The second-ranked Boston College men’s hockey team suffered its first home loss of the season, falling to Merrimack by a score of 5-2 in Hockey East action on Friday night at Kelley Rink. The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second, but the Warriors scored the next five. BC falls to 12-4-1 overall and 6-3-1 in Hockey East, while Merrimack improves to 8-10-1 overall and 4-5-1 in league play. The Eagles opened the scoring midway through the first period when Oskar Jellvik one-timed the rebound off an Aram Minnetian shot that was saved by the Merrimack goaltender. Minnetian’s shot fell right into the path of Jellvik for the quick shot into the open net to put the Eagles in front. BC added to its lead shortly into the second period when Brady Berard scored a short-handed goal. Merrimack responded 32 seconds later with a power-play goal to get on the board, before scoring the game-tying goal less than one minute after that. The Warriors took the lead nearly three minutes later when Merrimack scored its third goal of the period. The Warriors scored twice in the third period to push their lead to three. Jacob Fowler made 23 saves while Nils Wallstrom had 27 stops for Merrimack.

The Syracuse Orange (7-8, 1-3) are back on the road tomorrow to face the Boston College Eagles (9-6, 1-3). The game tips off at 3:00 ET on The CW and here’s what we’re predicting in this #OrangeEagle battle:

Kevin: Syracuse 82, Boston College 80

I’m thinking this is higher scoring than the metrics suggest because neither team defends well. I also have a feeling that Elijah Moore hits double-figures in this one. Moore didn’t make a shot against Georgia Tech, but he didn’t commit a turnover and I’m looking for him to get an early 3 to drop and for him to find space as the Eagles try and contain JJ Starling and Eddie Lampkin. It’s not going to be pretty, but I’m taking Syracuse to get their 1st road win of the year.

Max: Syracuse 72, Boston College 65

The Orange finally have some momentum going into this one and a lowly Eagles team is just what the doctor ordered for another win. Believe it or not, Syracuse’s offense shoots better from the field and commits fewer turnovers than BC (and most of those numbers are without Starling). We’ll see if Donnie Freeman suits up, but hopefully, it doesn’t matter against a Boston College defense that allows its opponents to shoot over 57% in conference play (worst rate in ACC).

Dom: Syracuse 79, Boston College 73

BC’s offense over the course of the year is very much hot or cold, but I don’t expect a repeat performance of the Orange’s defense compared to how things turned out against Georgia Tech. That being said, if both defenses are going to be suspect, Syracuse will have the best scorer on the floor and I think this is the game we see J.J. Starling have a pre-injury-like performance that propels Syracuse to the win column once again.

Szuba: Syracuse 78, Boston College 71

Syracuse has certainly struggled and has been shorthanded this year, but it still hasn’t fallen to the Boston College threshold. BC doesn’t do much of anything well — it rebounds decently, it shoots from three at a fair clip but overall the offense is poor and its defense is worse. I would think Syracuse should be able to score the ball more effectively in this game as opposed to last. Starling leads the way once more with solid contributions from Lampkin and the supporting cast as the Orange win its second straight conference game.

Sam: Boston College 72, Syracuse 70

This prediction hinges on Donnie Freeman not playing, if he does, I’d probably lean towards Syracuse by a point or two. Without him, I’m just not confident enough to pick the Orange on the road – a building they lost in last year – even against a bad Boston College team. There’s undoubtedly a path to a win, specifically, if the Orange can force about 15 or more turnovers, and convert off of them. A true toss-up game for me.

Mike: Syracuse 78, Boston College 70

Two really bad defenses should make these not-so-great offenses look better for one afternoon. Like Sam said this is the definition of a toss-up and I really think it’ll be close all the way through. This should be a time where Lampkin can use his size in the paint and be the one to break the stalemate.

*************************************************************************************************

Now it’s your turn

Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2025 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the project and its criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 32 to No. 1. The series, which includes in-depth evaluations and insight from sources on nearly 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7.

