It’s no secret that things are going to look a lot different for the Bruins in 2023-24.
After coming up short in an all-in year, the Bruins have taken their losses.
Their captain has retired after 19 years with the franchise, and it doesn’t look like David Krejci is going to return to the club for 2023-24. Boston’s cap situation will also almost certainly force the Bruins to roll with an ‘undermanned’ roster in the sense that they’re likely to carry just two extra skaters on their roster. That’s of course barring a money-clearing move from Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. And those have been hard to come by in 2023, as a stagnant trade market has proven.
No. 6: Mason Lohrei
Oct 7, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) takes a shot during the NCAA men’s hockey game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Schottenstein Center. (Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch)
The No. 6 is on the move again for the Bruins, and the B’s are certainly hoping that the rotation will end for the foreseeable future with defenseman Mason Lohrei.
The organization’s top defensive prospect, Lohrei will make the jump as a full-time pro in 2023-24 following a two-year career at Ohio State (Lohrei recorded eight goals and 61 points in 71 games with the Buckeyes), and after finishing his 2023 on an ATO with the P-Bruins. The left-shooting, 6-foot-4 Lohrei put up one assist and a minus-2 rating in five games with the P-Bruins.
Lohrei also continues the borderline tradition of a defenseman wearing No. 6 for the Bruins. Mike Reilly was the last Boston skater to wear No. 6, and it’s been worn by nine different defenseman since 2002. (Joe Thornton was the last non-defenseman to wear No. 6 for the Bruins, in case you’re curious.)
No. 14: Ian Mitchell
May 1, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Ian Mitchell (51) in action against the Florida Panthers during the first period at United Center. (Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports)
Defenseman Ian Mitchell, acquired from the Blackhawks in the Taylor Hall cap-dump trade, will take No. 14 upon his move to Boston. Mitchell, who appeared in 35 games with the Blackhawks last year and 82 NHL games over the last three seasons overall, wore No. 51 during his time with the Blackhawks organization. (It’s worth noting that No. 51 was available to Mitchell, as it has not been worn by any Boston skater since Ryan Spooner was traded in 2018.)
Mitchell did wear No. 15 in college, but that number was obviously not available to him in Boston, as it’s retired for the iconic Milt Schmidt. Mitchell will be the first Boston skater to wear No. 14 since Chris Wagner, and the sixth player to wear it since 1998. Paul Postma was the last Bruins defenseman to wear No. 14.
Mitchell will be competing for a chance to be Boston’s seventh defenseman in 2023-24.
No. 20: Jayson Megna
Mar 7, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jayson Megna (7) during the game at Climate Pledge Arena. Seattle defeated Anaheim 5-2. (Steven Bisig/USA TODAY Sports)
One of, like, a dozen guys competing for a bottom-six role on this team in 2023-24, journeyman forward Jayson Megna will begin his Bruins tenure wearing a No. 20 sweater. This is a number that’s by all means synonymous with bottom-six forwards, too, as it’s been worn by Curtis Lazar, Joakim Nordstrom, Riley Nash, Lee Stempniak, and Danny Paille dating back to 2009. The 33-year-old Megna wore No. 7 with the Ducks last year, but in Boston, that’s retired for Phil Esposito. Megna also wore No. 12 in Colorado, but that’s been taken by Kevin Shattenkirk.
No. 23: Fabian Lysell
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: Fabian Lysell #21 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 05, 2022 in New York City. The Bruins defeated the Rangers 5-4. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Bruins prospect Fabian Lysell just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to having a number he’d seemingly prefer. The No. 11 he’s worn for Sweden and in juniors belongs to Trent Frederic in Boston, the No. 22 he’s worn in Providence is retired in Boston, and even the No. 21 he worn during the 2022 preseason has been claimed, first by Garnet Hathaway after the 2023 trade deadline and again last month with the signing of James van Riemsdyk.
So, should Lysell make the Bruins in 2023-24, it’ll come with the crafty wing wearing No. 23. Chris Kelly is the most notable No. 23 in this era of Bruins hockey, though the number has been worn by Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Jack Studnicka since Kelly’s playing days with the B’s came to an end.
