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As you know by now, the Boston Bruins have found a gem in Frank Vatrano.
And now he has some hardware to show that off, too. Named as the co-winner of the AHL’s Dudley Garrett Memorial Award, awarded to the league’s top rookie, along with San Antonio Rampage forward Mikko Rantanen (drafted 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2015), the 22-year-old’s award comes as no shock given the season he’s put together for Bruce Cassidy (on the bubble as a potential assistant coach option for the Bruins next season) for the Providence Bruins.
Signed by the Bruins out of UMass-Amherst last season, the hard-shooting winger out of East Longmeadow, Mass. took the AHL by storm this season, and has recorded a ridiculous 34 goals (on 177 shots) and 51 points in just 34 games for the P-Bruins in just his first professional campaign.
Those staggering minor league numbers would probably be even crazier had it not been for two different stints with the Big B’s that totaled eight goals and 11 points in 39 games this year.
Still, in spite of the NHL recalls, Vatrano’s 34 goals lead the AHL, and his 1.50 points per game pace also stands as a league-best. The 5-foot-10 winger has also tallied three hat tricks for the P-Bruins this year, a stat that includes a record-tying three unassisted goals in one game, back on Mar. 6 against Portland.
Returned to the P-Bruins following Boston’s collapse out of the postseason picture, Vatrano will skate on a seriously loaded Providence group that could pose as a legitimate threat for the Calder Cup.
Ty Anderson has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, has been a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter since 2013, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.