The Boston Bruins rank 30th in the countdown for a third straight year after Matt Poitras re-entered the list following his demotion to the AHL. When I initially began putting together this year’s countdown and Poitras remained with the Bruins and was considered graduated, Boston ranked last at No. 32.

The Bruins have been without a first-round or second-round pick in seven straight drafts and had neither in 2023. The pool has suffered as a result. And while there is a trio of B-plus forward prospects and more depth in pure quantity than some of the other teams in this range, their pool is particularly thin on defense after the graduation of Mason Lohrei and really drops off from a quality standpoint after those three.

2024 prospect pool rank: No. 30 (change: none)

1. Matt Poitras, C, 20 (Providence Bruins/Boston Bruins)

There’s a lot to like about Poitras. Coming up, he was viewed as an above-average playmaker, athlete and overall player whose game was projectable. He then made the NHL at an early age on that basis. But some growing pains have set in and he’s still trying to find his identity/a clearly defined role (which I think he struggled with even at the 2024 World Juniors, trying to do too much there after he’d made the NHL club).

In junior, Poitras played a tenacious skill game that put him on the puck and endeared itself to his coaches and scouts. He’s a crafty playmaker who can play with the puck on his stick, has patience in control (sometimes too much so, which results in overhanding it or not playing quickly enough) and sees the ice well. He does a good job supporting play and then pushing tempo back in the other direction. His tools get mostly Bs across the board, though, and that has made some wonder if he will be just a player. Everyone likes the hardworking, detail-oriented, decently skilled types who can work to get pucks and then make plays. But when that isn’t his identity all the time and he doesn’t have size or dynamic skating to fall back on, questions crop up about his ultimate upside and role in a lineup. I would like to see him get to the middle of the ice and shoot it a little more, because he’s got a nifty release, too. There’s still plenty of reason to believe he becomes a middle-six/PP2 forward who can produce 40-50 points. He doesn’t have dynamic quality but he’s a heady, intelligent player who still projects as a good, longtime NHLer.

2. Fabian Lysell, RW, 21 (Providence Bruins)

Though Lysell hasn’t made his NHL debut yet, still has work to do defensively to earn it and hasn’t taken a step offensively in the AHL this season, the speedy winger has put together three respectable AHL seasons for his age.

When Lysell turned pro, there were concerns about whether he would be able to use all of his speed to get to the guts of the ice in control (he can hunt pucks without it, though the consistency of his work rate has at times been a question) or funnel too often to the perimeter. He still has some work to do to get to the middle third more frequently but he has shown that he can do it in stretches and there is an NHL player there if he can do it on a game-to-game basis without some off nights (or at least with fewer than we’ve seen over the years, including at an ugly World Juniors).

When he doesn’t drift or shy away from it, he can be an exciting player to watch. And even when he does there are flashes of speed and skill. He can enter through the middle with relative ease, it’s just about that harder final step of driving to the slot/the front of the net. When there are opportunities to attack, he’s capable of playing with intention instead of hesitation and has shown he can go directly at pro defenders. He can be hard to trap on the perimeter and slippery losing guys with cut-backs. He’s got the ability to get to pucks and keep sequences alive with his speed. On the puck, he’s fun to watch carry it up ice and can weave around defenders pretty effortlessly when he’s feeling it. When Lysell plays fearless and confidently and makes quick decisions, he’s a joy.

He’s a free-flowing skater who has rare top speed and agility with the puck on his stick (one of those players who seems to get faster when he has the puck). He’s not a one-trick pony, either. The highlight pack has been about the end-to-end rushes and the dashes through holes in coverage, for sure. But he can also dance a defender by pulling pucks through his wide stance and across his body to beat them with not just a lateral cut, but also his hands. And he can dance defenders to the outside with his high-end top speed or a quick change of pace. He’s got cuts, stops and starts and directional changes. While his shot isn’t powerful per se, it’s deceptive off the blade and accurate.

When he pushes through contact and keeps his feet moving, he can draw a lot of penalties with his skating as well. He’s also chippier than you might expect. For a time, I wondered if he could be a useful penalty killer (while he’s not a physical player, he can be a puck thief off back pressure) with the right coach because of his skating but that seems unlikely now.

