Bruins prospect Zach Senyshyn is focused on continuing development.

Zach Senyshyn, a first-round draft pick in 2015 with a track record as a scorer, is trying to add elements to his game that will help him reach the NHL.

BOSTON – Amidst the discussion about who will fill the opening at right wing on one of the Bruins’ top two lines to start the 2018-19 season, one name has largely been absent from the conversation.

 Zach Senyshyn may qualify as an NHL prospect, but not as a contender for the job next to Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci. Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork, who have more NHL experience, and rookie Ryan Donato of Scituate have been given the best opportunities to compete for the position, while Senyshyn tries to expand his game and build on progress made last season.

 “I just want to worry about my development, not the place I’m doing it,” said Senyshyn, almost certain to be assigned to AHL Providence to start his second pro season. “I want to continue to make progress, take my game to the next level. (The Bruins) are going to bring me in when I’m ready.”

 At 21, Senyshyn is younger than Heinen (23), Donato and Bjork (both 22), all drafted in 2014 and headed for college programs. Senyshyn, the last of the Bruins’ three first-round selections in 2015 (No. 15 overall), had just finished his first full Major Junior season – a 26-goal, 45-point campaign with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

 Senyshyn went on to score 45 and 42 goals in his next two OHL seasons, but his future in the Bruins’ organization may lie in his ability to use his best asset – pure speed – in non-scoring situations.

 “Last year in Providence … he was used more a, what you’d call a third-line type of player,” said assistant coach Joe Sacco, whose move to play Senyshyn Tuesday night versus Washington played immediate dividends with the young forward scoring twice. “He had defensive responsibilities – playing against top lines, getting some penalty kill. I think they were trying to grow his game that way.”

 Senyshyn, therefore, faced two major adjustments as an AHL rookie: He had to adapt to the pro game, and learn what it’s like to play a less prominent offensive role.

 “Learning to be a pro is a hard process,” Senyshyn said. “That was a lot of what I was doing last year – learning to be a pro on and off the ice. I tried to learn from the older veterans – and them helping me through my rookie year was a lot of fun.

 “On the ice, I learned how to be hard on pucks, how to be defensively responsible. I learned how to be a lower-line guy who could help my team win in ways I wasn’t really used before.”

 Statistically, the season wasn’t an overwhelming success: Senyshyn scored 12 goals and 26 points over 66 games with the P-Bruins. His plus-3 was a solid number for a young player frequently competing against top offensive players.

 Senyshyn has noticed a year-over-year difference in this year’s training camp.

 While the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder didn’t score in the three-game Prospects Challenge in Buffalo earlier this month, he found “it definitely felt nice to have that advantage on some of those younger guys,” and said he “felt good about my details.” In Sunday’s local preseason opener against the Caps, he created scoring opportunities for himself and linemates Anton Blidh (a P-Bruins teammate last year) and minor-league veteran Mark McNeill by using his speed as a backchecker to break up plays and attack in transition.

 In a nod to Senyshyn’s shooting skills, Sacco added him to the power play with Krejci, Heinen, 2018 draftee Jakub Lauko and Zdeno Chara, the Bruins’ 41-year-old captain.

 “That was very cool,” said Senyshyn, an Ottawa native. “I grew up watching Zdeno Chara (a Senator from 2001-02 through ‘05-06). It’s kind of a dream come true, playing with him.”

 Senyshyn’s ultimate dream come true is to reach the NHL. Sacco said his best bet is to “use his speed to get in on the forecheck and create some havoc, come down the wing with some speed and put some pucks toward the net – just play his game, do the things that made him successful when he was a junior player.

 “But it takes time. He’s a young player. He’s got to gain that confidence.”

 Senyshyn is working on it.

 “I had to adapt from the OHL to the AHL, and it’s going to be a jump from the AHL to the NHL,” he said. “I just really want to focus on how I can expand and adapt my game, so I can be effective and useful for this team.”

Bruins 5, Caps 2: Youngster Zach Senyshyn scored twice to spark the Bruins offense in a 5-2 preseason victory over the Washington Capitals Tuesday night.

Also chipping in for the Bruins were prospects Cameron Hughes, Jakub Lauko and Sean Kuraly.

Bruins goalie Dan Vladar stopped 31 of 33 shots.

For the reigning champions, Riley Barber and Matt Niskanen scored.

Braden Holtby made six saves, and Ilya Samsonov stopped eights shots.

The Bruins will take on the Calagy Flames tonight in more preseason action.