10 players to watch during Bruins training camp

Fabian Lysell, Matt Poitras, and Brandon Bussi are just a few of the names worth watching at Warrior Ice Arena.

After a long offseason, a revamped Bruins roster is set to take to the frozen sheet at Warrior Ice Arena this week for the start of training camp.

As Jim Montgomery, Don Sweeney, and the rest of Boston’s top brass begin the process of cutting their camp group down to a 23-man roster, there will be no shortage of intriguing prospects, tryout candidates, and even established players worth keeping tabs on over the coming weeks.

Boston is expected to hold off-ice testing on Wednesday before commencing on-ice practices the following morning.

Along with a look at five lineup battles to watch this month, here are 10 players to keep tabs on once the puck finally drops in Brighton.

1. Jeremy Swayman, G

You knew this one was coming. The top storyline hovering over the Bruins is when projected franchise netminder Jeremy Swayman will finally put pen to paper on a new deal. A long-term deal with a higher payout adjusted for a rising cap ceiling (eight years, $8 million AAV) might seem like a win-win for all parties. But, the Bruins and Swayman’s camp are reportedly still dealing with “philosophical differences” in contract talks.

The 25-year-old Swayman has all the makings of a top-flight goalie in this league, especially after his performance in the playoffs against Toronto and Florida.

Still, his limited workload (career-high 44 games played in 2023-24) and questions over how he handles the No. 1 spot on the depth chart following Linus Ullmark’s exit might have the Bruins hesitant to pay him big money out of the gate. Something’s gotta give, and ideally before the start of the regular season on Oct. 8.

2. Joonas Korpisalo, G

The Bruins are banking on Joonas Korpisalo righting the ship in Boston after statistically standing as the worst starting goalie in the NHL last season. The Bruins’ stingy zone defense and the teachings of goalie maven Bob Essensa should help Korpisalo, but the 30-year-old goalie doesn’t have a lot of rope — not with fellow netminder Brandon Bussi also competing for a roster spot.

If Bussi outplays Korpisalo in the preseason, the Bruins might send Korposalo to Providence, rather than risk losing Bussi on waivers.

3. Matt Poitras, F

After exceeding expectations last fall by making the NHL roster at 19 years old, Matt Poitras is looking to shore up another spot with the Bruins, most likely as the team’s third-line center. But the Bruins have the option of sending Poitras to Providence this fall if they don’t deem him ready out of the gate, with the playmaking pivot coming off of major shoulder surgery.

Odds are that Poitras will carve out an everyday role with Boston at some point in 2024-25. But the second-year pro might need a strong September in order to justify a spot in the starting lineup on Oct. 8.

4. Fabian Lysell, F

Fabian Lysell — Boston’s top prospect — will be granted a prime opportunity to seize the top-six vacancy on the wing created by Jake DeBrusk’s free-agent departure. The 21-year-old forward has highlight-reel capabilities with the puck on his stick, and was nearly a point-per-game player in Providence last season. Now, it’s time for him to prove it at the NHL ranks.

5. Brandon Bussi, G

The Bruins have invested several years into Bussi’s development, signing him out of Western Michigan in 2022 and watching him blossom into a promising prospect in Providence. Glancing through the lens of asset management, the Bruins don’t want to run the risk of losing a 26-year-old goalie in Bussi for nothing if they expose him to waivers before trying to send him to Providence.

Those waiver-wire risks and his affordable contract might make him a more appealing option as Boston’s backup goalie when compared to Korpisalo, but it falls on Bussi to outplay a veteran in Korpisalo over whatever reps he earns during camp and preseason action.

6. Tyler Johnson, F

Lysell and Poitras might be the best-case scenario for the Bruins when it comes to locking down two critical spots up front. But the Bruins have contingency plans if their youngsters falter, especially with a veteran in Tyler Johnson ready to fight for reps on a professional tryout contract (PTO). The Bruins have had plenty of success with PTO deals in the past, with Danton Heinen scoring 17 goals and 36 points on a league-minimum deal in 2023-24.

Johnson, who won two Stanley Cups in Tampa Bay and scored 17 goals in 67 games on a bad Chicago team a year ago, could earn a spot out of camp as either Boston’s third-line center or top-six winger.

7. Georgii Merkulov, F

Lysell and Poitras might be the headliners among Boston’s young crop of skaters fighting for a larger role. But don’t overlook Georgii Merkulov, who has put up 120 points over his last 134 games in Providence. The 23-year-old Merkulov has seemingly reached his peak at the AHL level, with the Ohio State product set to compete with Poitras and Johnson for the 3C job in the coming weeks.

8. Riley Duran, F

There’s a lot to like about Boston’s revamped checking line, which is expected to be anchored by a trio of big-bodied but speedy skaters in Max Jones (6-foot-3, 216 pounds), Johnny Beecher (6-foot-3, 216 pounds), and Mark Kastelic (6-foot-4, 226 pounds).

But don’t discount Woburn native Riley Duran, who has garnered praise from Boston’s coaches and front-office personnel after a short stint in Providence last spring. A physical skater who operates with a high motor, Duran may make a push alongside other intriguing fourth-line options like 6-foot-6 Riley Tufte and Cole Koepke.

9. Pavel Zacha, F

Pavel Zacha did an admirable job thrust into a top-six center spot last season, scoring a career-high 59 points over 78 games. But with the arrival of Elias Lindholm in free agency, Zacha will likely be shifted back over to wing, where he found plenty of success in 2022-23 alongside David Krejci and David Pastrnak.

Zacha has developed into a key cog for Boston’s forward grouping over the last few seasons, but he should benefit playing in more of a shot-first, simplified role on Boston’s top line.

10. Nikita Zadorov, D

We all know what Nikita Zadorov will bring to the ice as a punishing, physical presence on Boston’s blue line. But where the free-agent signing best fits on Boston’s D pairs will create an intriguing domino effect.

Odds are that the Bruins will start Zadorov on Boston’s top pair next to Charlie McAvoy — with Zadorov’s snarl and underrated puck retrieval skills giving McAvoy the freedom to operate as more of a dynamic rover out on the ice.

But if Zadorov doesn’t mesh with McAvoy, things could get interesting — whether it results in Montgomery splitting up the Hampus Lindholm/Brandon Carlo duo or potentially slotting up Mason Lohrei from his spot on the third D pairing.