I do still think he can come and go in games and try to do too much (there’s a little too much one-and-done to his games when he flies into the zone and takes long shots in transition or overhandles the puck), and his body language isn’t great when he’s not playing well, but he’s still got some middle-six/PP2 upside if he can figure it out mentally.

Fabian Lysell blocks a pass for the Bruins during the third period against the Rangers. (Eric Canha / Imagn Images)

3. Dean Letourneau, C, 18 (Boston College)

Letourneau drew a lot of attention from scouts last season as a towering center who can skate and plays with finesse. But he was also always going to be a project and his slow statistical start at BC isn’t a surprise. The jump from prep hockey into the NCAA is a big one and he only bypassed a season in the USHL because a late spot opened up with the Eagles when Will Smith decided to turn pro. (It’s worth noting that a nagging shoulder injury impacted his offseason as well.)

Letourneau’s skating, shot and puck control in tight to his body all leap out as unusual for a player his size. He’s fluid through his crossovers and comes out of them lighter than you might expect.

When you see him on the ice, his makeup is striking. He’s a great athlete for his size, with legitimate natural athleticism. When he finishes his checks (which he needs to do more of), he can overpower opposing players at the boards or muscle through in control. Off the cycle, he can take pucks off the wall and make plays with his good sense on the puck. He plays the flank on his off-side on the PP rather than the net-front/bumper role big men are usually tasked with. He’s got some vision, handling and a natural shot. I don’t love how passive he can be without the puck, though. There’s too much standing around and too much time spent with one hand on his stick. I’d like to see him close out pucks and win them back quicker than he does because he’s actually got a good stick when he’s around it. I’m not sure he’ll make a good penalty killer up levels (which players his size are usually asked to do) without an adjustment to his approach and play style. Those things can be taught, though, and there are definitely some real gifts/tools to work with. There haven’t been many forwards his size who’ve made it (it’s more common for a defenseman) but there are some who believe he can be a bit of an exception to the rule the way Brian Boyle, Kevin Hayes or Tage Thompson have been. He’ll be fascinating to track and if he makes it and puts it all together, he’ll be a pretty unique player.

Here’s BC associate coach Brendan Buckley:

“He’s got great upside. For a kid his size, he can move around the ice really well, his coordination is awesome for that size, and it’s just going to take a little time. And that’s not a bad thing, we knew that that was the case. (Will) Smith departing kind of changed that plan a little bit. And he himself knew it was going to be a big jump. But he works at it and he’s putting the time in and I have no doubt it’ll come around. I’m sure he wants to get some goals but when you’re that big that young it does take a little bit of time and you can’t push it. I had Tage Thompson at UConn when he was draft-eligible as a freshman and there were some similarities in terms of growing pains. Guys get underneath you, guys get inside you, and those are things that he’s learning now.”

4. Philip Svedebäck, G, 22 (Providence College)

A junior at Providence, Svedebäck has been the Friars’ starter the last three years and, after two respectable seasons playing basically every game, has really emerged as one of the top goalies in college hockey this year, pushing his save percentage from .900-.910 to the .920 range. He’s not a star goalie prospect, but he has been consistently good across levels (J20, USHL, NCAA). Listed by Providence at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Svedebäck has good size, hands, technical ability, puckhandling ability and rebound control. And while he’s not the most athletic or explosive goalie, he moves fine in the net. If he can continue to build in a little more quickness without losing the control he has (which he has appeared to do this season, both laterally and up and down in his butterfly), he should get signed. He’s got No. 2/3 upside and this season has been a positive step in that direction.

5. Ryan Walsh, C, 21 (Cornell University)

This is where the Bruins’ pool really starts to tail off (which isn’t a commentary on Walsh, who is a nice story).

