BOSTON — Years from now, it will be interesting to look back at the 2025-26 hockey season and determine which team featured more future Boston Bruins regulars - the Providence Bruins or Boston College.
If Vegas had odds on such things, they’d likely be pretty close.
After the NHL’s two-day draft ended on Saturday, the Boston College roster this fall figures to be filled with players whose draft rights belong to the NHL team just up the road.
Boston College has always produced professional talent and many members of the Eagles Alumni Association’s NHL chapter have spent time in Boston, including Bill Guerin, Brian Leetch, Craig Janney and Steve Heinze.
More recently, BC alumni Patrick Brown and Marc McLaughlin have each been up and down between Boston and Providence.
But this year the total will be especially large. Six Bruins prospects, including three of their highest recent draft picks, will all be Eagles.
General manager Don Sweeney joked that the arrangement reduces travel costs.
“Adam McQuaid, who heads up our development, that’s an easy commute for him,” he said laughing.
In actuality, it’s largely a fortunate accident. Most picked BC before the Bruins picked them.
“It’s unique. It’s one of the coincidences that happen. They made decisions regardless of where they’re being drafted,” Sweeney said. “Is it a benefit that they’re in you’re backyard and sometimes practicing at Warrior so we can watch them and sometimes go down and say hello? Yeah. There’s a good benefit to that.
“They get to know the city. They’re excited about our team. They might come to see a game,” he continued. “They know they’re playing the Beanpot (at TD Garden) where we play every night. It’s a nice side benefit when they go there.”
The Bruins drafted James Hagens in the first round and Will Moore in the second this weekend. Both figured to be top six forwards in maroon and gold.
BC's Dean Letourneau and NEU's Jack Henry stare each other down during the semi-final round of the men’s Beanpot hockey tournament between Northeastern University and Boston College at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. on February 3, 2025.Katie Morrison-O'Day
Boston is hoping that Dean Letourneau, last year’s No. 1 pick, who struggled as a freshman at BC, will take a step forward and join them as key contributors at the Heights..
Oskar Jellvik (Boston’s fifth-rounder in 2021) and Andre Gasseau (Bruins’ seventh-rounder in 2021) will be seniors for the Eagles. Kristian Kostadinski (Bruins seventh rounder in 2023) will be a freshman at BC this year too.
BC's Oskar Jellvik and NEU's Cam Lund battle for the puck during the semi-final round of the men’s Beanpot hockey tournament between Northeastern University and Boston College at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. on February 3, 2025.Katie Morrison-O'Day
European players often relocate to North America after being drafted either to play junior hockey or go to college. Jellvik and Kostadinski each enrolled at BC after being drafted by the Bruins.
