BREAKING: Bruins sign another Brilliant Star forward to one-year, entry level contract valuing $870,000

On Tuesday afternoon, the Boston Bruins revealed that they had signed forward Jaxon Nelson to a one-year, entry-level deal after his time at the University of Minnesota. He is set to join AHL Providence for the rest of the 2023-24 season under an amateur tryout contract.

The #NHLBruins have signed forward Jaxon Nelson to a one-year, entry-level contract.

📰: https://t.co/n4G4uagG0d pic.twitter.com/Q72VwNV3eB

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 2, 2024

Nelson, who completed his graduate studies with the Golden Gophers, spent his entire five-year collegiate career in the Twin Cities. Hailing from Magnolia, Minnesota, he played a total of 169 games for Minnesota, amassing 42 goals and 47 assists (89 points) while taking 377 shots on goal. His most successful season was the most recent one, during which he scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists (31 points).

What does he offer the team?

Nelson adds a powerful shot to the Bruins and brings a physical presence due to his size, a characteristic not found in every forward on Boston’s roster. Standing at 6 feet, 4 inches and weighing 220 pounds, it’s no surprise to see Nelson leveraging his body to gain an advantage when battling for the puck along the boards, particularly during power play opportunities, where he scored 13 goals during his NCAA career.

When it comes to his physical play, the key for Nelson is to maintain discipline and avoid taking unnecessary penalties. In his second season with the Gophers, he accumulated 34 penalty minutes in just 31 games, averaging around 1.1 penalty minutes per game.

When can we expect him to debut in the NHL?

It’s conceivable that Nelson could make his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season, considering the terms of his contract. Whether he remains with the team following any potential call-ups is uncertain.

Nevertheless, given the structure of his one-year contract with a cap hit of $870,000, the Bruins should have the opportunity to evaluate him extensively and potentially call him up several times throughout the season, whether for depth or significant playing time.

In light of the absence of Milan Lucic and the inconsistencies of Patrick Maroon, perhaps Nelson will contribute to filling the void left by both players.