Walsh has taken consistent steps over the last few years. He’s gone from U18 AAA standout to immediate prep school standout to the USHL First All-Star Team and finishing second to Macklin Celebrini in league scoring last year with 79 points (he led the league in assists with 49) as a first-year player there to joining a ranked Cornell team and making an impact offensively as a freshman (12 goals is a strong freshman year, to now being the Big Red’s top forward. Last season, he created his fair share of looks and helped their power play. This season, he has been more of a driver at five-on-five.

Walsh is a good athlete, he’s got a good shot (including a comfortable one-timer) and he sees the ice well and anticipates play offensively at a high level. He has worked on his play away from the puck. His challenge will be that he’s not a grinder type and I’m not sure his game offensively is going to be quite dynamic enough to get him to the NHL. He’s a talented college player who could/should get signed in the next year or two, though, and then you take it from there in the AHL. His steep, late-blooming trajectory shows some promise.

6. Oskar Jellvik, C/LW, 21 (Boston College)

Two years ago I wrote that Jellvik’s decent freshman year with the Eagles upgraded him from a C to a C-plus prospect. Last year, his point-per-game sophomore year (42 in 41) made me wonder about upgrading him to a B-minus prospect. But it was also a loaded team and he played primarily on their stacked second line with Cutter Gauthier. And while he looked good alongside good players, which is a skill in and of itself, his junior year this season was always going to be more of a test if 2025 star prospect James Hagens was going to slot in between Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard and he was going to have to show he could drive his own offense. And while he has been good for them, he hasn’t been a star on his own.

Jellvik’s a player I liked watching at the junior level and have now liked watching at the college level, but I have a bit of a tougher time projecting him into the pro ranks. He’s a versatile 5-foot-10 forward who can play multiple positions, can handle and facilitate the puck, plays well in traffic or out wide, has playmaking instincts (as a passer in particular) and understands how to play off his linemates to fit in wherever you put him. But he’s not a burner as a skater, he’s not lethal as a scorer (though he does have a quick release and will go to the home plate area) and he’s not dynamic as a handler. I have wondered if he tops out as a good AHL/SHL level player more than an NHLer, but he’s on a path to getting signed and I could see him becoming a call-up option/AAAA type.

7. Frederic Brunet, LHD, 21 (Providence Bruins)

Drafted in the fifth round as an overager in 2022, Brunet, who was only a month away from being eligible for the first time in that overage season, took positive steps with Rimouski and Victoriaville, looked like a top-six AHL defenseman in his rookie season as a 20-year-old last year, and is now playing closer to 18-19 minutes per game (including a role on both special teams) after playing in the 16-17 range a year ago.

He comes from an athletic family, with a father and uncle who were Olympians (his dad, Michel, as a figure skater, and his uncle, Dominik, as a freestyle skater) and a brother (Cedric) who is training to be an Olympic speed skater himself. There are also some Bruins ties there too, as he trained with Patrice Bergeron (pre-retirement) in the offseason. You can see some of the skating influences in his game.

He’s 6-foot-2 with a balanced stride and tight, quick crossovers that allow him to join the offense. I like the way he sees the ice with the puck (creating lanes for himself with his movement and placing pucks through lanes as a passer or shooter) and without it (his movement in and out of spacing, in particular). He has begun to fill out and continues to round out his game physically and defensively (his defensive results have been positive in the AHL for a young player). He’s a smooth, smart player who could become a No. 6/7 for the NHL club in time.

8. Jackson Edward, LHD, 20 (Providence Bruins)

After playing huge minutes (often high-20s) when the games mattered most in the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup in his final season of junior last year with the London Knights, Edward has turned pro. He’s a pro-sized left-shot defender whose ability to defend, play hard minutes and be physical became his calling card at the junior level. His minutes to start his pro career have been limited but his contract was earned and his profile looks like the one teams covet these days. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s mobile, he’s consistently engaged, he can take away space and kill plays, and while his game with the puck is pretty vanilla he can make a first pass, he’ll occasionally jump off the line and look to get open to use his hard shot, and the what-you-see-is-what-you-get nature of his game is desirable. I could see him becoming a Simon Benoit/Brian Dumoulin type who works his way into the call-up conversation over time.

