As the Boston Bruins gear up for their season opener against the Florida Panthers this October, fans can expect a lineup that looks significantly different from last year’s squad. With numerous players departing through trades and free agency, the Bruins have been busy crafting a new roster. This season’s roster will be filled with fresh talent eager to make their mark in Boston’s sports legacy. After the whirlwind of offseason moves, the team now faces a considerable gap in their top six. This situation has sparked speculation that Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov will be vying for that coveted spot during training camp.
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Any of the above options are a reasonable assumption given the current roster dynamics. However, they aren’t the only young players on general manager Don Sweeney‘s radar for potential promotions this season. Riley Duran is also in the mix.
Riley Duran Has the Potential to Catch the Attention of the Onlookers
Duran, a 22-year-old hailing from Woburn, Massachusetts, has participated in only 11 professional games so far. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, he returned to the USHL. That season he netted eight goals and accumulated 19 points over 47 games with the Youngstown Phantoms before advancing to Providence College. Following three seasons in college hockey, Duran joined the Providence Bruins last year. There he scored two goals and totaled four points in 11 games, although he did not register any points during the playoffs. Duran’s best scoring season was in 2022-23, where he achieved eight goals and 20 points in 29 games, following a season where he scored 10 goals in 38 games.
The buzz around Merkulov and Lysell is understandable. Merkulov had an impressive season with Providence, scoring 30 goals and racking up 65 points in 67 games. Furthermore, he has already gained some NHL experience. Meanwhile, Lysell made a name for himself with 15 goals and 50 points in 56 games. That production was no doubt enough to generate excitement as a first-round pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Duran Left a Mark on Don Sweeney
On July 1st, Sweeney brought up Riley Duran while speaking with reporters from NESN.
“I think we’ve made some hard decisions with players,” Sweeney said to reporters. “I think this year, Poitras and Beecher were good examples of that. That they played well enough, they earned their opportunity, and I would say to Georgii Merkulov or Fabian or Riley Duran or keep going down the list, just pin your ears back, train your ass off this summer and come with the intent that there’ll be an opportunity here. If you’re the best player, then we find a way to get you in the lineup.”
Should Duran secure a position coming out of camp, it will likely be in a bottom-six role. Nevertheless, the fact that Sweeney mentioned Duran, alongside what are arguably the Bruins’ two top forward prospects, suggests that Duran has made a positive impression on the team in a relatively brief period.
Providence Head Coach Gives Glowing Review
During the Bruins’ development camp, head coach Ryan Mougenel praised Duran highly, highlighting his impressive performance.
“I think he was a lot better than what I was expecting, and not saying that I had him, you know, at a different standard, but we were really surprised at how well his game had grown and how confident he was in the American League. He was absolutely excellent for us”, Mougenel said to NESN reporters.
“We’re excited about his growth, his development, the person, his work ethic, being a great teammate, I think Providence College does an amazing job with that. I think the first thing that’s evident is how great teammates they are and their work ethic. We’re very excited where Riley’s development is going.”
Regardless of whether Duran makes the NHL roster after training camp this season, his talents and attitude seem to align perfectly with what the Bruins desire in a player. If he begins the season in Providence, he should be among the top candidates for a call-up, which could actually benefit his growth as he adjusts to the professional game.
Main photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
