What a difference a few months can make for Mason Lohrei.
Lohrei’s blend of size (6-foot-5, 211 pounds) and playmaking skill on the blue line established him as one of Boston’s most prized prospects. But that unique player profile also painted the picture of a youngster who needed plenty of time to mold his game in the pro ranks.
It didn’t take long for Lohrei to shake the label as a long-term project last season. He accelerated his timeline with a strong preseason before eventually logging 41 games with the Bruins in 2023-24.
Even with the expected growing pains that come with finding one’s game at the NHL level (especially for a young player who switched from forward to defenseman at 16 years old), Lohrei made strides with each new call-up he earned with Boston.