Fabian Lysell

June 2025 – Lysell is a rush-chance machine. He has been one of the Bruins’ top prospects since being drafted but has yet to get an extended look in the NHL. Outside of an 11-game stretch at the end of the season, during which he played in the NHL, Lysell spent nearly the entirety of the season in the AHL. His AHL production took a step back from 50 points in 56 games last year to 34 points in 52 games this year. However, his NHL stint showed some promise, with Lysell netting his first goal and three points, all of which came in his final four NHL games of the year. What is frustrating about Lysell is the concerns around his ability to play a team game. As one of the most gifted individual players, not just in the AHL but in the world, Lysell has adjusted to doing everything himself. At lower levels, that could work. In the NHL, that does not work. For him to earn an extended look with the Bruins out of training camp, Lysell will need to work off his teammates more or head to the AHL. If Boston finds that he is unable to play within a system, they will likely dangle him as trade bait to acquire a big-name player, and Lysell could unlock his sky-high potential elsewhere. James Connelly

June 2024 – Missing significant time towards the end of the season, Lysell still put together a productive season with Providence. Recording 15 goals and 35 assists in 56 games, he experienced the expected increase in production from the season prior while playing in just two more games. While recognizing Lysell’s production in the AHL, it is difficult to ignore that he has yet to be called up to the NHL for even a short stint. A prospect with middle-six potential, Lysell is facing a crucial campaign in determining his future in Boston and NHL potential. John Gove

April 2023 –  It was a tale of two seasons for Lysell this season, as he got out to a hot start in Providence in the first half before struggling in the second half. He had eight goals and 13 assists in the first 24 games, but an unsuccessful trip to Halifax for the World Junior Championships halted his momentum. At the tournament, Lysell played seven games for Sweden, registering zero points as Sweden lost out in the bronze medal game to the United States. Upon his return to Providence, Lysell only managed six goals and ten assists in his final 30 games. Lysell missed some games due to injury in the second half, so he could have been suffering through an issue for most of the second half. While the season was a bit underwhelming for Lysell, it is still likely that he will get a chance to crack the Bruins lineup next season, as his offensive potential is well above-average for a team that will need an offensive boost in their lineup. Nate Duffett

April 2022 – Lysell had a strong first season in North America. After coming to the WHL from the SHL, he delivered over a point per game season. This despite being on a below average team in the Vancouver Giants, but he has nearly 20 points more than the next highest on his team in nine fewer games. He was able to drive play at 54% Fenwick, while registering over five shots per game. Lysell is an excellent puck handler and he finds open teammates even under pressure and with little space. He protects the puck well and anticipates plays better than just about anyone on the ice. He is able to generate offense often by taking the puck away in the neutral zone and making a quick, soft pass to a teammate for a zone entry. He is definitely more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer and if he was on a more potent WHL team, you could see him having 10 to 20 more assists. He has a great one-timer that he unloads from the left face off circle, though his wrist shot from the right circle is similarly dangerous. The next step for Lysell will be to see how he fares against professionals in the AHL or perhaps he can make the Bruins out of training camp. He could work on protecting the puck against larger competitors and pushing to the middle of the ice more often to get higher quality scoring chances. He can also be guilty of overhandling the puck and taking on multiple defenders at a time, but he has done that with less frequency as he learns to trust his teammates more. Victor Nuño

September 2021 – Lysell has signed his entry-level contract with the Bruins and intends to make the immediate jump to North America. He was selected by the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in the 2020 CHL import draft, and it will be up to Boston to decide whether he will spend his 2021-2022 campaign in Boston, Providence, or Vancouver. Chris Mazza

July 2021 – Lysell was selected in the first round, 21st overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

February 2021 – Lysell requested a trade so that he could play in the SHL and he has shown that he is more than capable of it with Luleå. Despite only collecting two goals in his 16 SHL games, Lysell has been a very solid player at the SHL level. His ability to affect the game away from the puck has kept him in Luleå’s lineup. He does so many of the little things right and he has been generating more and more chances offensively as he’s acclimated. He plays with a pace unmatched in the draft class, attacking each play like it’s game seven. He understands that his game is at it’s best when he plays without fear. He gets in on the forecheck aggressively and attacks puck carriers in defensive transitions. He strips pucks and disrupts play consistently with his excellent anticipation. His ability to play at such a high speed and pace and the touch to make a soft pass at those high-speeds is a trait few others in the class possess. His reckless abandon can come back to bite him at times as he can get himself into positions that he has a disadvantage in physically. He generally has the requisite skill to get himself out of those spots with silky smooth hands and a motor that never stops. His rise has made him a darkhorse choice for first overall. If his production can see some improvement, he could work his way to the forefront. Tony Ferrari

December 2020 – Lysell was a dominant offensive force at Sweden’s J18 level in 2019-2020, posting 34 points in just 14 games. He began his draft year playing for Frolunda’s J20 team and picked up three goals and 10 assists in 11 games before moving to Lulea’s system in hopes of a greater opportunity in the SHL but has yet to appear in a game in Sweden’s top league, despite J20 Nationell being shut down due to the pandemic.

Lysell’s greatest attribute is his skating, with speed to burn and the agility to adjust and play through traffic. He is an excellent puck handler and can make moves at high speed, as well as in tight around the net. He Lacks size and strength but does a good job of protecting the puck on his outside hip while looking to make a play. Lysell hunts pucks while closing quickly on the forecheck and does well to evade defenders in confined spaces by using his low center of gravity to get underneath checks. Able to turn on a dime due to his great edges and ability to transfer weight quickly, Lysell is slippery along the boards. He is a responsible defensive player who supports the play well in the offensive zone and does an even better job of tracking the play in defensive transition, taking intelligent angles in pursuit. Lysell likes to curl low on the breakout to generate speed through the middle and understands how to put himself in a position to receive passes through layers while maintaining speed. He is a creative passer who can push defenders back with his great wheels before making a nifty drop pass, and he can pick apart defensive coverages with seam passes in the offensive end. Lysell has an average shot and he will need to quicken his release while adding some power behind it if he is going to become more dangerous as a goal scorer. He takes pucks into high danger areas and can finish in close but isn’t much of a threat from the outside. An explosive playmaking winger with a high motor, Lysell should be one of the first forwards off the board in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard