PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Mason Lohrei practiced on Tuesday, just like the 22-year-old has throughout his career. But he had never practiced as a professional until his morning session at Amica Mutual Pavilion. It explained the defenseman’s nerves among men who played with sharper details than he experienced at Ohio State.
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“Yeah. Obviously,” Lohrei said with a smile when asked if he felt stress on the ice. “First pro practice. You leave what you’re so used to for two years and come to a new environment, you’re going to be a little nervous. But it was fun. The guys were awesome.”
Lohrei signed an amateur tryout contract with Providence on March 31. He will make his AHL debut on Wednesday against Hershey. Lohrei will wear No. 2 and be paired with AHL veteran Josiah Didier.
Six years ago, Charlie McAvoy did something similar. McAvoy signed his ATO after two years at Boston University. He appeared in four games for Providence.
The Bruins’ plan for McAvoy went sideways after Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug got hurt and they needed immediate help for Round 1 against the Senators. McAvoy never returned to the AHL.
Lohrei is no McAvoy. And the 2022-23 Bruins are nothing like the 2016-17 version.
The #NHLBruins prospects ranking:
1. Fabian Lysell
2. Mason Lohrei
3-15 (plus full scouting reports, video, players tiers and more): https://t.co/UPHQhrcjFS
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 11, 2023
The two-year Buckeye is more likely to follow the route the Blue Jackets designed in 2016 for Zach Werenski — one the Bruins intended to replicate with McAvoy. That year, the left-shot defenseman signed his ATO after his sophomore season at the University of Michigan. Werenski helped Lake Erie, Columbus’ AHL affiliate, win the Calder Cup. Werenski made the Blue Jackets out of camp the following season.
Whether Lohrei can replicate that achievement is unknown. He has room to grow in the AHL.
“Like most players that come out of college and into the American League, it’s going to be a little bit of a process,” said coach Ryan Mougenel. “We have the patience and the ability to not rush a player like Mason, who’s obviously got tremendous upside. The length and how he defends are things he’s constantly going to have to work on. The offensive side of the game is something we’re excited about. He’s got a bright future. We’re very happy he chose to come out.”
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Lohrei recorded four goals and 28 assists in 40 games in 2022-23 to finish third on Ohio State in scoring. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound left-shot defenseman scored three of his 32 points in the Buckeyes’ 8-1 NCAA Tournament thrashing of Harvard on March 24. Ohio State lost to Quinnipiac in the following game, 4-1.
Five days later, Lohrei signed his ATO. Even before the season started, Lohrei figured his sophomore year would be his last in Columbus.
“Whirlwind, for sure,” Lohrei said. “Full of all the emotions. Really high. You get a win in the tournament and you’re one win away from going to the Frozen Four, which had been our goal all year. It goes straight downhill. Then you’re at a low. It sucks. But I tried to make the most of it and spend a couple days with all my friends and enjoy the last couple days with them. Then saying goodbye, that’s a low. But getting here, it’s kind of a high. Made the jump and ready to move on.”
Lohrei felt like he was in a familiar place on Tuesday. During power-play drills, as he assumed the point on the No. 1 unit, Lohrei zipped pucks to Georgii Merkulov, his Ohio State teammate last season. The only difference was that Merkulov, who signed with the Bruins after his freshman season, was on Lohrei’s right side. In college, the left-shot Merkulov played his strong side on the power play.
“He’s a great defenseman,” Merkulov said of his former and current teammate. “Had two good years at Ohio State. He’s 6-5, can skate, moves the puck, sees the ice, good stick, good shot. He’s everything you can ask for.”
‘There’s something big-time going on here’: Mason Lohrei is developing into arguably the Bruins’ top prospect. https://t.co/6jTOFUksJs
— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) August 4, 2021
Offense has always come naturally for Lohrei. He’s had to put in more work in the defensive zone. With guidance from ex-Bruin and current player development coordinator Adam McQuaid, Lohrei has become more efficient at using his stick to influence plays. Pro experience should express his defensive presence to a greater degree. Deterring attacks up ice, like Matt Grzelcyk often does, is a skill the Bruins would like Lohrei to command.
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“They all defend differently,” Mougenel said of the varsity defensemen. “Grizz obviously defends differently than Brandon Carlo. But the foundation is pretty generic. It’s constant across the board. We’re good at ending plays before we have to defend them. That’s something if he wants to have longevity in this game. We celebrate the things he’s good at. But I think he can be more than that. I think he’s going to be a shutdown D with offense. I think he’s a little bit of a hybrid.”
Lohrei is staying in a hotel for now. He plans to move in with teammate Samuel Asselin.
Whether Lohrei will need long-term Providence housing remains to be seen. The duration of his AHL tutoring is unknown. That will depend on how Lohrei adjusts to pro play. But his NHL surroundings will also be a factor.
Let’s say Lohrei signs his entry-level contract once Providence’s run ends. In 2023-24, the first season of his two-year contract, the Bruins will have five left-shot defensemen on NHL contracts: Grzelcyk, Hampus Lindholm, Derek Forbort, Jakub Zboril and Mike Reilly. They’d like to bring back Dmitry Orlov, but they may not have enough free cash to convince the ex-Capital to stay.
As a 2020 pick, Lohrei can earn a maximum of $925,000 annually on his entry-level contract. It would help the Bruins address their 2023-24 cap concerns. He would be a cheaper alternative to other left-shot defensemen, who would have to be traded.
But it would not help the franchise to accelerate Lohrei’s development for financial reasons. His long-term potential is too high to risk being compromised.
Lohrei’s pro segment starts on Wednesday. He finds it a bit weird to think of it as work.
“I’ve played hockey my whole life. It’s what I love to do,” Lohrei said. “I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. If anything, now that I can consider it a job, I’m even luckier. It’s just cool to be able to consider it a job. But I don’t consider it a job. I wake up every morning looking forward to coming to the rink, have fun and better myself.”
(Top photo: Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images)
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