No. 29: Parker Wotherspoon
Jan 21, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Parker Wotherspoon (38) controls the puck against Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) during the first period at UBS Arena. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
A 6-foot-1 defenseman battling to be one of the first names called in the event of an injury, Parker Wotherspoon will wear No. 29 in Boston. Wotherspoon did wear No. 38 with the Isles last year (that’s been claimed by Patrick Brown), and the No. 27 that Wotherspoon wore with AHL Bridgeport is worn by Hampus Lindholm in Boston.
Should he play for the Big B’s in 2023-24, Wotherspoon will be the first Bruins skater to wear No. 29 since Steven Fogarty in 2022, and just the sixth player to wear it for Boston since 2007-08. That list is a real wild one, too, with No. 29 worn by Alex Auld, Petteri Nokelainen, Jay Pandolfo, Landon Ferraro, and Fogarty over that span.
Given the first NHL run of his professional career this past season by way of a 12-game sample with the Islanders, the 25-year-old posted one assist, a plus-5 rating, and added seven blocks and eight hits. A fourth-round pick of the Isles in 2015, Wotherspoon comes to the B’s organization with a boatload of AHL experience, with 22 goals and 108 points in 293 games over eight seasons with Bridgeport.
No. 30: Brandon Bussi
MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 13: (L-R) Brad Marchand #63, goaltenders Jeremy Swayman #1 and Brandon Bussi #70 of the Bruins celebrate a victory against the Canadiens at Centre Bell on April 13, 2023 in Montreal. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The No. 3 goalie on the organizational depth chart, 2022-23 Providence standout Brandon Bussi will go from No. 70 down to No. 30 for the Bruins in 2023-24. And should he skate in a game for Boston, he will become the third player to wear No. 30 since Tim Thomas left town, joining the likes of Chad Johnson and Keith Kinkaid.
Bussi is coming off a 2022-23 campaign that included 25 wins and a .924 save percentage in 32 games for AHL Providence. Bussi, who originally joined the Bruins as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after a stellar collegiate career at Western Michigan University, also represented Providence in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic in Laval.
No. 70: Jesper Boqvist
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 07: Jesper Boqvist #70 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Prudential Center on March 07, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
The No. 70 worn by Bussi at the end of the B’s bench in their regular-season finale last season won’t be going out of circulation entirely, it would appear, as Jesper Boqvist will take No. 70 following his move from the Devils to the Bruins. The 24-year-old Boqvist wore both No. 90 and No. 70 during his Devils run, but has worn No. 70 since 2021.
An interesting note: If Boqvist makes the Bruins, he will become the first Boston skater to wear No. 70 for the organization. That number has only been worn by goaltenders throughout the franchises century-long history, with No. 70 worn by Matt DelGuidice, Tim Thomas (in his 2002-03 appearances with the club), and Malcolm Subban.
No. 75: Alec Regula
May 6, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Alec Regula (75) skates before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. (James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports)
Another depth defenseman looking to stick with Boston, and another defenseman picked up in the Hall-to-Chicago trade, Alec Regula will stick with the No. 75 he wore with the Blackhawks upon his move to the Bruins.
That number has been made available following Connor Clifton’s decision to sign with the Sabres. Regula will look to become just the fourth player to wear No. 75 for the Bruins, with that number previously worn by Clifton, Colton Orr, and Hal Gill (later switched to No. 25) in the franchise’s history.
No. 90: Anthony Richard
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 14: Anthony Richard #90 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against the Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 14, 2023. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)
A ‘tweener’ addition to the organization, forward Anthony Richard will aim to surprise the Bruins wearing the No. 90 he wore with both the Predators and Canadiens. Spending last year in the Canadiens organization, Richard scored three goals and five points, along with 13 shots on goal and 25 hits, in a 13-game run with Montreal. In the AHL, Richard remained an effective scoring presence, with 30 goals and 67 points in 60 games for AHL Laval.
Richard led the Rocket in goals (30), assists (37), and points (67), and his 30 goals were actually tied for the seventh-most among all AHL skaters in 2022-23. The 5-foot-10 Richard, who has named to the 2023 All-Star Challenge, was also one of just six AHL skaters to record at least 30 goals and at least 30 assists last season.
If he makes the B’s, he’ll become just the second player to wear No. 90 for the Bruins, as it was also worn by Marcus Johansson during his 2019 run with the club.
