Locmelis Becomes A High-Value Prospect

A fun part of the American Hockey League (AHL) is seeing a player develop into a star and suddenly have an avenue to the NHL. These prospects go from late-round draft picks to late bloomers to hitting their strides at the right time. That’s what Don Locmelis has become for the Boston Bruins and their AHL affiliate in Providence. They drafted him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft and are seeing that selection pay off in 2026.

The Bruins are having a special season in the AHL, as their 22-6-1 record is the second-best in the Atlantic Division and the third-best in the league. They’ve dominated the competition and play a physical, structured brand of hockey that, when executed well, is hard to stop. Yet, their standout prospect is Locmelis, who has rounded out his game in his rookie season in the AHL.

Scoring Stands Out For Locmelis

In a short stint at the end of last season, the Bruins saw a glimpse of what Locmelis could bring at the next level, with three goals in six games. This season, he kicked off the ground running with 11 goals in 29 games. Some of his goals come from great instincts while others are off his shot from the wing. The shot in particular stands out to scouts since he can fire the puck through traffic or a tight window to find the back of the net.

It’s helped that Locmelis is playing alongside veterans in the AHL. Riley Tufte, Brett Harrison, and Matej Blumel provide him with open looks that he can make the most of and often net some easy goals. That said, Locmelis is a consistent scorer and shows it with his play every night.

The issue, of course, will be at the next level when the majority of the scoring chances are hard to come by. Locmelis must prove he can find the back of the net when spaces are tighter, and the goaltenders make the easy stops, daring him to thread the needle as a shooter. The good thing is that Locmelis puts himself in the right spots to succeed, which is why he’s found a lot of easy goals to begin with, and it’s a skill that translates at any level.

Locmelis Developed Into A Prospect

Locmelis was an unknown when the Bruins drafted him in the fourth round in 2022. The Latvian forward showed the upside but the Bruins didn’t know if his game would translate from overseas and if he’d ever make it. The game in Europe is faster, and the ice is built to highlight skill but oftentimes, those players struggle at the next level because the space is hard to come by and the game is too physical.

The big key for Locmelis has been his adjustments for that reason. He learned how to play the North American game with two seasons at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) before joining the team. Now, at 21 years old, he fits right into the roster and is a part of their well-oiled machine.

Locmelis also adjusted to the Bruins and their forechecking system to make him a valuable player. “The skill is undeniable. The one thing that Dons has is to put things into his game; he’s coachable,” head coach Ryan Mougenel noted after a 4-1 Jan. 2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack, a game where Locmelis scored twice to fuel the victory. He’s learned the system, and it’s allowed him to be a complete player, someone who forechecks, defends, and makes the right plays with the puck.

Providence is Getting More Than Scoring From Locmelis

The Bruins are a veteran-heavy team and one that can win a grind-it-out game but wants to play fast. Locmelis fits that mold as a great skater but also someone who plays the puck well. He’s ready to make the most of turnovers, which explains how he’s found quick scoring chances throughout the season.

“A lot of things that he does translate to wins. He plays winning hockey,” Mougenel added after the latest game. It’s why Locmelis is ideal for what the Bruins have built at the AHL level and why he could be on the NHL team someday. The Bruins want scoring in their lineup, and that’s where he stands out but he’s set up plenty of scoring chances with eight assists on the season, and can play any type of game to help them win games.

Morgan Geekie was a pleasant surprise for the NHL team, emerging as an elite scorer in recent seasons. Locmelis isn’t scoring at the same rate and is unlikely to reach that level, even if he hits his ceiling. That said, he has a path to the middle six of the Bruins someday if he keeps it up.