The Bruins have dipped back into the college free agent ranks for a third time in recent weeks, this time making an intriguing and somewhat surprising signing.
The team announced on Saturday that it has signed Ohio State center Georgii Merkulov to a three-year entry-level contract that begins next season. The deal carries an annual NHL cap hit of $925,000. Merkulov will report to AHL Providence on an amateur tryout agreement for the remainder of this season.
The move is somewhat surprising because, based on various lists of available college free agents, it doesn't appear that too many people expected Merkulov to sign this year.
Merkulov was just a freshman this season, but an older one. He's 21 and will turn 22 in October. He didn't play like a freshman, though, as he led the Buckeyes -- a team that just missed the NCAA Tournament -- with 20 goals and 34 points in 36 games.
He earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team -- voted on by coaches and media -- alongside big-time prospects like Matty Beniers, Owen Power, Brock Faber and Ben Meyers, and ahead of the likes of Vegas first-round pick Brendan Brisson and Toronto second-rounder Matthew Knies.
Merkulov was teammates with Boston 2020 second-round pick Mason Lohrei at Ohio State, so the Bruins certainly saw plenty of him this season while tracking Lohrei.
Merkulov is regarded as a skilled offensive center with an especially good shot, although it's worth noting that his 36.4% shooting percentage this season is due for some regression at any level. He led the country with seven game-winning goals, was a plus-18, and won 55% of his faceoffs. A left shot, he is listed at 5-foot-11, 181 pounds.
Merkulov was projected to be a later-round pick in 2019, but wound up going undrafted. He has certainly helped his stock quite a bit since then, though.
Merkulov was born and raised in Russia and took a somewhat rare path for Russian players by going the United States Hockey League/NCAA route. He moved to the U.S. in 2019 and spent two seasons with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms before heading to Ohio State.
Merkulov becomes the third college free agent Don Sweeney has signed this spring, joining Boston College forward Marc McLaughlin (who played his third NHL game Friday night) and Western Michigan goalie Brandon Bussi (who is currently with Providence). The Bruins also acquired the rights to Providence College defenseman Mike Callahan and signed him once the Friars' season ended.
These moves will help replenish the Bruins' prospect pool, and it's a good approach to take considering they traded away more future draft picks to get Hampus Lindholm at the deadline. Merkulov is certainly a chance worth taking, as his skill set at least gives him the potential to be more than just a depth player. Being a center -- a position at which the Bruins' farm is a bit thin -- helps, too.
Unlike McLaughlin, who signed before the NHL trade deadline, Merkulov would not be eligible to play in the NHL playoffs this season even if the Bruins thought he might be ready to contribute.
Here are some highlights of Merkulov for your viewing pleasure:
