Fabian Lysell Poised for NHL Call-Up as Bruins Seek Impact from Young Forward

“With his explosive AHL performance and the Bruins’ injury struggles, Fabian Lysell’s NHL call-up seems imminent—will he be ready to make his mark?”

Fabian Lysell is making a strong case for an

NHL call-up as he continues to dominate in the AHL this season. The 22-year-old forward, drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, has been a constant presence on the cusp of an NHL spot. With a fantastic performance for the

Providence Bruins, posting 8 goals and 14 points in just 14 games, Lysell’s readiness to play in the NHL has become hard to ignore.

Despite flashes of brilliance in his brief stint with the

Boston Bruins last season—where he scored 1 goal and 3 points in 12 games—Lysell wasn’t given the opportunity to shine in a top-six role. His limited ice time, averaging just

13:27 per game, didn’t allow him to fully showcase his skill set, leading to an underwhelming evaluation. If the Bruins are serious about getting the most out of Lysell, they need to give him a chance to play on his natural wing alongside more talented forwards. This could provide the clarity they need to decide if he’s ready for a full-time NHL role.

The Bruins are currently in a 14-11-0 position, holding a top-three spot in the Atlantic Division, which means they can’t afford to focus solely on player development for much longer. However, the current

injury crisis in Boston could open the door for Lysell’s much-needed opportunity. With key players sidelined, including Matej Blumel and Alex Steeves, Lysell could be the next in line for a promotion.

Georgii Merkulov’s recent call-up—albeit due to injuries—has further illustrated the Bruins' willingness to give young talent a shot. But with Merkulov playing on the wrong wing and struggling with limited ice time, the question arises: why not Lysell, who is naturally a right-shot winger and could slot into a similar role with more effectiveness?

Lysell's dynamic play in the AHL has been evident. He has the potential to inject offensive energy into a team that could use some scoring depth. If the Bruins are serious about contending, the time is now for Lysell to step up. But, with his window of opportunity narrowing, the question remains: Will he be able to capitalize on it when the Bruins eventually call his name?

As Thanksgiving has traditionally marked a key juncture in NHL team development and playoff positioning, the next few weeks will be crucial for the 22-year-old. For the Bruins, this period is no different. If Lysell gets his chance, it will be up to him to deliver immediately. The

Bruins' playoff hopes can’t afford any further delays.

Terry Fontenot’s 2025 Draft Class Could Be His Lifeline Amid Falcons’ Playoff Drought

There's light at the end of the tunnel.

Since the Atlanta Falcons hired Terry Fontenot, there has been plenty of missed opportunity. While his track record early in the draft is stellar, his roster management and success rate on Day 2 and Day 3 picks have left a lot to be desired, which is why is job security is starting to come into question.

As the Dirty Birds brace for their eighth consecutive season without a playoff appearance, it's becoming even harder for Arthur Blank to justify retaining the fifth-year general manager. However, the rousing success of Atlanta's 2025 NFL Draft class might have just bought Fontenot another year.

Despite the Falcons sitting at 4-7, the 44-year-old GM has a real chance to stick around in Atlanta for a third head coach now. Three of the four rookies he drafted lead all rookies in a defensive statistic, which has spearheaded an impressive defensive turnaround under first-year DC Jeff Ulbrich.

Falcons' 2025 NFL Draft class could be what saves Terry Fontenot's job

The selections of perennial Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker have helped revitalize the pass-rush, Xavier Watts has quietly shined at safety, and Billy Bowman Jr. shined out of the nickel before his season ended prematurely due to a torn Achilles.

Walker leads all rookies in sacks, Pearce leads all rookies in pressure rate, and Watts leads all rookies in interceptions. That's no small feat for a defense that was among the worst in the NFL last season, as it took Fontenot just four picks to silence all of the doubts about bolstering a putrid pass-rush.

Ulbrich's defense has shattered franchise sack records across the last few weeks, and that has made the secondary's job easier. Watts picked off Tyler Shough in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Saints while Pearce logged a team-high 1.5 sacks in Week 12 as the defense managed to sack Shough five times.

The only true first-round disappointment Fontenot has drafted was Kyle Pitts, and even he's still had a respectable NFL career. However, he followed that up by drafting Drake London and Bijan Robinson in the first round of back-to-back drafts, which makes the sting of Pitts' struggles go down far easier.

As impressive as Pearce has been, the decision to trade Atlanta's 2026 first-round pick to move up for the 21-year-old was met with widespread criticism. However, his role in the quarterback mismanagement could do him in, but the fact that his rookie class is impressing is giving fans plenty of optimism going forward.

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