NCAA Coach Compares Bruins Prospect to Cale Makar
One prospect for the Boston Bruins was recently compared to Cale Makar by an opposing head coach in the NCAA, but is it deserving?
Defenseman Mason Lohrei has been a standout at Ohio State University this season with 32 points in 40 games, and since being selected 58th overall in 2020, has jumped up the Bruins prospect rankings.
Massive Praise From Opposing Coach
Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal shared that Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold had some very kind words after a 4-1 win over Ohio State.
Including a slight comparison to reigning Norris and Conn Smythe winner Cale Makar, who Pecknold would have coached against during his days at UMass Amherst.
Despite not being a direct comparison to Makar, he does note that Lohrei has to be defended the same way, which should mean something. The two also had very similar stats in their freshman seasons, including Adam Fox for reference:
Freshman NCAA seasons:
Makar - 34GP, 5G, 16A
Fox - 35GP, 6G, 34A
Lohrei - 31GP, 4G, 25A
This could also speak to Lohrei's development since being drafted back in 2020, as he shared the defenseman he tried to model his game after included some of the best.
Not only that but the 22-year-old's play also speaks for itself. More specially, his defensive zone exit ability which is highlighted in the following video:
Lohrei's season came to an end with that loss to Quinnipiac and many insiders suggest the defender is ready to turn pro. With Matt Porter of the Boston Globe sharing that a decision from the prospect will come very soon:
Some even suggesting that if he decides to sign his entry level deal, that he be called directly up to the Bruins in the last nine games of the season.
Several players finishing their NCAA careers get a first taste of NHL action in the postseason. Including Makar and even Charlie McAvoy, who debuted for Boston in the first round of the 2017 playoffs against the Senators.
It looks like Lohrei and the Boston Bruins have some big decisions to make in the comings days.
Check out some of his best highlights from recent seasons:
| POLL | ||
Where would be best for Mason Lohrei's development? | ||
| NCAA | 4 | 6.8 % |
| AHL | 37 | 62.7 % |
| NHL Playoffs | 18 | 30.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
