Bruins sign big center Jaxon Nelson out of U. of Minnesota
With just four teams still standing in the NCAA hockey tournament, the college free agent frenzy has kicked into high gear this week.
The Bruins made a bit of a splash on Tuesday, signing University of Minnesota center Jaxon Nelson to a one-year entry-level contract that carries an NHL cap hit of $870,000. The deal will go into effect next season, with Nelson reporting to AHL Providence on an amateur tryout for the remainder of this season.
Nelson, 24, is a big (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), physical, two-way center who just wrapped up his fifth season of college hockey. He served as captain of a Golden Gophers team that beat Omaha in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Boston University in the regional final.
"Jaxon is a big, right shot, two-way center with leadership qualities as captain of a very successful collegiate program," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. "He has shown consistent growth throughout his time at the University of Minnesota and the Bruins are excited to have Jaxon join our organization."
Nelson didn't put up big offensive numbers for most of his college career, but he finished on an absolute heater, scoring 11 goals in the Gophers' final eight games this season, including three in their two NCAA Tournament games this past weekend. He finished the season with a career-high 19 goals and 31 points in 39 games while winning 52% of his faceoffs.
Last week, the Bruins signed two other college free agents out of Notre Dame, defenseman Drew Bavaro and goalie Ryan Bischel. They also signed Providence College forward and 2020 sixth-round pick Riley Duran to a two-year entry-level contract.
The Bruins were reportedly one of the finalists for Quinnipiac center Jacob Quillan, but he wound up signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. Meanwhile, it doesn't sound like they're much of a player for the other Quinnipiac prize, winger Collin Graf.
