Lohrei confident in ability to make Bruins roster, play in NHL

BOSTON -- Not long after Mason Lohrei started to walk, his dad put him in skates. Around the house.

To prevent scuffed floors and skate cuts, his father, David, affixed duct tape to dull them. The longtime minor pro hockey coach wanted to make sure he prevented injury either to his son or to the furniture.

Lohrei, now 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, is no longer toddling around his house in skates. Now, he's putting them to use as a defenseman prospect for the Boston Bruins, selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft (No. 58), with an eye toward a future in the game.

"I feel confident, obviously," Lohrei said about whether he has a chance to make the NHL roster this season. "Whatever happens, happens, and I'll roll with it. But I'm confident. I've always believed, ever since I was like, 6 years old, that I was going to play in the NHL. So it's pretty cool following the steps and getting closer and being here now, having an opportunity here in September to actually do it."

The 22-year-old, who has played two seasons at Ohio State, still has room to grow in his game, partially because he's only been playing his position for about 6 years, having switched from forward to defenseman at 16.

It's part of what's so enticing about him.

"He's just come such a long way when you think about it that he played forward pretty much his whole life," Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik said. "I think he's just still scratching the surface. He's just so talented.

"I think that's a real plus for Boston that he continues to develop in that area, understand when to go, when not to go, when to just make the simple plays. I think that's something that he's learning.

"But he just wants it so bad. He just eats, drinks and sleeps the game of hockey."

Lohrei made a cameo with Providence of the American Hockey League at the end of last season, with one assist in five games, after he finished his sophomore season at Ohio State with 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 40 games.

"You see it right away, obviously his size and his mobility at that size," Bruins player development coordinator Adam McQuaid said. "He has offensive instincts, but I think his defending has gone a long way. When he's simplifying his game, he can be really efficient. When he has the opportunities on the offensive side, he can make plays."

And, McQuaid said, "I think I'll be surprised if he doesn't make a real push at training camp. We're hoping for that."

Like any young player, Lohrei has things to learn. Though general manager Don Sweeney praised his size and his puck poise, there is plenty of room to grow in his overall game and, especially, in learning that he doesn't have to hit a home run every time he jumps on the ice.

Which is exactly what it would be if he makes the Bruins this season. But whether he make the NHL now or later, Lohrei is keenly focused on what he can do to get his game up to speed, on preparing himself for his future, and on hoping that future is now.

"I'm set on my goals," Lohrei said. "I think I'd be selling myself short if I was thinking, 'Oh, I'll just go to Providence first and develop.' I'm going to shoot for it, just be confident in myself and see where it goes. I think I might even make the jump. Hopefully I can prove that."