The Boston Bruins will have some big decisions to make over the coming days as preseason and training camp draws to a close. While the blue line seems pretty set, there are a lot of question marks still when it comes to the forwards, such as who will play center, who will play out on the wing, and the standard who even will make the opening-night roster?
Going into the preseason, all eyes were on Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell to be fighting for a roster spot. Excitement has been building around Merkulov since his first season in the American Hockey League (AHL) after signing as a free agent out of college. When it comes to Lysell of course, expectations have been high for him since he was selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
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Neither player was impressive in their first preseason game against the New York Rangers, and while they bounced back in the second preseason game — particularly Lysell — there is some reason to doubt whether or not one or both of them will make the roster. This has left the door open for other guys to get a real look at an opening-night roster spot.
With Max Jones currently out with an undisclosed injury, one of the younger guys who has stepped up, impressed, and is making a case to be on the opening-night roster is Riley Tufte.
Tufte’s Path to the Boston Bruins
Tufte signed with the Bruins at the start of free agency on July 1 on a one-year deal worth $775,000. The 6-foot-6, 26 year old arrived after one year spent in the Colorado Avalanche organization where he appeared in five NHL games and 67 games with the Colorado Eagles in the AHL.
The Minnesota-born player is a first-round draft pick, selected 25th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2016. He is one of four players selected in the first round of 2016 to currently be in the Bruins’ system (Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic, and Jones).
Tufte spent the three seasons following his draft playing in the NCAA for University of Minnesota Duluth, winning two NCAA National Championships while a member of the team. He then joined the Stars’ organization, but never became a full-time NHL player while with the organization.
Tufte arrives in Boston with 18 games of NHL experience. In those games, he has two goals and three total points. At 26, the…
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