Bruins
“I think going into camp this year, I’m going to put all my energy in there to make this team.”
Fabian Liesel is still feeling the effects of his first foray against AHL competition.
A late high hit by Hartford’s Adam Klinding in the Calder Cup playoffs ended Liesel’s rookie campaign in early May.
The red, non-contact vest he wore on Tuesday morning — two months after Clinding’s injury — illustrates the long road to recovery when it comes to concussions.
Lyslll’s informal coaching took a hit in the weeks following the Providence Bruins’ first-round exit. He did not skate on the first day of Bruins development camp on Monday, and was ruled out of combat drills the next morning.
But even with the abrupt end to his 2022-23 season, Liesel feels as if he’ll get a clean slate — and an impeccable bill of health — once Boston’s camp opens in September.
“I had to take it slowly from the start with strength and especially conditioning. I wasn’t trying to get myself up straight away, I don’t think it’s necessary when you get this long out of the season,” Liesel said Tuesday. “But I feel like I’ve been ramping it up pretty well.” Now I feel like I can push myself as I want. So, now it’s very good.”
That late-season injury was the unfortunate stamp of a season in which Liesel had his fair share of ups and downs.
The winger’s legendary 0-60 acceleration, playmaking poise, and diverse arsenal of dekes and dles provide hope for the Boston short prospect’s pipeline in the top six potential.
Since Boston selected him with the 21st pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Lysell’s offensive talents have translated to high baselines, with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) and P-Bruins.
In his first 20 games with Providence in 2022-23, Liesel put up 19 points.
But after scoring zero points in seven games during the 2022 Junior World Championship with Sweden, Liesel has scored just 18 points over his last 34 games with the B Bruins.
“I think this year he hit a wall with the World Juniors crammed in there as well, and he got out of that,” Bruins assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner said of Lysell. “So I think he’s learning to overcome it.”
For Lysell, the big hurdle last season revolved more around working off the ice and maintaining one’s stamina over the course of a 72-game season.
He will need to rely on his developing talent to raise his stock going into his second professional season. But Liesel believes the knowledge he gained in his first season at Providence will be just as important as he looks to put 2022-23 in the rearview mirror.
“I felt like I was going through an ups and downs the remainder of the year,” Lysell said of his rookie year with Providence. “So there’s a lot of new things to take in. But looking back, I’ve learned a lot of new things that I didn’t know over the past year. So I’m really looking forward to this coming year and I think I have more knowledge now that I’ll really be able to use for this year.” next.”
Lysell is still a work in progress. He’ll need to deal with extra muscle for his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame to withstand the punishment that awaits him in the NHL. His defensive habits must be finely tuned, while the desire to lead in first-class ice must be balanced with habits that keep him out of the line of danger.
“He plays with a lot of grit,” Langenbrunner said of Liesel, “maybe he should learn how to be a little bit safer to make sure he doesn’t put himself in some places over and over again”. He wants to control the puck, he wants to play.
“I think he continues to work on his shot to be the double threat we want him to be. … We’re going to keep pushing those things and keep remembering that he [20] A year-old and taking these steps forward.”
But even with the expected steps Lysell must take, the Bruins aren’t limiting his ability to push the NHL roster in September.
Boston’s trash purchase on Saturday gave Jim Montgomery the flexibility to pick forwards like James Van Riemsdyk and Morgan Gecchi across the team’s midfield six up front.
But few options on Boston’s menu have the elite talent that Liesel is so proud of when he has a puck on his stick. And if he’s willing to make the push, the Bruins would welcome him this season.
“I think everyone who comes to camp is trying to make the team and I’m no different,” Lysel said. “I know last year was really good for me and I think coming into camp this year, I’m going to put all my energy into this team.
I’ve been camping twice now and I feel like now the third time around I’ll be more focused and battle there to take my place.”
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