The Providence Bruins are already reshaping their forward group, and Cross Hanas is the latest name to enter the picture.
Boston’s NHL club doesn’t have a ton of turnover coming at forward when training camp opens next month at Warrior Ice Arena, but the AHL side in Providence is facing a much different kind of summer. The roster churn is real, and it’s already been felt with familiar names moving on.
Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov are gone, both now part of the Colorado Avalanche organization. Lysell was traded in late June, while Merkulov signed as a free agent in July.
Lysell was re-signed in July as well. On top of that, Bruins assistant general manager and former P-Bruins GM Evan Gold departed the organization on Aug. 1 to join the New York Islanders.
Even with that shakeup, Providence has kept working the margins, and for a second straight summer the Bruins are dipping into the pool of former Texas Stars forwards. Last year it was Matej Blumel. This time, it’s Hanas, who has agreed to a one-year contract with the P-Bruins.
Hanas is coming off the strongest season of his pro career. He put up 15 goals and 23 assists in 56 games for Texas, a real step forward after three seasons with the Grand Rapids Winterhawks, where he totaled 26 goals and 24 assists across 146 games. The Detroit Red Wings selected him in the second round, 55th overall, in the 2020 Entry Draft.
There may be more movement still to come in Providence. Matthew Poitras and James Hagens, who each appeared in only a few games last season, are expected to compete for spots in Boston.
Defenseman Frederic Brunet and goaltender Michael DiPietro also figure to spend time around the NHL club. With that in mind, it would not be a surprise if Boston keeps adding bodies to the Providence roster in the weeks ahead.
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