Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Drawing too many conclusions early in an AHL season is usually a silly endeavor.
However one preseason expectation actually is holding true for the Windfall Bruins: they’ll rating.
A run of 19 targets to open this season has powered Windfall to a 4-0 begin for the primary time for the reason that 2007-08 season, once they went on to steer the league with 55 wins and 117 factors. A potent energy play has struck six instances on its first 16 alternatives.
These Bruins have a nostril for the web. In addition they possess a way for NHL alternatives.
It helps when you’ll be able to bag the AHL’s prime two purpose scorers in free company, because the Boston Bruins did this summer time. Matěj Blümel put collectively a dominant 2024-25 marketing campaign for the Texas Stars, main the AHL with 39 targets, tying for second general with 72 factors, and serving to to take the group to the Western Convention Finals. Alex Steeves scored 36 instances with the Toronto Marlies, incomes his second straight journey to the AHL All-Star Traditional. Each gamers are nonetheless simply 25 years outdated, and each turned heads in coaching camp with Boston earlier than being assigned to Windfall.
And certain sufficient, Blümel and Steeves have six factors apiece via 4 video games. Up entrance, they be part of the likes of Georgii Merkulov, Fabian Lysell, Matthew Poitras, Riley Tufte, rookie Dans Locmelis and captain Patrick Brown in serving to form head coach Ryan Mougenel’s formidable roster.
The again finish has a puck-mover in Victor Söderström, a former first-round draft decide who’s again in North America following one 12 months within the Swedish Hockey League. Like so a lot of his teammates, Windfall represents one other crack on the NHL for Söderström, who performed 53 video games over 4 years with the Arizona Coyotes. His rights have been acquired by Boston in June, and he signed a one-year contract. And returning between the pipes is Michael DiPietro, who received the Baz Bastien Award because the AHL’s excellent goaltender a 12 months in the past.
After spending the higher a part of the previous twenty years as a prime contender, Boston fell to the underside of the NHL’s Jap Convention final season. The Bruins’ foundational franchise gamers have moved on, and common supervisor Don Sweeney has been tasked with overseeing the group’s shift right into a subsequent period.
Standout AHL gamers take a look at organizations going via a transition like Boston’s as a possibility. Blümel and Steeves signed with Boston on the primary day of free company, as did defenseman Jonathan Aspirot. Tufte re-upped for one more season that very same day. Brown, who logged 15 video games for Boston in 2024-25, had already agreed to a one-year extension final Might.
Alternative beckoned, and whereas they could not have made opening-night rosters with the massive membership, an NHL recall isn’t far-off. With Boston’s roster in transition, it’s a help-wanted state of affairs.
Nonetheless, flashy level totals solely go to date. NHL groups want reliable three-zone gamers. That’s an important a part of the duty entrusted to Mougenel, who’s beginning his fifth season main the Boston affiliate. It’s a positive steadiness with a lot expertise readily available. With out squashing that offensive creativity, he should ice a group that may additionally deal with play away from the puck.
“There’s a thirst to finish and make performs,” Mougenel said after a 5-3 win at Bridgeport final Friday evening. “Taking part in the suitable manner, that’s actual necessary, and also you’ll get your possibilities. When there’s a possibility to make a play, make a play.
“[Brown] holds all people accountable, not solely the way in which he performs however the issues he says, and I feel he’s an excellent instance for our younger gamers.”
Mougenel may have loads extra observe time to get these techniques, ideas, and particulars firmly into place. Dwelling video games this Friday towards Springfield and Sunday vs. Bridgeport, adopted by a visit to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton subsequent week, will shut out Windfall’s October slate.
NHL groups need these reliable gamers, however additionally they search winners. And nice begins matter. They will get gamers to the NHL, and so they can assist the group ring up wins. Everybody within the AHL expects Windfall to be a playoff group. This can be a franchise that has not missed the postseason lower since 2012. Nevertheless it’s additionally a company that would use a long term within the Calder Cup Playoffs. Throughout the hockey world are AHL graduates who’ve used standout postseason performances to behave as one remaining push into the NHL. The P-Bruins have received only one playoff sequence since 2017, and haven’t been to the Finals since their championship season in 1999.
Getting that playoff expertise come April, Might, and June relies on laying down a rock-solid basis within the fall months. Instructing is at all times a prime precedence within the AHL, however particularly when it’s October and November. Mougenel, the remainder of the Windfall teaching employees, and leaders like Brown stand particularly necessary within the fall months. It’s pleasurable, too.
“They’re enjoyable to observe,” Mougenel stated. “They’re a enjoyable group to educate.”
On the American Hockey League beat for twenty years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at the moment covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a daily contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