9. Riley Duran, C/RW, 22 (Providence Bruins)

After becoming a nice little story for the Bruins early on at Providence, Duran hit a bit of a wall as an upperclassman (he just didn’t get from good role player to top player) but was signed for his pro-style and fourth-line mold. In the AHL late last year and through the first half of this year, I’ve found him to be effective in his role even if the points don’t pop (they never have, and likely won’t).

Duran impresses for his hardworking, straight-line game. He’s a good skater whose offense is created through sound positioning, decent puck protection on and off the wall, linear attacking sequences, a commitment to the dirty areas and an accurate wrister. He works hard to stay around it at five-on-five, he’s got penalty-killing utility and he’s 6-foot-2 with more room to fill out. He’s got the tools to become a call-up option/bottom-line forward, and that’s good value out of a sixth-round pick, but he does lack some dimension.

10. Ty Gallagher, RHD, 21 (Colorado College)

After two years at the NTDP and two promising seasons at BU as a freshman and sophomore, Gallagher got stuck playing very limited minutes (like I’m talking single-digit) on a deep Terriers blue line last year and transferred to Colorado College where he’s now playing 20-plus minutes per game in all situations and has been quite productive for a strong, highly ranked Tigers team.

I’ve always thought Gallagher was the kind of player who’d settle into a career as a solid AHL defenseman who gives himself a chance to be the No. 7/8 call-up guy. While his makeup is solid but unremarkable, he’s a competitor and battler who knows what he is. Gallagher is a sturdy, aggressive defender whose eyes light up when he gets the puck in the high slot and wants to make himself available as a tertiary scoring threat in the offensive zone to use his hard shot. He’s also got an athletic frame, he’s a righty, he’s strong in battles, he’s a workhorse, he’s got a wide and balanced stride and he’s a decent handler. His decision-making on and off the puck has been his barrier. There are times when he’s a little trigger-happy and his vision narrows with the puck, and others where he mistimes his closeouts defensively, so I’d like to see him learn to survey the ice a little better before going after the first play that he sees (with and without the puck). And while his skill is fine, he’s not a dynamic skater or playmaker, so the shot and the aggressiveness are more of a fallback/crutch. He plays an honest, pro style, though, and I’ll be interested to see whether his strong play this season gets him signed.

Boston University’s Ty Gallagher holds off UVM’s Isak Walther. (Al Frey / Imagn Images)

11. Chris Pelosi, C, 19 (Quinnipiac University)

Linemates with the next player on this list, Beckett Hendrickson, in Sioux Falls last season, Pelosi is a little further along in his offensive game. He regularly racked up 5-10 shots in a game last year, he played well at the World Junior Summer Showcase in August, and I think he’s played better than his numbers as a freshman with the Bobcats this season. Pelosi works to get onto pucks, stays in plays, likes to get to the guts of the offensive zone, plays hard and has good offensive instincts and overall skill. I’m not sure he has NHL upside, but he’s got a pro build (6-foot-1 and decently athletic) and some desirable qualities to his game, and I could see him becoming an impactful top-six forward for Quinnipiac as a sophomore or junior and then eventually getting an NHL/AHL deal.

12. Beckett Hendrickson, C/LW, 19 (University of Minnesota)

Hendrickson was a good player for Dan Muse and his staff in a mostly bottom-six role at the program, didn’t turn 18 until the week of the draft, played a front-line role in his post-draft season in the USHL, was invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase to audition for a bottom-six role with Team USA this summer, and has been effective in a depth role with Golden Gophers as a freshman so far this year.

He’s a likable player with a strong, fairly powerful stride and a willingness to drive down ice, chase and get after it on the forecheck. He’s good down low and around the net. He can play in transition with his work ethic. He also has more room to add muscle (which he has begun to do). He’s one of those players who just always seems to be in the mix when he’s on the ice and gives a consistent effort. He has some secondary and tertiary skill and I wouldn’t be surprised if, with time, he was the kind of player who came into his own at 22-23 and carved out a career as solid AHL depth and maybe a call-up option.

