Boston Bruins‘ undrafted rookie forward Frank Vatrano(49) is maybe the most ragtag long shot story to possibly make the NHL out there at the moment.
In his first two AHL games starting his pro career with minor league affiliate Providence Bruins he already has 5 goals with a +4 rating and shows zero signs of letting up. Four of those tallies came in a single game.
He was a strong spark plug in both the parent club’s training camps leading into the 2015/2016 season.
Listed at 5’10” 215 lbs. he isn’t the biggest skater out there but plays a big game all the way.
He took a completely unlikely route to get to where he is.
Starting as a teenager skating for Boston Jr. Bruins, he actually came back after his bid at Boston College went south and played another season before finally getting to UMass-Amherst.
He potted 18 goals and 10 assists in 36 games.
2014/2015 would be his only campaign of college hockey.
He also spent two years in between 4 EJHL seasons with the US National Development Team in the USHL scoring 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 59 games.
Already 21-years old he probably figured it was time to get the pro career started and in stepped his hometown (from East Longmeadow, MA) Black & Gold.
With the big club going south pretty quickly out of the gate, he may be worth a quick look in the show.