As you may already know, the start of the NHL season is right around the corner, and there are still some concerns yet to be addressed for the Boston Bruins. One major concern is that there has not been a surefire solution for who will be centering the Bruins’ third line. Whether it will be someone with a few years under their belt or a rookie is still uncertain, so here are what I believe to be the Bruins’ top suitors for the position.
Sean Kuraly
Sean Kuraly had a solid second year centering the Bruins’ fourth line, and as of right now, he is most likely to be the third-line center at the start of the preseason since he has already been guaranteed a roster spot. Last season, Kuraly posted six goals, eight assists, and 14 points, and if he were to make the jump to the third line, you should expect his point total to increase. However, the Bruins had the most success last year when Kuraly was on the fourth line. So, if his point total doesn’t rise, then you should expect him to return to last year’s spot quickly.
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson had a good first season in Providence posting 15 goals, 17 assists, and 32 points and had a plus minus rating of +3. The 21-year-old struggled mightily in his first NHL game back in 2017 against the Washington Capitals, but has shown good growth since then. Forsbacka Karlsson has shown that he can produce in the AHL, and if he can transfer that production to the NHL, you should expect him to beat out Kuraly for the third-line position.
Jack Studnicka
If you are a true Bruins fan, then Jack Studnicka–who was the Bruins’ second-round pick in 2017–is the guy you want to take the third-line position for the Bruins. Studnicka had 22 goals, 50 assists, and 72 points in 66 games while captaining the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. He then recorded five points in five games for Providence. If the 19-year-old can make the opening night roster, then the Bruins will have a good, solid third-line center with the potential to be a top-two center for the future.
Trent Frederic
Trent Frederic has great size at 6 foot 3, and weighing in at 215 pounds. He has the potential to be a solid second- or third-line center for the future. Frederic recorded 17 goals and 15 assists in his last season with the University of Wisconsin and found some success in the AHL with Providence, recording eight points in 13 games. If Frederic can find some success in training camp and in the preseason, you should expect the 20-year-old to have a crack at the Bruins roster.
Ryan Donato
Ryan Donato is a little bit of a wild card for the third-line center position because he spent most of his time with the Bruins playing as a winger. However, Donato was a center when he played at Harvard University and at the Olympics for Team USA. Donato, who was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for best college hockey player, recorded nine points in 12 games for the Bruins’ previous season before being benched for most of the playoffs.  If the Bruins can get players like Anders Bjork back in the mix, then it is entirely possible that Donato gets reps at third-line center this upcoming season.