13. Jonathan Morello, C, 18 (Dubuque Fighting Saints)

Morello was the final forward cut from my 2024 NHL Draft board and was a Clarkson commit before de-committing and re-committing to BU. After two seasons at the Jr. A OJHL level, playing to above a point per game last year, really popping in the OJHL playoffs and impressing at the World Jr. A Challenge for Canada East, Morello has been less productive for Dubuque than I expected he would be this season. The USHL’s a hard league, though, and he’s also navigating a growth spurt that sprouted him up from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-3. Morello’s a decently strong skater and athlete who plays the game with jump. He’s strong both through his stride and his shot. He’s got a pro frame and a direct, attacking mentality with decent skill. And he’s a July birthday. I think he has a chance with the right patience/development.

14. Jonathan Myrenberg, RHD, 21 (Linköping HC)

Myrenberg had a decent first full season in the SHL last year, registering 11 points in 50 games, playing to good results and averaging 17 minutes per game. But he’s a 2021 draft pick who remains unsigned and missed the first couple of months of this season due to an upper-body injury.

Myrenberg is a 6-foot-3 righty with enough redeeming qualities to warrant being on the list, though. He has pro size, he skates well, he plays an efficient and calculating game, he reads and anticipates well defensively and he’s choosy about when to push and when to make the simple play. And while his skill isn’t flashy, he can make plays. A couple of times a game, he’ll show some hesitation or deception under pressure, he can hit the cross-ice pass or stretch outlet and he’s comfortable distributing from the top of the point. But he’s also capable of simplifying and playing to a coach or a structure.

He’s not making anyone look silly or breaking the game open in a moment of individual brilliance, but he can execute within the pace of play. If he has a strong second half, I’d consider signing him and giving him a look in the AHL.

15. Brett Harrison, C/LW, 21 (Providence Bruins) 

Harrison is a tricky one because he has consistently looked good at development camp and rookie tournaments, but when watching him in the AHL, it seems he hasn’t made noticeable progress from good OHL scorer to the potential for something more than that and that it might not ever come. He has also bounced between center and the wing both at the pro level and even in junior before that. He’s also not a natural driver of possession and has struggled across levels when he’s needed to be the guy on his line.

Harrison has NHL size and a multi-dimensional shot, with the ability to score with his one-timer (which can look a little off-balance and haywire but really pops from his off-wing on the power play). He can also lean into a slap shot, generate power off his backhand (goalies struggle to control rebounds from his backhand because it comes off with a lot of spin), use the curl-and-drag or use his frame to lean into his snap shot. Inside the offensive zone, he’s dangerous as a catch-and-release player who gets pucks off quickly and can occasionally drive to the net when he drops a shoulder and attacks. He’s also got some vision when opposing teams try to protect against his shot (he’ll hit the middle lane and execute one-touch passes through seams). And he’s got some feel around the net and does a good job on tips and redirects.

But he doesn’t seem to get to the spots he needs to get to to use his tools. And his stride can look choppy and his posture isn’t great, so his skating can break down (though he generates decent power when he keeps his feet moving).

I’m sure the Bruins’ hope when they drafted him in the third round was that he’d develop into a complementary depth scorer. There were too many times in junior when it felt like he was a volume shooter who doesn’t scare opponents, though, and you have to scare opponents at that level to be successful up levels. He’s not been a volume shooter at the pro level, either. I’m not sure what he is anymore, and I’m not sure he knows/has an identity, either.

The Tiers

As always, each prospect pool ranking is broken down into team-specific tiers in order to give you a better sense of the proximity from one player — or group of players — to the next.

The Bruins’ pool is divided into three tiers: 1-3, 4-5, 6-15.

Moncton defenseman Loke Johansson, Boston College junior and 2021 seventh-rounder Andre Gasseau (who is having a respectable season) and Latvian UMass sophomore Dans Locmelis were the final cuts and could have slotted at the bottom of the list.

(Photo of Dean Letourneau: Danielle Parhizkaran / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)