After a slow start to Bruins training camp, 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell had picked up his play this past week. Apparently it wasn’t enough to even get him to the final week of camp, as Lysell was surprisingly among the names of 19 players cut by Boston on Sunday.
Lysell will report to AHL Providence training camp, which begins on Monday, along with the following 16 players: Joey Abate, Drew Bavaro, Ryan Bischel, Frederic Brunet, Michael Callahan, Riley Duran, Jackson Edward, John Farinacci, Brett Harrison, Trevor Kuntar, Nolan Maier, Ryan Mast, Adam Mechura, Georgii Merkulov, Mason Millman and Jaxon Nelson.
Additionally, the Bruins placed forward Marc McLaughlin on waivers and released goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo from his professional tryout. Kaskisuo is expected to report to Providence’s camp, as will McLaughlin if he is not claimed off waivers by another team.
Lysell is the biggest name here, though. There’s no question that his first few days of camp and first preseason game were not good enough. He bounced back in a big way, though, scoring a goal and drawing two penalties in a stellar performance in Tuesday’s preseason game, and following that up with another strong outing Saturday. While he didn’t find the scoresheet against the Flyers, he did help create four quality scoring chances and effectively used his speed to drive transition play and gain the offensive zone.
And Lysell did all of that while not playing with any top-nine forwards in any of his three preseason games. He did practice on a line with Charlie Coyle and Tyler Johnson (who remains in camp on a professional tryout) on the first two days of camp, and he also skated with Coyle and Brad Marchand at Thursday’s practice this past week.
It seemed like Lysell had at least done enough to earn a real look on the second or third line for one preseason game or a couple more practices, but the Boston brass obviously disagreed. Heck, we were leaning toward Lysell making the team in our latest roster projection, posted after Saturday’s game. Instead, Lysell’s third professional season will once again begin in Providence.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney will surely be asked to explain the decision and what it means for Lysell moving forward when he meets with the media Monday at TD Garden alongside CEO Charlie Jacobs, president Cam Neely and head coach Jim Montgomery.
Here is what the Bruins’ roster now looks like following this round of cuts:
FORWARDS (18): Johnny Beecher, Justin Brazeau, Patrick Brown, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Tyler Johnson (PTO), Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, Cole Koepke, Vinni Lettieri, Elias Lindholm, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Matt Poitras, Riley Tufte, Jeffrey Viel, Pavel Zacha
DEFENSE (11): Brandon Carlo, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Charlie McAvoy, Ian Mitchell, Jordan Oesterle, Andrew Peeke, Alec Regula (injured), Billy Sweezey, Parker Wotherspoon, Nikita Zadorov
GOALIES (3): Brandon Bussi, Michael DiPietro, Joonas Korpisalo
That’s 32 players remaining. The Bruins and every other team will have to get down to 23, while remaining cap-compliant, by next Monday.
The Bruins have three more preseason games on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week before opening the regular season on Oct. 8 in Florida against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers.