(Photo Credit: University of Minnesota Athletics)

By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on Twitter / X @cookejournalism

The Boston Bruins have made a splash in the NCAA free-agent market. Don Sweeney announced on Tuesday morning that Boston had signed Jaxon Nelson to a one-year, entry-level contract worth $870,000. Nelson–a product of the University of Minnesota–will report to the Providence Bruins on an amateur tryout basis.

The 6’4″, 220-pound power forward just wrapped up his graduate year at Minnesota, where he posted 19-12-31, including three goals in the NCAA national tournament. Nelson flipped the switch in his last eight collegiate games, lighting the lamp 11 times. Nelson jumps to the American Hockey League, having played 169 games at the NCAA ranks, totaling 42-47-89. This season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team and the NCAA Sioux Falls Regional All-Tournament Team.

Nelson has proven his ability to score around the net and has a quick release with the puck on his stick. He’ll join a Providence team that recently hauled in another NCAA talent in Riley Duran, where he’ll look to get his feet wet in the AHL. As for the Bruins and Collin Graf, that potential signing becomes a bit more unlikely.