Boston Bruins winger Jakub Lauko is a star in the making

2022 will be a chance for some new players to step up for the Boston Bruins.

With stars like Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy set to miss the beginning of the season, combined with uncertainty regarding the health of Taylor Hall and Matt Grzelyck, it appears that numerous players will get opportunities to make a case for a full time role.

The typical names that come to mind for Bruins fans include Jack Studnicka, John Beecher, Jakub Zboril and Fabian Lysell. However, another name should be on the radar.

That name is Jakub Lauko. The 22-year-old winger is a former 3rd-round pick from 2018 and has played with Providence since the 2019-20 season. When glancing at his statistics, they do not necessarily appear to be special,  and that is something that has caused fans to write him off.

The Boston Bruins winger responds to fan criticism

That is why it came as a shock to many when Lauko made the Boston Bruins opening night roster. The social media backlash was significant enough that he was asked about it, showing a sense of frustration in the critique.

While the fan criticism is likely more reflective of a distaste for the front office than a real lack of faith in the young forward, Lauko is a player who can add a boost to the team and has earned this opportunity. He had a strong training camp and appears to be a good fit for the fourth line, as he developed chemistry with Tomáš Nosek and is familiar with Studnicka from their time in Providence.

An interesting take on Jakub Lauko

I covered Lauko during the 2020-21 Providence Bruins season and felt that he was the most dynamic player on that Atlantic Division-champion squad. He was nearly point per game with 19 points in 23 games and was also a force defensively.

That is demonstrated by his +11 rating, but it was clear that he was the focus of the opposition’s attention whenever he is on the ice.

I am not saying he will score 30 goals and be near a point per game this season in the NHL. That could potentially be in his future, but a fourth-line role combined with being a rookie makes that scenario unlikely.

What I can say is that he has more potential for the future than players like Nick Foligno and Chris Wagner.

It is worth giving him the nod in this situation to see how he handles it.