Tynan Lawrence caps off whirlwind week with NCAA debut for Boston University

Last Saturday, Tynan Lawrence was playing in his 13th USHL game of the season, and picked up an assist that ran his season total to 10-7—17.

Six days later, the 17-year-old was making his NCAA debut for Boston University, playing a road game against UMass between new teammates Cole Eiserman and Ryder Ritchie as a second-line centre. That's a heck of a week for a kid who just became the second-youngest player in college hockey on Tuesday.

Lawrence has long been considered a high-end first-round pick, though not necessarily the kind of player who was destined for the No. 1 spot. But because he was the consensus best center of the draft, he also won't be around too much longer than that. And then he went nuts in the USHL, posting so many points that the decision to jump to the NCAA started to make a lot of sense.

"Once I made the decision and told the team, it was kind of a quick turnaround," Lawrence told Elite Prospects. "Pack all my things, and I had to be as quick as possible so I could get ready and play in these games."

BU coach Jay Pandolfo said the turnaround went from Lawrence practicing Sunday with USHL Muskegon. But once he finalized his NCAA decision, he was on campus so quickly that he was still getting his mandatory physical while his new teammates were getting in their Thursday practice drills.

"It was just a whirlwind for the kid," Pandolfo added. "He's out there trying to get through practice, and then, listen, he's in here so we're gonna put him in the lab. And I thought his effort was good. He made some nice plays."

Speaking after the game, Lawrence made it seem like his approach was to be a sponge, because he had no other choice. He was added to the team Tuesday, got in less than a full practice, hopped on a westbound bus, and played between two sophomores who were picked in the top 45 of their respective drafts. All he could do is take the game as it came to him, and seek advice as often as possible. He mentioned multiple times how much his teammates have made themselves available to answer his questions over the last few days.

As far as how he looked in his first-ever college game, the results speak for themselves: He played second-line minutes, and while he didn't register a point, he created a number of scoring chances for Eiserman, went 5-for-9 at the dot, and attempted two shots, one of which was on goal. He also played right wing on the Terriers' top power play unit. At no point did he look out of place, or that the moment was too big for him.

But joining BU at midseason wasn't always the plan. After pushing around the competition in the USHL, and developing well with Muskegon, there wasn't much more to prove. After an injury sidelined him until late October, he returned to the Muskegon lineup and took off like a shot, with eight goals in his first seven games.

"I feel like, you know, it was just time to change," Lawrence said.

And if we're being honest, the Terriers need the help offensively. Their goals per game ranks in the low 20s nationally, and despite having an all-time NCAA record 19 drafted players on the roster, their power play is running well below 20 percent. In Friday's game, there was no offensive explosion — the Terriers won 1-0 and went 0 for 1 on the man advantage. Still, it's something to build on for team and new player alike. 

"You can just see the type of player he is, how smart he is," Pandolfo said. "Really good stick, can make plays, sees what's going on out there."

UMass also has multiple players who were born in 2002, and were therefore a few years older than anyone Lawrence has played on a regular basis in his career. Still, he held his own.

"It was definitely a different feeling out there for sure," he said. "Guys are bigger, faster. They're older, they're tougher to play against, but that's what makes it fun."

Pandolfo and Lawrence agree, too, that there's plenty of room to grow. He's been on campus for less than a week and while the offensive production isn't there yet, the building blocks that made him a consensus top-10 pick — or better — were on display.

"I feel like I can still improve, obviously," Lawrence said. "It was my first game, but, you know, it was a good first game to get under my belt. We got the win, which is important. 

I just wanna keep that thing going."

If he does, his team will be well positioned for a second-half run, and his draft stock could skyrocket as a result.