The Boston Bruins today announced a two-year entry-level deal for 22 year-old forward Matt Filipe, who has spent his last four years at Northeastern University.
Much like so many Boston Bruins players in recent years, Matt Filipe has honed his game in the collegiate ranks, once again proving the value of the NCAA system to NHL teams.
In signing an entry-level deal at 22 years-old, the Boston Bruins will get a proper chance to check Filipe out and determine whether he is true NHL talent, without any concerns about growing into a teenage body or other such factors you might find with a player fresh from junior.
Ironically given the current first round match-up, Matt Filipe was originally selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round (67th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He went unsigned however and now represents a great chance at ‘found money’.
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Even more satisfying than the fact we snatched an essentially ‘free’ player is the fact that he’s yet another Massachusetts kid.
There seems to have been a real trend and appeal to bring Massachusetts-born players home to play for the Boston Bruins and it surely only increases their performance level, turning out for the NHL team representing their home state.
Statistically, Matt Filipe looks a good fit in the line-up with a 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame suggesting we might see slight power forward tendencies. In fact, Dobber Prospects sees him as exactly that; a raw, skilled power forward with bottom-six upside.
His final year at Northeastern, he scored 9 goals and added 13 assists for a return of 22 points in 30 games. This was a significant improvement on his previous campaigns, though he regularly floated around that 8 to 9 goal mark.
In terms of what his overall fit might be with the Boston Bruins; it’s a little hard to judge but you’d have to imagine he could eventually end up a better option than Nick Ritchie on the third line. Either that or with Joakim Nordstrom’s expiring deal, maybe he’s being brought in with eyes on putting him on the fourth line.
Perhaps and possibly more likely, Matt Filipe will end up spending some time with the Providence Bruins before he finds a fit in Boston. He certainly looks to be a decent addition to the ranks regardless though.