The 2015-16 hockey regular schedules are over for NCAA prospects Sean Kuraly and Cameron Hughes, plus European pro D Emil Johansson, whose HV71 club was eliminated from the Swedish Hockey League playoffs this week by Skellefteå AIK.

We’ll hold off for now on updating Daniel Vladar and Jack Becker, both of whom I referenced recently on Twitter. The USHL season still has a few weeks left to play out, so will revisit them later.

The Bruins have a more immediate decision to make about Kuraly, who just exhausted his NCAA eligibility and can either be signed now or prior to August 1, at which point he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Hughes just completed his sophomore season at Wisconsin. Johansson is 19 and will probably be left overseas to continue his development for a few more years at least before any decision on him is made.

Sean Kuraly, C Miami University (NCHC)

2015-16 regular season stats:

Games Played: 36  Goals: 6  Assists: 17  Points: 23  Penalty Minutes: 39  +/-:  5

Differentials from 2014-15 stats:

Games played: -4  Goals: -13  Assists: +7 Points: -6 Penalty Minutes: +1  +/-: +4

Season in review: The senior captain got of to a poor statistical start and never quite recovered, finishing the year with the lowest goal total since his freshman season with the RedHawks. A year after posting 19 goals as a junior, the 23-year-old Kuraly was expected to provide more production for the disappointing 15-18-3 Miami squad. Having said that, his ’15-16 offense was comparable to his previous two years with 29 points each, and Kuraly has never been a point-per-game player at the NCAA level. He increased his assists at the cost of goals, but truth in lending- aside from one impressive 32-goal, 70-point season with Indiana of the USHL, scoring is not what he’s known for. Here’s a Miami RedHawks rink report featuring Kuraly from February:

Outlook: The Boston Globe reported that Kuraly is in town this week getting checked out by the team’s medical staff. That’s a curious disposition that begs the question as to whether he was playing hurt this season and if there is something under the surface that might preclude the Bruins from signing him in the immediate sense of things. The former fifth-round pick in 2011 by the San Jose Sharks is a big, heavy-on-the-puck forward who may get moved to the wing in the pro ranks where he can perhaps one day skate a regular shift as a bottom-6, checking and energy guy. The Ohio native doesn’t have a great deal of high-level potential in the NHL, but he’s useful and versatile. With 47 contracts out of 50 already on the books in Boston, this is something the team might elect to kick down the road until some of the existing contracts come off the ledger and sign Kuraly then. Either way, aside from getting some AHL games in with Providence the way Brandon Carlo is doing, there isn’t an immediate requirement to agree to terms. And even so- the amateur tryout option allows for the team to assign him to the Baby B’s without an NHL deal in place. Here’s a highlight video package on Kuraly and fellow Miami RedHawk Riley Barber from the gold medal-winning Team USA squad at the 2013 World Jr. Championship (posted by Brendan Burke):

Cameron Hughes, C University of Wisconsin (Big Ten)

2015-16 regular season stats:

Games Played: 32  Goals: 5  Assists: 20  Points: 25  Penalty Minutes: 12  +/-: -11

Differentials from 2014-15 stats:

Games played: -2  Goals: +2  Assists: +10 Points: +13 Penalty Minutes: -25  +/-: +6

Season in review: Boston’s sixth-round choice last June nearly double his points output from his freshman year, a tough campaign for the Badgers (4-26-5) that saw his draft stock fall off dramatically. This past year was another sub-.500 season that cost head coach Mike Eaves his job, but Hughes demonstrated growth and progress, finishing second on the team in helpers and fourth in scoring overall. He stands only about 6-foot and has an extremely light frame that won’t fill out all that much as he matures, but Hughes is gritty and willing to stick his nose in. He’s not ultra speedy, but moves well laterally and brings shifty elusiveness, especially in traffic. Hughes only tallied five goals, and has been more of a passer/playmaker at every level, but his vision and creativity are impressive attributes. Here’s a 1st half highlight video set to one of my favorite bands Chevelle (the Red) from the Badgers YouTube feed with a nice shootout goal from Hughes (No. 19) at the 2:35 mark:

Outlook: If Wisconsin can get its program back on track, Hughes stands to be one of the go-to forwards as an upperclassman. The former Spruce Grove (AJHL) star came to the NCAA last year tipping the scales at a rumored less than 150 pounds, so he’s one of those guys who will need plenty of time to get stronger and develop his body. Even so- he might not have the build to pack on much mass, so Hughes will have to keep honing his hockey skills and make an impact on the score sheet. For a player taken as low as 165th overall, Hughes doesn’t have much pressure on him to take his time in college and then see a minors apprenticeship if the B’s sign him in a few years. He’s got an uphill climb, but there are encouraging signs that the Edmonton native could emerge as a name player in the college ranks as early as next season.

Here’s a nice pass by Hughes to 2016 NHL draft 1st-round prospect & Badgers freshman Luke Kunin at 1:28 of this highlight package from the University of North Dakota:

Emil Johansson, D HV71 Jonkoping (SHL)

2015-16 regular season stats:

Games Played: 50  Goals: 2  Assists: 8  Points: 10  Penalty Minutes: 12  +/-: 2

Differentials from 2014-15 stats:

Games played: +18  Goals: +2  Assists: +7 Points: +9 Penalty Minutes: 0  +/-: +11

Season in review: 2014 seventh-rounder was just another face in the crowd for much of the SHL campaign until he took off in the postseason, scoring three goals and five points in just six playoff games. A year ago, he played 35 games and didn’t find the back of the net. Until the last couple of weeks of this past season, he was held without a goal until he tallied a pair of scores in quick succession en route to posting 10 points in 50 games in Sweden’s top pro league. A more confident Johansson saw more ice in the extra season and made it pay off, leading his team’s blue liners in playoff scoring in a six-game opening round loss.

Outlook: Even with the impressive showing in the SHL playoffs, you don’t want to read too much into things. Johansson is a very good skater but has average size and strength, so he’s got to be able to push the pace a bit and find a way to chip in offensively. At one point, he was shaping up to be an impressive draft prospect, but it didn’t happen for him. However, Johansson is earning an extended look, as the B’s are impressed with his performance. The hockey sense and vision is still a bit of a question mark, and he’ll have to put in the weight room work, but Johansson might be able to elevate his stock within the organization next season and with a new team if reports he’s leaving HV71 are true.