BOSTON — Johnny Beecher is 24. The Boston Bruins picked him in the first round in 2019. The center played at the National Team Development Program with a starry class that included Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, Matt Boldy, Spencer Knight, Cam York and Cole Caufield, all born in the same year. Beecher is on a one-year, $900,000 contract.
All of this makes Beecher, placed on waivers Monday, a real possibility to be claimed. This could end his Bruins career, and that would be a shame.
The pity is not just that the Bruins would have to say goodbye to someone who has played 136 games for the organization. The unfortunate thing is that Beecher’s game has declined to the point that the Bruins would risk losing him for nothing to assign him to Providence.
For his first three pro seasons, Beecher projected to grow into a long-term third- or fourth-line center, penalty killer and faceoff presence. In 2023-24, he scored seven goals and looked like he was on his way to being a full-time NHL center.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has the size every coach likes. He skated with an effortlessness that caught opponents by surprise with how quickly he closed. Teammates used to remark at how easy Beecher made his speed look. On March 14, 2024, the then-rookie topped out at 23.64 mph. This placed him in the 98th percentile in the league.
But Beecher’s biggest asset has gone elsewhere. This year, he maxed out at 21.90 mph on Nov. 4.
The statistic is just one metric in Beecher’s portfolio. But it is a noticeable drop-off in a category in which Beecher cannot afford compromise. If Beecher does not arrive on time, he is falling short of meeting his responsibilities: winning races, forechecking well, being physical, staying above the puck.
There has been nowhere for Beecher to hide when it comes to his coach’s evaluation. Marco Sturm has played Beecher only six times. He has one goal and no assists in his six games, averaging 10:24 per appearance. Jeffrey Viel had taken his job of late.
In Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Sturm sat Viel in place of Riley Tufte, who was recalled from Providence. Tufte is Providence’s leading scorer, with eight goals and eight assists in 13 games. Tufte scored a garbage-time goal while playing 15:13, including 3:28 on the power play, in his season debut.
Riley Tufte made his season debut against the Hurricanes, scoring Boston’s only goal. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
Matej Blumel also made his first appearance of 2025-26. Blumel was the No. 2 right wing in place of Viktor Arvidsson, who is week to week with a lower-body injury. Blumel had one shot in 13:10 of play.
“It’s a tough league,” Sturm said of the NHL. “It doesn’t matter how well you play in the AHL. It’s just a big step. I know that too. You could see it today. I know both can play better. It’s just a different league.”
Beecher was held off the ice for Monday’s morning skate. He was not seen on the ninth floor of TD Garden, where healthy scratches usually watch the game.
Some general managers would not proceed in this manner with a first-round pick. Don Sweeney, however, is nothing if not bold. He did not hesitate to say goodbye to Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and Trent Frederic because he identified opportunities to improve the organization.
In comparison, placing a healthy scratch on waivers is what it is: a minor transaction.
Notes
• The Bruins were awaiting a diagnosis on Charlie McAvoy on Monday. McAvoy took a puck to the face Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Sturm acknowledged surgery was a possibility.
• Elias Lindholm (lower body) participated in Monday’s morning skate for the first time since suffering his injury on Oct. 30. Sturm did not know whether Lindholm would travel with the team Tuesday to Anaheim for the start of the Bruins’ four-game trip.
• The Bruins placed Arvidsson and Casey Mittelstadt (lower body) on injured reserve and moved Jordan Harris to long-term injured reserve to make room for Tufte and Blumel.
• The Bruins are down three top-six forwards and their No. 1 defenseman.
“We miss our guys that aren’t here. Let’s be upfront about that,” goalie Jeremy Swayman said. “But that’s an opportunity for guys that are NHL-capable. We’re confident going into this road trip that everyone wearing the black and gold is going to give us a chance to win every night.”
