Lysell Back on the Ice at Development Camp

2023 Boston Bruins Development Camp is presented by Mass General Brigham

BOSTON -Fabian Lysell's first pro campaign did not end nearly the way he would have liked.

The 2021 first-round pick was on the wrong end of a vicious blindside hit on May 3 during the opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against Hartford that left the Providence winger with a concussion.

As such, the Bruins have taken it slow with Lysell at Development Camp, holding the 20-year-old off the ice on Day 1, before allowing him to partake in Tuesday's on-ice sessions in a maroon non-contact jersey.

"I feel way better today, obviously a long travel day, and with all that my neck got pretty sore," Lysell said following his return to the ice at Warrior Ice Arena, roughly two months after taking that check to the head from Adam Clendening. "So, they released that [Monday] and I felt pretty good out there today…just take it slow.

"I had to take it slow from the beginning with strength and especially conditioning. I wasn't trying to max myself right away, I don't think it's necessary when you get that long of an offseason.

"But I feel like I've been ramping it up pretty good right now and I feel like I'm able to push myself like I want to. So, right now it's pretty good."

Lysell played 54 games for Providence in 2022-23, notching 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in his inaugural season as a professional. The speedy, skilled Sweden native also competed for his home country at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January, after which his production with the P-Bruins began to dip.

"Well, I think that he is continuing to learn the North American game," said Bruins assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner. "I think what we saw in the WHL two years ago would be the growth as the year went on. I think this year, he hit a bit of a wall with World Junior stuffed in there as well, coming off of that.

"I think he's continuing to take the steps forward. Unfortunately for him, he took a cheap shot [in the playoffs] that slowed him a bit this summer, but it was good on him to be here this week and working hard and it's good to see him on the ice again."

Lysell acknowledged that his first year in Providence included its share of ups and downs.

"It's a lot of new things, new things to take in and I feel like the start of the year was really good, the first four months," said Lysell. "And then I had a dip there during January. I felt like I was kind of up and down the rest of the year…but looking back at it, I learned a lot of new things that I wouldn't know before last year.

"So, I'm really looking forward to this upcoming year and I think I have more knowledge now that I'm really going to be able to use for next year."

The 5-foot-11, 179-pounder, who was selected by the Bruins with the 21st overall pick two years ago, said that his biggest adjustments continue to come off the ice as he learns more about the professional lifestyle.

"How you switch off after a game and all that stuff," said Lysell. "When you come into game 60, you really need to know how to control your body so you can relax when you have to, and when you have to be on it you can switch it on.

"So, that's really what I've been focusing on a lot and what I tried to work on last year. Coming into next year, that's something that I'm going to do and have more knowledge. I know more about how to use that on and off button."

On the ice, Langenbrunner said that the Bruins are encouraging Lysell to use his shot more frequently, while also - like most young players - adding some muscle to his frame.

"Continuing to add strength, continuing to be comfortable playing in those areas," said Langenbrunner. "He plays with a lot of courage, maybe he has to learn to play a little bit safer to make sure he doesn't put himself into some spots once in a while. He wants to control the puck, he wants to make plays. I think he's continuing to work on his shot to be that double threat that we want him to be.

"We put him on the power play a bit last year to kind of…I don't want to say force him to shoot it more, but to get him in that mindset to have that mentality and he took to it pretty well.

"We'll continue to push those things and we'll continue to remember that he's a [20]-year-old kid and just kind of just taking those steps forward."

While he knows there is plenty of work to be done both on and off the ice to improve his game, Lysell remains confident that he'll be in the right mindset come September.

"I think everybody coming into camp is trying to make the team and I'm no different," said Lysell. "I know last year was really good for me and I think coming into camp this year, I'm really going to put all my energy out there to make that team.

"I've been doing the camp now two times and I feel like now the third time I'm going to be even more focused and I'm really going to battle out there to take my spot."