Potential breakout stars for Bruins, Lauko, Geekie, and Lohrei Ready to Shine in 2023-24
The Boston Bruins faced a challenging offseason due to salary cap constraints, resulting in the departure of key players from their 65-win roster.
While the absence of notable names like Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov, and Garnet Hathaway is disappointing, it presents an opportunity for other players to step up and shine in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Let's take a closer look at three players who could potentially make significant strides in their development.
First up is Jakub Lauko, a promising young forward who had a successful debut season with the Bruins in 2022-23. Despite limited playing time, the 23-year-old showcased his impact with four goals, three assists, 44 hits, and a plus-2 rating in 23 games. Lauko's tenacity and high-energy style of play demonstrated his potential to become a solid bottom-six forward in the NHL.
With the departure of several players, including Hall and Hathaway, Lauko will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Bruins' bottom six. Considering his progress last season, it's reasonable to expect him to take a notable step forward this year.
Another player to watch is Morgan Geekie, a center who joined the Bruins on a two-year, $4 million contract. The 24-year-old had an impressive season with the Seattle Kraken, scoring nine goals and tallying a career-high 28 points in 69 games. Despite not receiving a qualifying offer from his former team, Geekie has the potential to become a quality middle-six forward. The move to Boston could provide the necessary boost for his development.
In a similar fashion to Pavel Zacha, who thrived after joining the Bruins last season, Geekie stands out as a player who could experience significant improvement. Additionally, the potential absence of veterans Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci opens up opportunities for Geekie to receive substantial ice time.
Lastly, keep an eye on prospect Mason Lohrei during training camp. The 22-year-old defenseman left a strong impression during the recent development camp, with GM Don Sweeney expressing excitement about his potential. Lohrei is regarded as one of the Bruins' top prospects, and there's reason to believe he could earn a spot on the NHL roster at the start of the season. If the Bruins make a move involving one of their left-shot defensemen to alleviate salary cap concerns, Lohrei's chances increase further.
During his sophomore season with Ohio State University, Lohrei posted impressive numbers with four goals and 32 points in 40 games. Standing at 6-foot-4, Lohrei possesses the offensive contributions, defensive responsibility, and physicality necessary to become a top-four defenseman in the NHL. The potential for him to make a noticeable impact in Boston is certainly there.
While it remains to be seen whether these three players will have breakout campaigns for the Bruins, they undoubtedly have the potential to do so. The key now is for them to seize the opportunity and translate their potential into on-ice success.
If Lauko, Geekie, and Lohrei can make significant contributions to the Original Six club, the Bruins should be in a favorable position for the upcoming season.
With that being said if they cant produce the Bruins may look at trading them for some assets.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 11 | 60 ANSWERS Potential breakout stars for Bruins, Lauko, Geekie, and Lohrei Ready to Shine in 2023-24 Do you believe Jakub Lauko, Morgan Geekie, and Mason Lohrei will have breakout seasons for the Boston Bruins in 2023-24? | ||
| Yes | 41 | 68.3 % |
| No | 19 | 31.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
