By: Brandon Murdock | Follow me on Twitter/X @Brandonmurdoc11
The rise of the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool is something that Bruins fans have been waiting to see for a long time. General Manager Don Sweeney has done a good job over the last two drafts and at last year’s trade deadline to bolster this group.
Of course, the first few names that come to mind for fans are first-round selections, Dean Letourneau and James Hagens. Especially after Hagens just signed his Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement with the Providence Bruins. As well as Will Zellers, who has been tearing it up for the University of North Dakota. But Cooper Simpson, out of the United States Hockey League, has been making a name for himself as well.
Simpson, who plays for the Youngstown Phantoms, was drafted by the Bruins in the third round, (79th overall), in the 2025 National Hockey League draft. Since then, he has done nothing but put up numbers for Youngstown. He is currently second in the USHL in points with 72, including 33 goals and 39 assists. This was supported by a hat-trick on Friday night to go along with his five-point weekend.
This season, Simpson has recorded 24 multi-point games, six of which have included three or more points. He is constantly at the forefront of the Phantoms’ offense.
Similar to Letourneau making a leap from his freshman to sophomore season, Simpson has shown improvement each year in the USHL. In his first year in the league, he recorded just 13 points in 31 games. He followed that up the next season with eight points in nine games. These two seasons were with the Tri-City Storm before he was traded to the Phantoms last summer, where he has blossomed into a star.
Simpson is full of pace and possesses good puck-handling skills, allowing him to clear space and fire off shots in tight areas. His skating is incredible, but his real strength is his shot.
He can shoot from anywhere and will, as he is currently third in the league in shots. His high-end offense is a welcome sign for an organization that desperately needs it from its forward group.
He is also a force on the power play, which has become a common theme for recent Bruins prospects. This season, he has 14 goals and 24 assists on the man-advantage.
This is the second year in a row that the Bruins have had a prospect dominate in the USHL. Last season, Zellers was named the USHL Player of the Year before heading to college. Simpson will surely be in the running for that same award as the regular season winds down.
Similar to Zellers, Simpson is committed to the University of North Dakota and will be joining the Fighting Hawks in the Fall. He will be joining a tough National Collegiate Hockey Conference that will surely test him and should develop him into an even better player. Simpson is rising, and rising fast. If you did not know the name before, you surely will soon.
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