Top Bruins prospect signs ATO with AHL team

Defenseman Mason Lohrei has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. The Boston Bruins announced the signing via Twitter.

The 6-foot-4, 209-pound blueliner was a second-round pick, No. 58 overall, in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He will join the AHL Bruins for the remainder of the season playing for one of the league’s best teams.

Lohrei, 22, recently completed his sophomore season at Ohio State University, scoring 32 points (4G, 28A) in 40 games. He recorded 29 points in 31 games as a freshman in 2021-22 and now looks to take that offensive production into the pro ranks.

Lohrei has the size that NHL teams still covet for their blueline, and a player of such size with a bit of an offensive flair makes him an intriguing prospect to watch moving forward. As he irons out his contract with the Boston Bruins, he can get his feet wet in pro hockey for a Providence Bruins team looking to make a run at the Calder Cup.

The Boston Bruins are in an ideal situation for prospect development, as their AHL affiliate has been a top-five team in the league this season while the NHL’s Bruins have already clinched the Presidents Trophy for this season. Allowing Lohrei to jump into a playoff race at the start of his pro career will only serve as an added benefit for the young defenseman.