The Boston Bruins announced on Tuesday afternoon that they had signed forward Jackson Nelson to an entry-level one-year contract, following his graduation from the University of Minnesota. Under an amateur tryout contract, he will report to AHL Providence for the duration of the 2023–24 campaign.
Playing all five years in the Twin Cities, Nelson was a graduate student with the Golden Gophers. The native place of him is Magnolia, Minnesota.
Nelson had 377 shots on goal and finished with 42 goals, 47 assists, and 89 points in 169 games with Minnesota. This last season, when he scored 19 goals and had 12 assists (31 points), was Nelson’s finest.
What does he bring to the team?
Nelson brings a rocket of a shot to the Bruins, and he also brings size to his game, something Boston can’t say about every forward on their roster.
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, don’t be alarmed if you see Nelson using his body to his advantage when playing the puck in the corner, especially on power play opportunities – a situation where he scored 13 times in his NCAA career.
The trick with Nelson when it comes to his physicality is staying disciplined and not taking the bad penalties. In his second season with the Gophers, he took 34 penalty minutes in just 31 games, giving him an average of around 1.1 penalty minutes per game.
When should we expect to see him in the NHL?
Conceivably, Nelson should be in the NHL by the 2024-25 season given the nature of his contract. Whether he stays following any potential call-ups is another story.
However, the way his contract is structured at just one year, and a cap hit of $870,000, the Bruins should be able to get a good look at him and be able to call him up a few times throughout the season whether it for depth, or for actual playing time.
With the absence of Milan Lucic, and the inconsistencies of Patrick Maroon, maybe Nelson will help fill both of their voids.
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