( Photo Credit: UMD Athletics / umdbulldogs.com )
By: Mark Allred | Follow Me On Twitter @BlackAndGold277
Per Anthony Kwetkowski of @BruinsNetwork on Twitter and host of the Bruins Network Podcast Show is reporting that the Boston Bruins are interested in the University of Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Nick Wolff. The Eagan, Minnesota native is a 6′-5″ 230-pound blueliner and is currently in his senior year with his Bulldogs club. A big rugged blueliner like himself is certainly going to garner serious attention in the spring of 2020 from many NHL General Managers that will be circling above like vultures as soon as NCAA commitments are through. In Mr. Kwetkowski’s tweet below it sounds like Bruins GM Don Sweeney is getting ahead of the game.
Hearing the Bruins have significant interest in Nick Wolff of Minnesota-Duluth. Wolff, 23, is a 6’5” left-shot defender who weighs 230lbs and is quite tough to play against. Don Sweeney was in attendance today to watch Quinn Olson (Bs prospect) and Captain Nick Wolff. #NHLBruins
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) December 30, 2019
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As mentioned above, Sweeney took part in a scouting mission to Merrimack College as the Bulldogs club was at Lawler Arena in North Andover, Massachusetts for non-conference games against the Warriors yesterday and today. The Bruins GM was already there to look at Bulldogs left-winger Quinn Olsen who was selected in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is having an up and down year in his freshman year in the state with 10,000 lakes learning the rigors of the collegiate playing lifestyle. With three points (1-2-3) in 14 games in his first season, the 18-year-old Calgary, Canada native looks to get back to the offensive production ways that saw him post 34-85-119 numbers in two seasons in the AJHL with the Okotoks Oilers.
SOG 8-5 UMD with 5:02 left in the first period. Hard to watch this series and not be impressed with UMD defenseman Nick Wolff. Big, strong, physical. Plays with a swagger.
— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) December 30, 2019
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Now back to the article topic at hand talking about Nick Wolff. This isn’t the first time the Bruins were close enough to scout the 23-year-old defenseman as Wolff’s been in Boston as a development camp invite during the previous two beginning of summer events held at the Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Massachusetts. This season with the Bulldogs thus far, Wolff has contributed four assists in 16 games and has 14-33-47 numbers in 139 career NCAA Division I games. Nick is a left shooting defenseman the Bruins depth doesn’t necessarily need with a plethora of available blueliners shooting from the same side but his size and aggressiveness as a shutdown defender on the backend always seem to find a way to the B’s organization.
Besides being a monster at 6-5, 230, Nick Wolff flashes a little grin in every scrum that probably rubs opponents the wrong way
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) December 30, 2019
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Wolff’s leadership is an attractive attribute that Sweeney and scouting staff might navigate to above other areas of his game that need to continue to develop at this time. He’s a two time back-to-back NCAA National Champion with the Bulldogs and even shared the same ice recently in raising the ultimate collegiate award with Bruins prospect Karson Kuhlman who was captain of the Bulldogs when they were the nation’s best during the 2017-18 campaign. Kuhlman was born in Esko, Minnesota north of where Wolff grew up which borders Duluth close to Lake Superior.
Nick Wolff setting the tone early with a big hit on the blue line. 💥
1st Period | PC 0 | UMD 0#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/bOfw9H4paZ
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2019
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This certainly bears watching as the NCAA Men’s Division I hockey season is in the middle of it’s regular season but ideas like these have worked in the past when Sweeney and staff are out looking to sign undrafted talent with high rewards and minimal risk. Some previous players that have seen this route taken from the Bruins organization are names such as, forwards Noel Acciari, Austin Czarnik, Frank Vatrano, and most recently defenseman Cooper Zech.
.@UMDMensHockey GOAL! Nick Wolff gives the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the second period.
📱 https://t.co/5LtEuPSoDV pic.twitter.com/1b2evJe2n0
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) October 26, 2019
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Double Up
Nick Wolff likes the good stuff, going top shelf to make it 2-0 Bulldogs!!#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/qyTOkKRUmL
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2018
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🎥 @AHLBruins head coach Jay Leach talks Jack Studnicka, camp invite Nick Wolff, and Dan Vladar following Day 2 of #BruinsDevCamp: pic.twitter.com/Lbxnik18Qn
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 27, 2019
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. (En zor şey harekete geçme kararıı vermektir, geriye kalan ise sadece azimdir.) – Amelia Earhart