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All aboard the Fabian Lysell hype train |
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Fabian Lysell has never played hockey in North America.
The size of ice, style of play and all that comes with it is completely foreign to him. Growing up in Sweden and playing there throughout his 18 years, everything that has happened since the Bruins drafted him with the 21st overall pick in last June’s NHL Entry draft is all new to him.
"It's just a big honor to be here, first and foremost,” Lysell said earlier this week as Bruins’ rookies kicked off rookie camp.
“From there, I'll just try to acclimate myself to this level and this rink and try to be curious and learn new stuff every day and then we'll take it from there. Kind of open for everything right now, but definitely looking forward to what comes here."
Lysell is not the only one looking forward to what comes here, and by here, he and we, mean in Boston.
"The second he stepped on the ice he has a presence to him, he can skate,” said Providence Bruins coach Ryan Mougenel. “Obviously, he's got a great skillset. The beauty for him is he's come to an organization where the leadership group is so strong and he's got a lot of resources here to lean on, which is important for a young player.”
Organizations are often over-the-moon excited with first-round draft picks. The Bruins with Lysell are no different, and, for good reason. A quick YouTube search of Lysell’s Sweden days will show you a speedy winger that has a unique offensive skillset that should easily transition to professional hockey in North America.
His brief, but effective debut in rookie camp this past week confirmed what we’ve seen in highlight packages is indeed true.
"He's only a 2003 [birth date]. Sometimes when you're thrown into the mix like that, we forget, we get excited about the player,” said Mougenel. “But I think the message for Fabian is just take as much in as you can, be inquisitive."
Lysell and fellow Bruins’ rookies are in Buffalo for the 2021 Prospects Challenge. The trip to Buffalo provides the organization the opportunity to get a closer look at Lysell—and other rookies— in a game setting.
"I guess we will kind of take these two games in the rookie tournament and after that we'll see what comes from that,” said Lysell. “Right now, I'm just focusing on being here and trying to learn the city."
In Saturday’s contest against the Sabres, Lysell scored an empty-net goal, securing the victory for the Bruins,
Lysell signed his three-year entry level contract last month and where he goes from here remains to be seen.
Either the WHL or the AHL are likely Lysell’s next destination, the NHL likely just out of reach, for now. The WHL’s Vancouver Giants own Lysell’s rights and a trip to western Canada could be the perfect start to Lysell’s North American tenure.
"It's not really 100 percent where I'm going to play. I feel like I have some options that are great," said Lysell. "I've been in Vancouver for two days and I was visiting the team I was drafted by there, the Giants in the WHL. I think that's an option for me.”
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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