Bruins
Riley Duran has only played 15 skilled hockey games in total. But Ryan Mougenel, head coach of the Providence Bruins, quickly recognized that the Woburn native had the courage and drive needed to pursue a profession at the best level of hockey.
“We want him to play freely, to showcase his skills, and he was exceptional for us,” Mougenel said Wednesday of Duran's impressive AHL debut. “And I've said it before, it's not that I was a little surprised by his skill and his detachment and his hands and his shot.
“But he's a player, and it's funny – because the reality is, some guys perform higher at the professional level than they do at the school and junior levels. And I feel he's considered one of those guys.”
Despite all the talk about the mediocre returns from the Bruins' talent pool in recent years, Boston has produced several influential players at the NHL level, all cut from different cloths.
For example, there is the confident, potential franchise goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman, the combative power forward Trent Frederic or the game-deciding defender Mason Lohrei, who is blessed with a height of 1.95 meters.
Duran, a sixth-round pick by Boston in the 2020 NHL Draft, has more of a lunch-pail approach compared to other young Bruins players like Fabian Lysell or Georgii Merkulov.
But the 22-year-old striker was lumped together with the two centers earlier this summer when Don Sweeney mentioned possible candidates who could seriously compete for a spot in the NHL outside of training camp.
“I’d say, [Georgii Merkulov] And [Fabian Lysell] or Riley Duran — you retain happening the list. Just prick up your ears, train like crazy this summer and are available in knowing there's a chance here,” Sweeney said in July.
Based on Mougenel's assessments, Duran's value appears to continue to rise as Boston's full-team training camp is scheduled to open on September 18.
“For him to come back at the top of the yr was huge for him,” Mougenel said. “I feel it's probably accelerated where he’s now, especially for training camp. And I expect him to actually hit the gas. I feel he's a [Jim Montgomery] Player type, [assistant coach] A Chris Kelly type player – they’ll enjoy him.”
Duran's motor, physicality and versatile skill set make him a gorgeous candidate for a checking line role at the subsequent level.
But after scoring 27 goals and 55 points in his three seasons at Providence College (102 games), Duran's offense was impressive even during his transient stint against stronger competition within the AHL – he scored 4 points in his 11 games with the Baby B's and often chased the puck on the forecheck.
Duran credits Friars head coach Nate Leaman and the Providence program for preparing him for the added physicality and toughness he'll face within the skilled game, adding that his own type of play made the transition from college easier.
“I play my own brand,” Duran said. “I like to play my own game. I don't have to change anything, maybe just a few things about my posture. But other than that, I just play my own game and hope it works out.”
At first glance, you would possibly think Duran is unlikely to make Boston's roster. Unlike Lysell, who may gain advantage from a spot within the Bruins' top-six groups, Duran can have to skip a bottom-six group that already includes players like Johnny Beecher, Max Jones, Mark Kastelic and Justin Brazeau.
But Duran doesn't should look far back to see that the Bruins' young players are accelerating their schedules on their very own merits – Beecher, Lohrei and Matthew Poitras, for instance, all earned regular playing time after strong workouts last fall.
“It's really cool to see that everyone has a different story. It's really cool to be around these guys and see how hard they work and encourage you,” Duran said after rookie camp opened Wednesday. “Sweeney said today, 'If you work hard enough, they'll make room for you, but you just have to play hard and play your own game.'”
Duran will take step one toward qualifying for NHL minutes on Friday on the annual Prospects Challenge in Buffalo.
After a season break filled with anticipation, the local hero feels able to make his move.
“I'm ready to go and play some games,” Duran said. “I mean, it's been a long summer. Ready to play some hockey, right?”
image credit : www.boston.com