JUST IN: Bruins recall eight players with 2 interesting names to boost squad ahead preseason
The Bruins have recalled eight players ahead of their preseason finale against the Capitals, including forwards Riley Duran, Brett Harrison, Georgii Merkulov, and Jaxon Nelson; defensemen Michael Callahan and Jackson Edward; and goaltenders Ryan Bischel and Kasimir Kaskisuo. These players will be available for Saturday’s game after being cut from the camp roster.
This serves as a final audition for potential in-season recalls, particularly for Duran, a 2020 sixth-round pick who impressed during his first NHL training camp. Although his point production hasn’t been exceptional, he has potential as a fourth-line energy player. The 6-foot-1, 174-pound forward can play both center and wing and ended the 2023-24 season with four points in 11 games for AHL Providence. A strong performance in the finale could position him as a top recall option if injuries impact Boston’s bottom-six forward group.
Harrison, 21, aims to rebound in his second pro year after a challenging draft year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He averaged about a point per game in his first two seasons with OHL teams Oshawa and Windsor but managed only 47 games with Providence last year, registering five goals and nine assists.
Merkulov, soon to be 24, will begin the season in the minors but has been pushing for an NHL opportunity. The undrafted free agent from 2022 set career highs last season with Providence, leading the team in scoring with 30 goals and 35 assists in 67 games. He also made four NHL appearances, averaging 10:35 per game.
Nelson, 24, enters his first pro season after serving as captain at the University of Minnesota, where he had 31 points in 39 games last year. He finished the season with one goal in seven games for Providence.
Callahan, 25, was a fifth-round pick by the Coyotes in 2018 and was acquired by Boston via trade in 2022. He’s now an alternate captain with Providence and is entering his third full pro season. Known as a reliable stay-at-home defender, he recorded 17 points and a -14 rating in 70 games last year.
Among the two defensemen, Edward, 20, has greater NHL potential after being selected 200th overall in the 2022 draft. He played a crucial role with the OHL champion London Knights last season, accumulating 30 points and a +43 rating in 59 games, marking a significant offensive breakout.
The two goalies, Bischel and Kaskisuo, do not have NHL contracts. Bischel, 25, signed an AHL deal with Providence after a successful stint at Notre Dame, where he posted a .924 SV% over five seasons. Kaskisuo, 31, is attending Bruins camp on a PTO and played for the AHL’s Laval Rocket last season, achieving a .909 SV% in 13 games.