BOSTON — The Boston Bruins’ plan with Mason Lohrei was a solid, all-situations, no-pressure AHL introduction for the start of 2023-24. They have high hopes for the 2020 second-rounder, perhaps as a second-wave left-shot defenseman behind Hampus Lindholm for years to come. Meanwhile, they were all set on the left side with Lindholm, Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort to start the season.
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Plans change.
With Grzelcyk on long-term injured reserve because of an upper-body injury, Forbort day to day because of a lower-body injury and Charlie McAvoy starting a four-game suspension, Lohrei had to be called upon to make his NHL debut on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ian Mitchell and Parker Wotherspoon were also in after being recalled from the Providence Bruins on Wednesday.
Lohrei didn’t just meet the ask. He exceeded it.
“He was dynamite,” coach Jim Montgomery said after the 3-2 shootout win. “He played really well. His poise with the puck in all three zones was very noticeable. Made a lot of intelligent hockey plays.”
The 22-year-old, wearing No. 6, logged 21:28 of ice time. For perspective, consider that the Minnesota Wild’s Brock Faber leads all rookie defensemen with 23:27 of average ice time per game this year. Lohrei’s debut puts him second behind Faber.
“When he’s playing as well as he did,” Montgomery said, “you just put him on the ice.”
Everybody saw Lohrei’s upside in training camp. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound defenseman showed he can skate, make plays with the puck, push the pace up the ice and bust up plays with his stick. The thing he needed was reps. Lohrei is raw, with just two seasons at Ohio State as preparation for pro hockey.
NHL necessity, however, accelerated the organization’s intentions. The Bruins not only needed Lohrei in uniform against the Leafs. They required lots of shifts, both at five-on-five and the penalty kill.
He delivered.
“It’s just great,” Lohrei said of the heavy action. “You get pretty comfortable and it’s just good for your confidence when they keep calling your number to go out there. It felt good.”
Lohrei started the night next to Brandon Carlo, his primary preseason partner. He settled in quickly. Lohrei was not shy about handling pucks, supporting the rush or making himself available as a net-front offensive option. The Leafs put some heat on Lohrei in the Bruins’ end. But aside from some expected nerves, Lohrei handled the pressure well.
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Not only that, Lohrei recorded his first NHL point.
In the first period, Danton Heinen won a puck battle in the offensive zone and sent Lohrei a pass at the point. Lohrei took his time and considered his options. When he saw Carlo drift down the right side, the rookie hit his partner with a pass. At the same time, Pavel Zacha made himself available in the high slot. Carlo connected with Zacha for the game’s opening goal.
The assist gave Lohrei even more tailwind.
“When you’re hitting tape, playing quick, playing fast and getting up ice, it’s just good for the confidence,” Lohrei said. “I felt pretty comfortable early. Just tried to build off that.”
Meanwhile, Jake DeBrusk scored for the first time this season. In the second period, DeBrusk initiated the sequence by threading the puck to Brad Marchand through traffic. Ilya Samsonov stuffed Marchand. But DeBrusk followed up the rebound to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
“Obviously a lot of fun winning games,” said DeBrusk. “But personally, it’s been very frustrating. You try not to get in your own head and different stuff like that. I’ve kind of had this before in different years.”
If the regulation goal was not enough, DeBrusk added the shootout winner. He scored on what has become his signature move: approach with speed, then toss a softball upstairs. This time, DeBrusk got Samsonov high blocker.
“If my bread and butter’s there, I’m going to hit it,” said DeBrusk. “If not, I have enough time to switch. I just think it kind of gives goalies a hard time. Obviously it depends if you make the shot. I was happy to see it go in.”
Forbort may be available for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. If so, Wotherspoon would be the odd man out. Lohrei did nothing to earn a seat.
“And even more,” Lohrei said when asked if the debut met his expectations. “It’s so special just to be out there and playing for this organization with this great group of guys. It was unbelievable.”
(Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)