By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on Twitter / X @cookejournalism
Another local kid is primed to rep the Black and Gold. On Sunday evening, general manager Don Sweeney announced that the Boston Bruins had signed Riley Duran to a two-year entry-level contract with a National Hockey League cap hit of $867,500.
Duran won’t have to go far. Finishing up his junior campaign at Providence College, he’ll report to the Providence Bruins on an amateur tryout contract for the rest of the season. The Woburn, Massachusetts native was a sixth-round pick by the Bruins in the 2020 NHL draft.
Duran is coming off a season in the NCAA, during which he posted 9-7-16 with the Friars in 35 games. While Duran produced 8-12-20 in six fewer games as a sophomore, Duran has impressed across the Hockey East landscape this season and has proven his readiness to advance to the American Hockey League. In his three-year career in Providence, the forward totaled 27-28-55 in 102 games.
At 6’1″and 194 pounds, Duran is a strong and powerful skater with a booming shot. The 22-year-old was slotted on the left flank on Providence’s first power play unit this season, channeling his inner David Pastrnak by teeing up one-timers. He’s also demonstrated a solid foundation for his two-way game, joining Ryan Mougenel’s Providence squad for the rest of the 2023-24 season to get his feet wet in the professional ranks. He’ll accompany Drew Bavaro—who recently made his professional debut in Providence after being inked to an entry-level contract–as both of Boston’s NCAA free agency moves this season.
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