Frederic, 20, is the harder-checking, grittier option, described by former Bruins director of amateur scouting Keith Gretzky as a bottom-six player upon being selected No. 29 at the 2016 NHL Draft, but who raised expectations with his play at the University of Wisconsin the past two seasons. Forsbacka Karlsson, 21, was selected in the second round (No. 45) of the 2015 NHL Draft and is more of a slick, skilled center, a player with two-way potential who made his NHL debut in 2016-17 but spent last season with Providence of the American Hockey League. Studnicka, 19, is a pass-first player with competitiveness and the need to improve his shot; he was taken in the second round (No. 53) in the 2017 NHL Draft.
"They all have different assets," Providence coach Jay Leach said. "[Forsbacka Karlsson] has high-end skill. He can make high-end plays. You can put him with some real skill players and he'll be able to make plays. [Frederic] is a little bit more old-school, he's up-and-down. He can make plays. By no means is he lacking in the skill front, but he is a little bit more of an abrasive style. He's going to be hard down low. And what little I've seen of Jack, he's probably a cross between the two of them. If we could just morph them all into one, we'd have a heck of a player."
Instead the Bruins likely will pick one of the three of them, with Sean Kuraly, 25, who played in the bottom-six as a rookie last season, and Chris Wagner, 27, who signed a two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent July 1, also possibilities.
But it appears the Bruins hope that one of the younger players will have separated himself enough to be an obvious choice for the team when camp breaks at the end of the month.
"I try not to focus on that too much," Studnicka said. "I don't want to speak for the other guys, but I think them too, I think we're just trying to have a good time and there's obviously internal competition, but at the same time you just want to focus on playing your game and leaving it all on the line."
In addition to the opportunity to make a statement with their play, there's another benefit to going to China: A chance to get to know potential future Bruins teammates, coaches, and support staff.
"You're on the plane for 16 hours, so there's obviously bonding going on," Studnicka said. "There's a lot of guys on the team that I haven't really gotten to sat down and have a conversation with yet, so I'm looking forward to that."
The three were alerted to their travel plans about three weeks ago, when they had to get started on the visa process for China. They've been anticipating the opportunity ever since, while at the same time preparing to face a new season and compete for an NHL job.
As Forsbacka Karlsson said, "It's a little bit of a message."
"They're going to get fully immersed in the whole expedience, which should allow all three of them to just play," Leach said. "It's hard sometimes when the focus is on you and there's going to be storylines with those guys in this training camp. It's nice for them to be able to get away and just really worry about playing."
Frederic has spent the past few weeks working out in Boston and getting a chance to meet some of the Bruins. But he knows China presents an entirely different situation for creating relationships, trying new foods and seeing a new culture.
And for getting a chance to play with the Bruins. Perhaps all season.
"If I do everything I can and it doesn't work out, there's nothing I can do," Frederic said. "But that's what I'm going to try and see what happens."
