary’s. In 45 games with the team, he posted 33 goals and 29 assists for 62 points.
A four star rated player for Neutral Zone, “Gasseau is a big center and plays with a physical edge and does the little things correctly. He did really well in the faceoff circle which allowed his team to establish pressure in the offensive zone and breakout of the defensive zone with ease. Gasseau’s speed allowed him to pressure opposing defencemen on the forecheck, and force turnovers often. He forechecks leading with his stick and goes through the body which doesn’t allow opposing players to make plays. He also possesses a hard heavy shot that is difficult for goalies to control.”
With the Bruins final selection of the 2021 NHL Draft, they selected USNTDP defenseman Ty Gallagher.
The Boston University commit appeared in 48 games with the U.S. National U18 Team, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 total points. Gallagher also suited up for 25 games with the USNTDP Juniors, scoring five goals and seven assists for 12 points. Gallagher played in five games with Team USA at the U18 world tournament, posting three goals.
A 4.25 star rated player for Neutral Zone, “Gallagher is a powerful skating defenseman with size, balance and toughness. He can lean on opponents, knock them off pucks and win 50/50 puck battles behind the net. He is not only a physical type, he carries the puck well, he absorbs hits on the forecheck and is able to maintain possession and move the puck. He’s not the fastest skater but he is strong on his edges, he’s strong on his stick and protects the puck well along the boards. He makes crisp first passes, he can skate to open ice and doesn’t panic under pressure. He has a hard wrist and snap shot and can make plays on the power play and the penalty kill. He has a powerful net front presence and plays an honest game in his own end. Mature, balanced, tough to play against.”
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images