It was the offseason of 2015. Then-general manager Peter Chiarelli was fired and newly-anointed GM Don Sweeney began wheeling and dealing; most notably sending Milan Lucic to Los Angeles and Dougie Hamilton north of the border to Calgary. As a result, the Bruins became the first team in National Hockey League history to have three consecutive first-round picks, with selections 13, 14 and 15.

The third of the three picks acquired in the Hamilton deal was Zach Senyshyn, an 18-year old forward for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

After two more seasons in the OHL, in which he recorded 65 points in both campaigns, Senyshyn got his first professional action in the 2017 American Hockey League playoffs, skating in four games with the Providence Bruins during their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now in his first full season in the AHL, Senyshyn continues to find his game at the pro level, albeit it’s taking quite a bit of time.

Through 39 games, Senyshyn has 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) to go along with a plus-1 rating. Though the numbers aren’t eye-popping, Senyshyn is confident he can improve his game and receive a good, long look from the Bruins front office.

The best way to do that is simple; help his team win.

“I feel like I need to just listen to my coaches,” Senyshyn said after Providence’s 1-0 home win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Jan. 20. “These guys have been in my shoes before, and have played in the NHL, so it’s all about listening to my coaches and helping my team win. I think that’s the biggest thing they’re looking for up there [in Boston] are guys who can help their team win. I want to help my team win down here [in Providence] and up there and I think I have to work on my game to help the team win.”

Senyshyn has contributed in quite a few of Providence’s wins this season. The team is 8-2-3 in games where Senyshyn records a point.

It’s certainly open for debate over whether or not Providence’s tough month of January is at least partially due to Senyshyn’s recent scoring slump. The Baby B’s are an uncharacteristic 3-5-1 since the start of the new year while Senyshyn has recorded just one point — an assist on Jan. 13 at Bridgeport — in his last nine games.

Senyshyn has shown some flashes of offensive skill. His best game came in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds where he picked up three assists. The first-year pro from Ottawa netted a career-best three-game goal streak in mid-December.

While Senyshyn is looking to pick up his scoring touch, he also acknowledges how he wants to improve defensively. With his size (6-foot-1 194 lbs.) and speed, Senyshyn has all the tools to be a force in his own zone. If it’s any indication, Senyshyn has improved enough in that area to earn a spot on Providence’s penalty-killing unit.

“I feel like I need to work on the defensive side of the puck and I think I’ve been doing a good job of that,” Senyshyn said. “I feel like I’ve come a long way. There’s always stuff you want to work on, you want to keep getting better and you can’t be stagnant. I thought my game has come a long way from last year. In September and October, I was just learning and it’s a process.”

Only one of the three first-round picks from 2015 (Jake DeBrusk) has cracked the Bruins roster. While that might sound alarming, there’s a process of climbing up the ranks as Senyshyn stated.

As he adjusts to the professional ranks, Senyshyn can only expect to get better on both sides of the puck. Though would be a surprise if he received a call-up this season, a full season or two in Providence could be beneficial for the 15th pick of the 2015 Entry Draft.