Georgii Merkulov gets his shot with Bruins
Georgii Merkulov can score goals. That much we know.
The 23-year- old Russian centerman demonstrated that in his one season at Ohio State and in Providence the last two seasons. And it’s a trait the Boston Bruins can certainly use, considering their paltry output lately at 5- on- 5 scoring.
But Merkulov, officially called up by the B’s on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Garden tilt against the New Jersey Devils, needed to make improvements to his overall game before he was considered a legitimate candidate for NHL duty.
Whether or not that work is done remains to be seen, but he’s played well enough that the B’s couldn’t keep him down on the farm any longer without taking a look at him. That fact, coupled with the need for more scoring, contributed to what is an interesting NHL debut on Saturday.
“It’s probably a combination of those both,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “We want to score. But we don’t want to score more by sacrificing our team defense and that message has been made clear to Merk. The reason he got called up is because of his 200-foot game, not because he’s scoring a lot. Because on our team we have guys that are paid a lot of money to score goals and he’s got to come and support that and be part of what we’re trying to build as a team. But it’s exciting for him because he gets the opportunity to play his first NHL game (Saturday) night. That’s exciting. And that’s good energy to bring to the group as well.”
The Bruins signed Merkulov, who’d come over from his native Ryazan, Russia to play for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL for two years, as an undrafted free agent after one year at OSU when he was a teammate of Mason Lohrei. After posting 24-31-55 totals in 67 games last year in
Providence, he’s got 14-1630 totals in 31 games there this season.
After getting the word from Providence coach Ryan Mougenel on Thursday morning before the team’s practice in Utica, Merkulov called his girlfriend and then his parents back home in Russia.
“Yeah, I probably should have called my parents (first),” he said with a sheepish smile.
His parents had already planned a trip to the US in mid-january and they won’t be able to make the journey from Russia on such short notice. His mother and sister, who is in medical school, visited him here last summer but he hasn’t seen his father in a couple of years. His father’s message over the phone?
“My Dad told me to just play every game like it’s my last game and just enjoy it,” said Merkulov.
Merkulov conceded he started slowly in camp, which is the same review Montgomery gave for his September performance,
but believes his overall game is in a good place.
“I feel confident about my game,” said Merkulov. “In the summer, you don’t play for four months and it’s training camp and there are NHL players here, so it’s hard. But since we’ve been playing for three months now, I feel good about my game and I’ll try to do my best to make it translate to the NHL.”
Lohrei said Merkulov’s all-around game has improved noticeably.
“He’s taken a lot of pride in learning that and he knows that that’s his ticket to be here and make a long career in the NHL,” said Lohrei. “He focused on that and I can only see him getting better.”
Merkulov credited his Providence linemates, Jesper Boqvist and Justin Brazeau, as well as the coaching staff for helping him maintain his game while awaiting the call.
“I talked to the coaches down there and they helped me a lot, just communicating and keeping
me focused,” said Merkulov. “They told me every game, just play your game, work hard and stay consistent with your details… I just stuck with what I was doing and I got a shot.”
On Friday, he practiced on a third line with wings Trent Frederic and James van Riemsdyk.
“I remember JVR when I was a kid when I was like six years old and it’s cool to be with him on a line. He was talking to me all practice, so it was exciting,” said Merkulov.
Lohrei said he became tight with the seriousminded Merkulov while in Columbus. He’s thrilled to be able to experience this with him.
“Obviously at first he’s a little closed off, but I got to know him really well from being together at school and we’re close friends,” said Lohrei. “He loves to joke around and have fun, too, but obviously he’s focused and really determined. And just like anybody, it’s his dream to play in the NHL.”
It’s a dream that will
come true on Saturday night.
With Merkulov on board, that bumped Danton Heinen down to the fourth line with John Beecher and Jakub Lauko
“Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be on the fourth line, but that’s what I’m asking of him, and (for him) to relish that role and help us have four lines that are going to be able to play against New Jersey (Saturday),” said Montgomery, adding Heinen wouldn’t hurt the unit’s offensive capabilities.
“I think about his last game as a fourth-liner was the game in Dallas when that line scored two goals. So there is that possibility but their role is to build momentum and to build the team game, a possession game in the offensive zone.”
With Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) close to being available, defenseman Ian Mitchell was placed on waivers. Grzelcyk, who has missed the last three games, has practiced the last two days.