Prospects Update: Back on the Ice

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BostonBruins.com - While professional hockey remains on pause here in North America, there are a number of Bruins prospects back on the ice across Europe and even here at home. Most leagues across the pond have been underway for well over a month, while the USHL began its 2020-21 campaign this past weekend. Here's a rundown:

EUROPE

Victor Berglund, Lulea HF
The 21-year-old blue liner is likely to suit up for the Providence Bruins when the American Hockey League season opens in February, but for now he is on loan to Lulea HF in his native Sweden. Berglund, a seventh-round pick of the Bruins in 2017, has notched eight points (two goals, six assists) in 10 games for Lulea, which plays in the Swedish Hockey League, the country's top level of hockey.
The 6-foot, 180-pound right shot was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract in June after spending four seasons with MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik in Sweden. Berglund had a career year in 2019-20, posting 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 52 games.
Roman Bychov, Buran Voronezh
The 2019 fifth-round pick has played 14 games for Buran Voronezh of the Supreme Hockey League - the second highest level of hockey in his native Russia - collecting four points (goal, three assists). Bychov, a 19-year-old defenseman, had 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists) for Loko Yaroslavl in 2019-20.
Joona Koppanen, Ilves Tampere
The 22-year-old forward spent most of 2019-20 with the Providence Bruins, picking up 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 43 games. Now, the 2016 fifth-round pick has been loaned to play in his native Finland, suiting up for 10 games with KooVee Tampere of Mestis - the country's second-tier league - and two games for Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League.
Koppanen has yet to post any points for Ilves, but notched 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in 10 games for KooVee.
Robert Lantosi, Nitra MHC
The Slovakia native was signed to a one-year, entry-level contract in August after appearing in 50 games for the Providence Bruins in 2019-20, during which he recorded 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points. The 25-year-old winger is currently on loan to Nitra MHC in Slovakia, for whom he has collected six points (goal, five assists) in six games.
Lantosi played two seasons for Nitra MHC before joining Providence last season, including a 58-point (20 goals, 38 assists) showing in 56 games during the 2018-19 campaign.
Jakub Lauko, Karlovy Vary HC
The 20-year-old was selected by the Bruins in the third round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and spent last season with Providence. Lauko had nine points (five goals, four assists) in 22 games during a season that was disrupted by a knee injury suffered at the World Junior Championship.
The Czech native is slated to be back with the P-Bruins for his second professional season but for now is on loan to Karlovy Vary HC in the Czech Extraliga. Lauko has a goal and two assists in five games for Karlovy.
Matias Mantykivi, SaiPa Lappeenranta
A 2019 sixth-round pick, Mantykivi is back for his third season with SaiPa Lappeenranta in the Finnish Elite League. The 19-year-old forward has three assists in 10 games after picking up just six points (three goals, three assists) in 42 games for SaiPa last season.
Oskar Steen, Bjorkloven IF
The 22-year-old center spent the 2019-20 season with Providence, his first extended taste of North American hockey, notching 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists) in 60 games. Steen is currently on loan to Bjorkloven IF in Sweden and has gotten off to a strong start, having already tallied eight goals and two assists in 13 games.
Nick Wolff, Miskolci DVTK
The 23-year-old blue liner was signed to a one-year, entry-level contract in March after spending four years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, which included national titles in 2018 and 2019. Wolff is likely to join Providence at some point in 2021 but is currently on loan to Miskolci DVTK in the Slovak Extraliga. The 6-foot-4, 217-pound defenseman has two assists in five games.
Jakub Zboril, Brno Kometa
The 23-year-old defenseman was recently signed to a two-year contract worth an NHL cap hit of $725,000 and is likely to get a shot at replacing Torey Krug on the Bruins' roster whenever the 2020-21 season commences. Zboril, the 13th overall pick in 2015, is currently playing for Brno Kometa in his native Czechia. The 6-foot, 200-pound left shot has an assist in three games.
Zboril had a strong 2019-20 campaign for Providence, notching 19 points in 58 games before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

USHL

Riley Duran, Youngstown
The 18-year-old Woburn native was selected by the Bruins in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft and has now begun his first season with Youngstown of the USHL. Duran posted a plus-1 rating and two penalty minutes in the Phantoms' 5-3 victory over Dubuque in the season opener on Saturday night.
Mason Lohrei, Green Bay
The Bruins' top pick in the 2020 NHL Draft - 58th overall - picked up two assists in the Green Bay Gamblers' season-opening, 4-2 win over Muskegon. Lohrei, now in his third season with the Gamblers, was recently named an assistant captain of the club.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound blue liner is anchoring the left side of Green Bay's top pairing.
Mason Langenbrunner, Sioux City
The 18-year-old defenseman began his USHL career over the weekend, posting a plus-1 rating and two penalty minutes in the Sioux City Musketeers opener, a 5-1 loss to Tri City. Langenbrunner was selected by Boston in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Jake Schmaltz, Green Bay
The 2019 seventh-round pick is entering his second season with the Gamblers and has roomed with Lohrei, his childhood friend and fellow Wisconsin native. Like his roommate, the 19-year-old was recently named an assistant captain for Green Bay.
The winger went without a point in the Gamblers' opener but notched 13 goals and 19 assists in 47 games last season.

NCAA

• Hockey East is slated to begin its 2020-21 season on Nov. 20, meaning Bruins fans will soon get their first look at Boston College forward and 2020 third-round pick Trevor Kuntar.
• The Big 10 is also aiming for a November start with a tentative kick off set for 11/13. The Bruins have a pair of prospects that will once again suit up for Michigan - 2019 first-round pick John Beecher (sophomore) and 2015 seventh-rounder Jack Becker (senior).
• The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is expected to begin play on Dec. 1. Quinn Olson, the Bruins' third-round selection in 2019, is set for his sophomore season with Minnesota-Duluth.