Top prospects for Boston Bruins

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 31 teams from Nov. 16-Dec. 16. Today, the top five prospects for the Boston Bruins, according to NHL.com.

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1. Jack Studnicka, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 53 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Boston: 2 GP, 0-1-1; Providence (AHL): 60 GP, 23-26-49
Studnicka (6-foot-1, 171 pounds) is by far the Bruins' best forward prospect, someone Boston hopes will eventually replace either Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci as one of their top two centers. The 21-year-old has a chance to emerge this season after playing five games in the last postseason without a point. Studnicka will be competing with Sean Kuraly, Ondrej Kase and Chris Wagner for a spot in the bottom six, according to coach Bruce Cassidy.
"He's the guy we're hoping will at some point replace those guys and give us what they gave us for years," Cassidy said. "But he's not there yet."
Projected NHL arrival: This season

2. Urho Vaakanainen, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 18 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Boston: 5 GP, 0-0-0; Providence (AHL): 54 GP, 5-9-14
Vaakanainen might stay with Boston as soon as this season and could help replace Torey Krug and possibly
Zdeno Chara
.
Vaakanainen (6-1, 185), who turns 22 on Jan. 1, is a left-handed shot with the potential to be a top-four defenseman. He skates well and moves the puck, aligning with what the Bruins need.
He played five games for the Bruins last season, but none after November. Vaakanainen's time with the Bruins in 2018-19 was cut short by concussions (he played two games), but he appears to be ready to get his NHL career on track.
Projected NHL arrival: This season

3. John Beecher, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 30 pick in 2019 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Michigan (NCAA): 31 GP, 9-7-16
Beecher appears to be a couple of years away from making an impact in the NHL as he enters his sophomore season at the University of Michigan.
The 19-year-old center (6-3, 210) has a good combination of size, strength and skating ability. If his offense continues to develop, Beecher could be in position to take over behind Studnicka and Charlie Coyle when the Bruins are eventually without Bergeron and Krejci. Though there has been some question as to whether Beecher's future is as a third-line center, there is hope that he will develop into a top-six forward, and his stock has risen at Michigan.
Projected NHL arrival: 2022-23

4. Jeremy Swayman, G

How acquired: Selected with No. 111 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
2019-20 season:Maine (NCAA): 34 GP, 18-10-5, 2.07 GAA, .939 SV%
The label of top goalie prospect in the Bruins organization has flip-flopped between Swayman and Dan Vladar, but Swayman is coming off an excellent season for the University of Maine when he won the Mike Richter Award voted as the best goalie in NCAA Division I hockey and was a finalist in voting for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the best Division I player.
The Bruins will eventually need to replace Tuukka Rask, whose contract is up after this season, and Swayman is putting himself in position to take over when that happens. Swayman (6-2, 187), who turns 22 on Nov. 24, announced in March that he will turn pro this season, skipping his senior season at Maine.
Projected NHL arrival: Next season

5. Jakub Zboril, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 13 pick in 2015 NHL Draft
2019-20 season: Providence (AHL): 58 GP, 3-16-19
For a long time, there were questions about Zboril's development, especially given his high draft spot. But Zboril (6-0, 200) has shot up the Bruins' rankings after his play for Providence last season and for Kometa Brno in his native Czech Republic this season.
"How he finished the year in Providence, all reports were he was the most consistent guy every night, playing a better all-around game," Cassidy said of the 23-year-old. "We watched him early this year in the Czech Republic playing games, he's more engaged. So maybe now he's turned that corner a little bit."
Projected NHL arrival: This season