By: Chris Nosek

As the Boston Bruins look to continue rebuilding their roster, they’ve already taken a low risk chance on Victor Soderstrom. As they look to continue to add more young players, let’s look at a few other players who Boston could find themselves on the radar of Sweeney and his staff.

Jack Millar – Defenseman

Last year Ty Gallagher went to Colorado College and had a great bounce back season. The Bruins would have done a lot to keep tabs on his development so they could make their decision to sign him after the NCAA season. The connections the organization made through Gallagher could pay dividends in gaining additional insight into anther former Tiger – Jack Millar. Millar has been out of college for one full season, but he spent that season with new Bruins Head Coach, Marc Sturm, in Ontario.

Millar profiles as a two-way defenseman who positions himself strong defensivey and can play a very physical game. His 6’5″ and 220 pound frame will add more size to the Bruins lineup, and like Soderstrom he would add another right shot to the blue line. Acquiring him might wait until later in the season as the LA Kings only have him signed on an AHL contract and it would benefit Boston to see how he does in training camp. Boston could invite him to camp and offer him a contract, or trade for him at the AHL level.

Maxime Lajoie – Defenseman

Lajoie has spent time with the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs organizations. He plays a decent two-way game and is a very strong skater. While his could work on carrying the puck up from his own zone, his vision and puck moving have been bright spots at times. He’s spent time with Ottawa, Carolina, and Toronto at the NHL level, and was with Coachella Valley this past season in the American Hockey League.

Once the team has a new contract in place with restricted free agent Mason Lohrei, the NHL roster has solid depth on the left side. However, with Nashville claiming Jordan Oesterle last season, and Michael Callahan requiring a new contract, there is no one else in the organization who has NHL experience on the left side (we’re not counting the twelve minutes played by Daniil Misyul in one game). Lajoie has never had an NHL cap hit higher than $775,000 and would likely be able to get through waivers if needed. Given the shift in favoring two-way defenseman, giving him a solid look with another strong two way defenseman could see his game go to another level.

Brett Leason – Forward

Leason is a big body forward who has a decent shot (mostly a wrist shot) and a very high hockey IQ. He was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the 2nd round (56th overall) back in 2019 and is a right-shot winger who can also play down the middle if needed. The Bruins look for this type of versatility and need could use the right shot help on the right side. His 54 points over 220 games would indicate that he hasn’t had a ton of success scoring at the NHL level. He’s also been with the Anaheim Ducks organization which hasn’t been known for it’s high level depth scoring.

Since he got his first crack in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears which means the Bruins would have some material on his game already. He will be a restricted free agent once July 1 hits and there is plenty of reason to think he may not receive a qualifying offer from the Ducks. It’s likely that a change of scenary could do Leason some good and it would be a low risk move for the Bruins.

Justin Hryckowian – Forward

Hryckowian was undrafted and signed with the Dallas Stars organization after three seasons in the NCAA with Northeastern University. During those three seasons in the NCAA, Hryckowian played 94 games, scored 35 goals, and posted 66 assists. His first full season in the American Hockey League he scored 60 points over 67 games and continues to show his ability to play both the wing and down the middle.

In addition to his scoring prowess, he’s shown an incredible two-way game, has stood out on the penalty kill at times, and was named the Hockey East Best Defensive Forward twice during his time at Northeastern. He plays a style of game the Bruins like in their middle-six and could possibly thrive with a player like Fraser Minten as a linemate.

His contract has one more season on it and carries a $870,000 cap hit at the NHL level, after which he will become an unrestricted free agent. Dallas could view moving on from Hryckowian as a way to either gain some additional draft capital or as a way to increase the value for a team to take on a contract they perceive as hoding them back. Given Boston’s current situation, and further need to add on their blue-line, taking on a contract like that of Matt Dumba or Ilya Lybushkin could be more appealing if a player like Hryckowian were to come over with them.

Matej Blumel – Forward

The Dallas Stars have a lot of young players in their system and not a lot of cap space to bring them all back. Blumel falls in this category as he eyes becoming a Group 6 free agent this summer. This past season, Blumel finished second in the AHL in scoring as he posted 72 points over 67 games. He further went on to score another 16 points in 14 Calder Cup playoff games. Selected 100th overall by the Edmonton Oilers back in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Blumel measures in at 6 foot and 205 pounds.

Always known as a strong and explosive skater with good lateral movement and a quick shot release, Blumel has had two straight seasons of 30 or more goals in the AHL. The Bruins are desperate for goal scoring and new Head Coach Marco Sturm should be quite familiar with Blumel’s scoring prowess.

Another person in the organization who would be familiar with Blumel’s game on the ice would be his teammate on both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 IIHF World Championship roster for Team Czechia, David Pastrnak. During his two runs with Team Czechia, Blumel has 10 goald and 4 assists over 15 games. A deal could come together smoothly between the two parties as Boston is quite familiar with his agent, J.P. Barry, because he used to be the agent for Patrice Bergeron. A left hand shot, goal scorer who can play on either wing, and will only cost them a low level contract – what wouldn’t appeal to the Boston Bruins in this scenario?

Maxime Comtois – Forward

In May multiple sources were reporting that the former Anaheim Duck has interest in returning to North America. Some outlets reported that the Bruins were a leading contender to land the former 50th overall draft pick from then 2017 NHL Entry Draft. This past season, Comtois posted 50 points while playing in 62 games for Dynamo Moskva of the KHL in Russia. He’s even been on record saying that he has found his passion for the game again.

Comtois is only 26-years-old and played in 211 games in the NHL (plus one playoff game with Carolina) prior to heading overseas. In those 211 games, he has scored 38 goals and 49 assists for a total of 87 points. He is a solid 6’4″ and 220 plus pounds forward who skates well and has decent speed. He has a solid ability to pass the puck and make good decisions quickly, and he would be a solid depth add for any team.

Exploring a player like Comtois, who has expressed his desire to return to the NHL, is a logical move for Don Sweeney. In my opinion though, given the time frame of those discussions, I would think if Boston were going to offer him a contract we likely would have heard something by now. Comtois could also be viewed as a redundency to what the Bruins already have on their roster and in their system. Other players such as Pavel Zacha, John Beecher, Jeffrey Viel, and even Trevor Kuntar or Brett Harrison (if he finally stops being afraid of contact) could fill the same middle-six role Comtois would.

Samuel Fagemo – Forward

Fagemo is a former 2nd round selection of the Los Angeles Kings who has spent a lot of time playing for Marco Sturm over the past three seasons. The 25-year-old forward has a very small NHL sample of only 17 games. During these 17 games, Fagemo has scored a total of 4 points. However, during his time with the Reign, and with Marco Sturm as his Head Coach. he has thrived socring 95 goals and 45 assists for 140 points in 173 games.

Another Group 6 unrestricted free agent, Fagemo won’t take more than a minimal contract offer to acquire. Aside from playing with a coach he has had great success with, Fagemo would likely have some interest in playing with a number of his fellow countrymen. He was teammates with recently acquired Victor Soderstrom on Team Sweden for the 2019-20 U20 World Juniors tournament, and would likely be able to thrive with a playmaker like Fabian Lysell on his opposite side. Having veterans like Hampus and Elias Lindholm on the roster wouldn’t be a negative when it comes to helping Fegemo feel welcome.