Bruins Mason Lohrei, Johnny Beecher ready to build off of promising rookie seasons

As he helped hand out hundreds of backpacks, binders, and folders at TD Garden in anticipation of a new school year, Johnny Beecher acknowledged the pained reality that used to set in at this point on the calendar.

“It was always kind of crazy when you were a kid and you knew the school year was coming back up — you’d walk into Target with your mom, and they’d have the back-to-school stuff — you kind of just put your head down and realize that reality was coming back,” Beecher said with a smile Thursday at TD Garden’s Back-to-School Celebration.

Of course, returning to school wasn’t all that bad for Beecher (and he’s not just saying that because his mother, Natasha, still teaches high-school English back home in New York). 

For the Bruins forward, the start of the fall marked the beginning of a new year with several of his closest friends — as well as the start of another season spent on the frozen sheet.

And in a similar vein, the sentiment still stands for Beecher and fellow second-year pro Mason Lohrei this fall as they brace for another season with Boston.

“I felt pretty good about my game in the playoffs,” Lohrei, who also attended Thursday’s event with Beecher, said of his rookie campaign. “And obviously there are still a bunch of things I want to work on. So I went into this summer just trying to address those — but that playoff run just made me a whole lot hungrier for what’s to come.”

In total, Lohrei and Beecher were two of five Bruins who made their NHL debuts in 2023-24 — with the duo carving out spots on Boston’s blue line and checking unit, respectively.

Those roles should only continue to grow with Boston this upcoming fall, especially after both skaters cut their teeth, endured the expected growing pains, and navigated through several treks to Providence as rookies.

“I think going into the season, not many people were really expecting me to make that opening night roster and make an impact,” Beecher said. “I was able to do that, which was huge for me and my confidence. And obviously there were some ups and downs.

“Got sent down there for a little bit, but I felt like I kind of handled everything really well. I spent my time in Providence working hard, put my head down, just got my game back to where it needed to be to come back up here and help the team out at the end of the season and going into playoffs. And I was able to do that.”

Lohrei — who showcased his coveted blend of size and playmaking skill on the blue line over 41 games last season – is well ahead of his projected developmental timeline.

Once viewed as a long-term project as a 6-foot-5 offensive defenseman, Lohrei held his own against a forechecking juggernaut in the Panthers during the postseason — serving as a promising springboard for what should be a full-time role on Boston’s D corps this season.

Even though Lohrei could start the year in more of a third-pairing spot following the signing of fellow left-shot D Nikita Zadorov this offseason, Don Sweeney stressed in July that reps on the Boston’s second power-play unit should be available for Lohrei out of the gate this year.

“It means a lot,” Lohrei said of Sweeney’s comments. “Definitely helps with confidence when you’re hearing that kind of stuff. But that being said, it’ll be nice to hopefully get those opportunities, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t go out there and perform. So just focus on the little things and go out there and try to make the right plays.”

Lohrei’s emphasis this offseason has been tacking more muscle onto his frame in anticipation of heavier minutes, while Beecher’s focus entering year two with Boston has revolved around developing a more consistent game.

Beecher’s faceoff skills (54.6 percent), skating ability and size (6-foot-3, 216) all fit the mold of a fourth-line stalwart with plenty of room to grow, especially alongside a grouping of other big-bodied skaters like Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, and Justin Brazeau.

Both Lohrei and Beecher should be in line for steady minutes in Boston’s revamped roster in 2024-25. But Lohrei is setting his sights even higher in what should be his first full campaign in the NHL ranks.

“I feel like I’m just getting started,” Lohrei acknowledged. “ Just continue every day, take it day by day and just show up to the rink and get better and learn as much as I can. Just continue to gain confidence. I want to be a full-time NHLer, so that’s my goal for the season. I want to be a top defenseman.”