Lysell Looking to Take Next Step as Rookie Camp Opens

BOSTON - Fabian Lysell has plenty of attributes that jump off the page.
His skating, his speed, and his skill are all sights to behold when he takes to a sheet of ice.
But there is one thing that the average eyes wouldn't see, something that comes out in the dressing room, the rink hallways, or at dinner with his teammates.
It's a passion and enthusiasm for the game of hockey that makes everybody around him excited for what's to come.

"I get the opportunity to see guys at such a young age coming into the league and by the time they usually leave our league [the AHL], they're totally different in regards to their maturity and how they treat the game," said Providence Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel.
"I think he's already ahead of the curve in that department. I asked him the other day, saw him in the hotel, and he was like, 'I'm so excited to get to training camp.' I was like, 'You just stopped playing at World Juniors three weeks ago.'
"That's refreshing, to see guys love the game as much as he does. I'm excited for him."
Lysell, the Bruins' first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, began his second Rookie Camp with the Black & Gold on Wednesday, and while he was mum when asked where he thinks he'll play this season - whether it be Vancouver (WHL), Providence, or Boston - the 19-year-old is entering this fall with an opportunistic outlook amidst lofty expectations.
"I definitely think that you're always trying to use your strengths to your advantage," Lysell said following the first day of on-ice sessions at Warrior Ice Arena. "I'm here for my skill set with speed and creating chances and all that. I also want to be able to work on my all-around game.
"It's definitely one of the best spots you can be in to learn and grow throughout the process here. I'm just trying to take it day by day. I'm looking forward to playing the Rookie Tournament this weekend."

Mougenel, who very well could be coaching Lysell this fall should the Sweden native begin the season in Providence, noticed a player on the ice Wednesday that was boasting many of the qualities of a successful pro. And he's hopeful that Lysell will put his gifts on display this weekend at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, where the Bruins youngsters will play three games - one each against Ottawa (Friday), Pittsburgh (Saturday), and New Jersey (Monday).
"Fabulous kid who loves hockey. It shows in how he plays," said Mougenel. "His skill obviously sets him apart, probably, from his peers. But for him, I think it's a great opportunity for him to come in and have a measuring stick with some NHL guys. I think this tournament's gonna be a great thing for him, too, to watch the puck go in the net, get some touches. He's played a lot of hockey.
"I thought he played really well in the World Juniors. I got to the opportunity to watch a lot of his hockey. He's one of those players, he's exciting. Who knows? He's a young guy. I think he's just taking it day by day, wants to learn.
"He's super inquisitive. He asks a lot of questions. Real bright guy. I've been really impressed with him as a kid and, obviously, as a player for sure."
The P-Bruins bench boss also see the Prospects Challenge as a chance for Lysell to ease back into a competitive environment after focusing much of his summer on representing Sweden at the rescheduled 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships. Lysell skated on a line with Jakub Lauko and Georgii Merkulov during Wednesday's skate, a trio that could remain together in Buffalo.
"I think for him he just needs to play and play free a little bit, not think so much," said Mougenel. "That's what this tournament's a little bit about. There's gonna be mistakes, we know that. We've got to bend but not break. But for him, just play free and do what he does. It's a great opportunity for him to show us what his identity is. He's done a pretty good job at such a young age of already doing that. It's exciting."
Lysell is aiming to build on the experience he gathered last fall during his inaugural training camp with the big club. The 5-foot-10, 173-pound winger feels far more at home - and much more aware of his surroundings, inside and outside the rink - this time around.
"It's a lot of traffic," Lysell, who has been in town for roughly three weeks, said with a smile. "I definitely think it helped just being around here and seeing how all the pros work every day. That definitely helped a lot…I had that experience last year. I'm a little bit more familiar with what it's all about and can focus maybe even more on the hockey."
Lysell is entering this season in the spotlight as anticipation builds surrounding his development. Over a year removed from the Draft, during which he was selected 21st overall, Lysell could be on track to at least make the jump to the American Hockey League for what would be his first professional campaign.
Last season, Lysell played for Vancouver of the WHL, notching 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 games, before a torrid postseason in which he totaled 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in just 12 games.
"In the playoffs, it's when it really matters," said Lysell. "I feel like our group wasn't satisfied with how the season went on. Going into that [first-round] series against Everett, we played them during the year and I think we were [2-2] against them so we knew coming up to that that we had a good chance of beating them and we were just pumped to play. I think everybody stepped up their game a level."

Lysell added that his improvement over the course of the season and into the playoffs could be credited to a gradual acclimation to the North American game. Before his time with the Giants, Lysell had played exclusively in Sweden, including a 26-game stint with Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League in 2020-21.
"I would say it's a different game. It's more straightforward," Lysell said of the North American style. "Even though it was juniors, it was more straightforward, physical, and all that. I think it was an adjustment. But at the same time, I feel like you kind of get adjusted over time and you don't really try to think about it too much. You just try to go out there and play every game. I felt like, especially at the end of the year, it was better than the beginning."
Lysell also impressed during World Juniors last month, helping to lead Sweden to a bronze medal with a 2-4-6 showing in seven games.
"It was my first World Juniors, first full one - it got canceled last time. All the Swedish players who were there were really pumped to play," Lysell said of the tournament that was postponed last winter due to COVID-19 concerns.
"Even though I might feel that we didn't really hit our rhythm throughout the tournament, we still found a way to get the bronze and we got a couple of good games there. It's definitely momentum that I would like to try to [continue] moving forward here for the upcoming month."
And hopefully even further than that.
"He's still super young and his body's coming into his own, but he skates so well. He's a kid you don't have to really worry about because he loves the game so much, he's super committed," said Mougenel.
"He seems to look strong, look healthy, full of life."