By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
Class is back in session. Of the 16 draft picks in the Boston Bruins system playing in the NCAA ranks this season, only three of them are defensemen. Depth along the blueline had been a question for the team all summer, despite investments being made at the draft. The NCAA free agent pool can offer the Bruins an extra avenue towards building up pipeline, something they’re already well acquainted with. From their own Development Camp prospects, to locals, or big game hunting, they have plenty of options available this year to do it again.
Bruins Development Camp Attendees:
CJ Foley – Jr – Dartmouth
- Position: RD
- Height/Weight: 5’11”, 175lbs
- Stats: 16-34-50 in 65 Games
Foley will be a name to watch for several reasons. He’s a highly skilled puck-moving defenseman who not only led Dartmouth in scoring from the blue line last year, he was also the top-scoring defenseman in the entire conference. Foley was the Ivy League Player of the Year and a unanimous All-ECAC First Team as a sophomore, and should be just as good, if not better, as a junior.
Foley flashed his skills at Bruins Development Camp over the summer, with Black n’ Gold colleague Tom Calautti remarking that he put on “quite a show”. Playing just a few hours north in New Hampshire, there will be plenty of chances for Bruins fans, as well as the Bruins brass, to keep an eye on him. Best of all, for those who keep a keen eye on the Bruins’ pipeline, Foley plays on the right side, where the organizational depth presents plenty of opportunity.
Ryan Koering – Soph – Colorado College
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 6’4”, 195lbs
- Stats: 1-2-3 in 30 Games
Koering didn’t light up the scoresheet as a freshman in Colorado Springs, but he has the tools to draw your attention. Most young skaters of his size take a while for their feet to catch up to their frame, but Calautti noted his speed and agility make him a more mobile defenseman than he appears. Tack on solid puck-handling and transition skills, and it’s easy to understand why he got the invite to Development Camp with just three points as a freshman.
Interestingly, all three points were scored in separate games against Denver. Koering is already on the statsheet with an assist against UConn to start his sophomore year. He’ll be a fun watch to see how far he eclipses his freshman scoring totals while on the Tigers’ second pair.
Ben Robertson – Jr – Michigan (via Cornell)
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 6’1”, 197lbs
- Stats: 7-31-38 in 71 Games
Robertson had been one of Cornell’s best defensemen throughout his underclassmen years with the program. After moving up the lineup as a freshman, he was entrenched in the top pair for his sophomore season and was one of the Big Red’s most heavily deployed skaters. Calautti praised his skating, particularly during breakouts and while walking the blueline to find open shooting lanes. EliteProspects describes Robertson’s game simply as “easy to appreciate.”
Robertson parlayed his performance into a transfer to Michigan, where he’s immediately slotted into the top pair for a Wolverines team that is looking to return to the NCAA Tournament after falling just outside the bubble last spring, breaking a streak of three consecutive Frozen Fours.
Hockey East Locals:
Frank Djurasevic – Jr – Maine (via Merrimack)
- Position: RD
- Height/Weight: 6’2”, 198lbs
- Stats: 11-27-38 in 73 Games
Djurasevic broke out as a sophomore with Maine, nearly tripling his freshman scoring output (7-21-28) while skating on the Black Bears’ second pair en route to a Hockey East Tournament title and NCAA Tournament #1 seed. He’s a good blend of skill and size; Mike McMahon noted him as a “strong and mobile defenseman who plays a positionally sound game”, and was a regular contributor on Maine’s power play last season.
He’ll be a name to watch for several reasons: he plays closer to home than most defensemen on this list, has received NHL interest via Development Camp invitations (from Winnipeg in 2024 and Dallas in 2025), and especially because, like CJ Foley, he plays on the right side.
Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg – Jr – UConn
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 6’6”, 205lbs
- Stats: 3-11-14 in 72 Games
One of the hottest trends in the NHL right now is building a big and mobile blueline, and the Bruins are no exception. Boston doesn’t have a single defenseman below 6ft on the main roster, and 11 defensemen measuring at least 6’3” throughout the entire organization. If they really wanted to lean into the size trend, Gustafsson-Nyberg should be on their radar.
He’s more of a defense-first, penalty-killing behemoth than an offensive threat, which would suit him just fine should he sign with a Bruins organization that has always prioritized defense first and has a history of developing college free agent blueliners. There would be competition within the Atlantic Division to fend off for his services, as VGN has attended the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp each of the last two years.
Lucas Olvestad – Sr. – UMass (via Denver)
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200lbs
- Stats: 5-25-30 in 92 Games
Olvestad was a regular in Denver’s lineup when they defeated Boston College to win the National title, but his career took off after he transferred to UMass following the championship game. He was on UMass’ top pair almost instantly to start his junior year, and his scoring output in Amherst (4-16-20 in 38 Games) doubled his first two years in Denver combined (1-9-10 in 54 Games).
The Bruins would have gotten a good look at him while keeping tabs on Dans Locmelis last season. Although they no longer have any prospects in the area, Olvestad, who was named a team captain for the Minutemen for 2025-26, should give Boston and Bruins fans enough reason to keep their eyes on Western Mass.
National Names to Know:
Mac Gadowsky – Jr – Penn St (via Army)
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 6’3” 185lbs
- Stats: 20-45-65 in 66 Games
Gadowsky was the most sought-after defenseman in the transfer portal over the summer, and he may very well be the most sought-after free agent in April. His sophomore year was one of the hottest stories in all of college hockey, racking up 16-26-42 in 38 games with Army, leading all defensemen in the nation in goals and points, earning Atlantic Hockey Defenseman of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors, and finishing Top 10 in Hobey Baker voting, the first player in program history to do so. His white hot sophomore year earned him an invite to the Nashville Predators’ Development Camp.
Gadowsky has the frame and the skill to be an absolute terror from the blueline, and he will continue to do so. Despite the sky-high demand for him out of the portal, it was no surprise that he chose to commit to Penn State to play for his father, Guy, and make them a popular Frozen Four pick. Tack on the addition of presumed first-overall pick Gavin McKenna, and the Nittany Lions are going to be a must-watch this season.
Boston Buckberger – Jr – Denver
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 6’, 190lbs
- Stats: 14-43-57 in 85 Games
Buckberger was a teammate of Olvestad’s on the National Championship-winning Denver team. While Olvestad hit the portal and moved on to UMass, Buckberger stuck around and had another strong season with the Pioneers. He eclipsed his freshman year totals in both goalscoring and points (9-21-30), and would have been on track to beat his assist mark had an injury not prematurely end his season in the NCHC Tournament Final against Western Michigan.
EliteProspects describes Buckberger as a crafty blueliner who creates by outthinking his opposition. Coming into his junior year as an alternate captain, one can only imagine he’ll be in high demand this spring after another year of coaching under David Carle, and especially should Denver make another deep NCAA Tournament run. It almost would be too perfect if Boston ended up signing with the Bruins.
Jake Livanavage – Jr – North Dakota
- Position: LD
- Height/Weight: 5’10”, 185lbs
- Stats: 9-48-57 in 78 Games
Livanavage has been one of North Dakota’s best players over his first two seasons in Grand Forks. He played top-pair minutes right away in his freshman debut and hasn’t relinquished that role since, placing fifth and third on the team in scoring surrounded by upperclassmen.
EliteProspects praised his skill as a puck-moving defenseman and power play quarterback. Despite the connotations that may come with that description, Livanavage isn’t a negative defense. He’s been one of NoDak’s leading shotblockers throughout his tenure and has a career +5 rating. Heading into his junior year as an alternate captain, it’ll be worth watching the Fighting Hawks more closely to watch him set up Will Zellers over and over.
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