The Boston Bruins have added a college standout to their organization.
On Tuesday, the team announced they had signed forward Jaxon Nelson to a one-year, entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit of $870,000.
The contract will be for the 2024-25 season. For the remainder of this season, Nelson will report to the Bruins’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on an amateur tryout.
The undrafted Nelson is coming off a fruitful five-year career at the University of Minnesota, where he served as team captain this past season. He was an assistant captain on the Golden Gophers team that made it all the way to the national championship game last year, ultimately losing to Quinnipiac in a thrilling game. The Magnolia, Minnesota native was also on the team that won the Big Ten Championship in 2021.
Nelson, who stands 6 foot-4 and weighs 225 pounds, combines size with a scoring touch. If he can make the NHL roster next season, Bruins fans will certainly rally around him.
In 169 games with Minnesota, the 24-year-old scored 42 goals and 89 points, scoring a career-high 31 points this season. Nelson scored three goals during the Sioux Falls Regional, where Boston University eliminated the Gophers in the national quarterfinals.
As a result of the signing, Boston has 30 contracts signed through next season. According to CapFriendly, the Bruins have over $21.5 million in projected cap space for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Bruins (43-17-15) are sitting atop the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Florida Panthers. They are also fighting for the President’s Trophy once again, sitting three points behind the New York Rangers.
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