How did the Bruins' prospects do during their NCAA seasons in 2023-24?

Throughout the 2023-24 season, the Boston Bruins had the second-most draft picks playing in Division I hockey behind the Detroit Red Wings, and the Nashville Predators who both had 13, respectively.

Of the Bruins draft picks, there were two freshmen, five sophomores, three juniors, and two graduate students. Half played in the Hockey East, three in the ECAC, and three in the NCHC.

All had very different seasons with very different results. Here is how each of Boston's draft picks fared in this year's college season.

Dans Locmelis - Massachusetts

Meet the first freshman of the group: Dans Locmelis. Locmelis was a pleasant surprise for Greg Carvel and his staff out in Amherst. He took a little while to get going, but when he did, he was praised multiple times for being poised with the puck, and sometimes even ahead of schedule.

Locmelis finished the season playing in 30 games, and tallying seven goals and seven assists. The Latvian forward was constantly in the middle of every play. He racked up his most goals (two) against the University of Alaska-Anchorage, and most assists (two) against the University of New Hampshire. He also picked up a career-high of five shots on goal on the road against the University of Maine.

With Locmelis going into his sophomore season with the Minutemen, it's likely he will stay out in Western Massachusetts for another year or two before he turns pro, and by that time, the Bruins will be more than ready for him to arrive.

Riley Duran - Providence College

Riley Duran was one of a few players on this list that actually turned pro this year following the season in college. Duran decided to not play his senior season at Providence College and decide to play just 12 minutes down the road at the Amica Mutual Pavillion.

During his final season with the Friars, Duran played in all 35 games and scored nine goals and seven assists, in addition to adding a +2 rating to his ledger.

Duran will likely start the season in camp with the Boston, but will be in one of the first rounds of cuts when it comes down to it as he will need a bit more time to develop before playing in the NHL despite racking up his first professional goal just a few weeks after leaving PC.

Philip Svedeback - Providence College

Philip Svedeback was a workhorse to say the absolute least for Providence in the 2023-24 season as he shouldered the entire load for the Friars in net, not letting any other goaltenders see the ice at all throughout the season.

Svedeback played in all 35 games, going 18-13-4 all while improving his GAA to 2.32 and setting a career-high in shutouts with four.

With two more years left of eligibility, but with the Bruins burgeoning with goaltenders, don't be alarmed if you see his rights traded to another team or for them to take their time in signing him to any sort of deal.

East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC)

Dustyn McFaul - Clarkson University

Dustyn McFaul is another one out of this list that went pro this year after playing five years at Clarkson University. McFaul played in three games with the Florida Everblades (ECHL) and recorded one assist.

In McFaul's graduate season, he played in 35 games racking up a career-high three goals. He, however, was well short of his career-high in points of nine (2022-23 season).

McFaul will likely be on a short leash should he choose to sign with the Bruins before the next season due to his age, but at this time he remains unsigned.

Ryan Walsh - Cornell

Meet the second freshman on this list, Ryan Walsh from Cornell University. Walsh made his mark on the ECAC winning Rookie of the Week for the week of February 5, 2024.

Walsh played in 35 games, including both games in the NCAA Regional in Springfield, MA. He scored 12 goals, and racked up 10 assists. Walsh had five game-winning goals in his first season with the Big Red, the most in program history by a freshman.

He also had four multi-point games in his first season with Cornell. Walsh also had eight games where he won 10 or more faceoffs, including one stretch where he won 10 or more faceoffs in three consecutive games.

Mason Langenbrunner - Harvard

Son of Bruins' development coach, Jamie Langenbrunner, Mason Langenbrunner is making his mark on the defensive end of the puck for Harvard University.

In his first season, he picked up one goal (his only point of the season) in 34 games, and this past season he played in 32 games - racking up five points (all assists). This season, however, the big jump was his blocked shots total that doubled from 18 to 36.

Langenbrunner also lowered his penalty count from 11 penalties to four. He will likely spend all four years with the Crimson just to develop even further, so don't expect him to make the jump to the pros anytime soon.

NCHC

Quinn Olson - University of Minnesota at Duluth

Quinn Olson played in all 37 games for the University of Minnesota-Duluth in his final season. He finished with with four goals and 17 assists for the Bulldogs.

Olson has yet to be signed by Boston, and if he is to be signed by the Bruins or some other team, it may be a longer road than anticipated to the NHL given his age.

One thing that will play into benefitting Olson, however, is his ability to lead a team. In fact, he is one of the only players on this list that has either an "A" or a "C" on his jersey. It may be a long road to the NHL for him, but he should be able to make it.

Cole Spicer - University of Minnesota at Duluth

Olson's teammate, Cole Spicer, got off to an excellent start for Minnesota-Duluth before being deemed academically ineligible to play for the team.

It came as a tough blow to Spicer who started out the season on tear scoring five goals, and tallying and four assists in the first 17 games of the season. Spicer was limited to practice with the team for the rest of the season, but could not play.

It remains to be seen if Spicer will be academically eligible for next season, but given the history it may give the Boston some pause to sign him directly following his junior year. On the other hand, it may not, as he may come out firing on all cylinders and be ready to go from day one in Duluth.

Jake Schmaltz - University of North Dakota

Jake Schmaltz is the second member on this list with an "A" or a "C" on his jersey, this time it's for the University of North Dakota. While, Schmaltz didn't put up the selfish numbers to be considered an offensive player on this list, he very much so belongs on that portion of the list.

In the 2023-24 season, Schmaltz played in 36 games for the Fighting Hawks, scoring just a single goal and racking up 10 assists.

Schmaltz more than doubled his shot total in his junior season at North Dakota, and in his senior season he is looking to continue that and maybe find the back of the net a bit more than he did this past year.