By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The Boston Bruins have done a masterful job in retooling their team and rebuilding their prospect pool over the last calendar year. While names like James Hagens, Will Zellers, and Dans Locmelis headline the pipeline, there is a lot to be desired from their prospects on defense, particularly on the right side.
The college hockey free agent market presents an opportunity for the organization to fortify depth on the blueline with more pro-ready options than a typical draft pick. With conference tournaments in full swing and the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, here are a few names to keep an eye on as their seasons either wind down or heat up.
Jake Livanavage – LD – Jr – North Dakota
Livanavage has a strong case as the premier left defenseman on the free-agent market. A skilled two-way puck-moving defenseman who devours minutes and can play in any situation, he’s been the backbone of North Dakota’s defense ever since he set foot on campus. As of the Fighting Hawks’ NCHC Tournament quarterfinal sweep last weekend, Livanavage has recorded 14-68-82 in 113 games over his three-year career.
His decorated resume with the Fighting Hawks includes NCHC All-Rookie Team, two All-NCHC First Team, and All-America Second Team honors, along with program Rookie of the Year and Team MVP as an underclassman. All the while averaging 25 minutes a night against NCAA Tournament-to-National Championship-caliber opposition.
Livanavage also featured on the U.S. Collegiate Selects Team at the Spengler Cup in December, skating at least 17 minutes in all four games, the last three on the top pair. He’s a rare case of a well-seasoned college free agent capable of stepping into pro minutes right away. Regardless of the logjam atop the depth chart of the Bruins’ defense, Livanavage would be a quality addition to the pipeline.
Boston Buckberger – LD – Jr – Denver
His first name alone makes him an obvious target for the Bruins, but there’s more to Buckberger than just good marketing. Like Livanavage, Buckberger is an experienced two-way blueliner on one of college hockey’s premier programs and has steadily grown into a leader during his time with the Pioneers.
Under the guidance of Head Coach David Carle, Buckberger has been a core piece of a dominant DU run, already skating in 122 games, including a National Championship in 2024 and a Frozen Four last season. Over that span, Buckberger has recorded 22-61-83, and has taken on much greater responsibilities this year, serving as an alternate captain and seeing his ice time jump by over three and a half minutes per game.
Coach Carle was one of the hottest names on the carousel last summer, and several of Buckberger’s teammates have signed pro contracts since their National Championship win. If Livanavage comes off the market quickly, Buckberger would be a strong alternative with a championship pedigree to add to the left-shot defense pool.
Ben Robertson – LD – Jr – Michigan
Robertson is a name that Bruins fans will want to pay especially close attention to should he elect to forgo his senior year and sign a pro contract after this season. He transferred to Michigan for this season after two years at Cornell, where he played with Boston draft pick Ryan Walsh and current Providence Bruin Dalton Bancroft, who signed as an undrafted free agent.
The Bruins connections don’t end there for Robertson, as he attended the team’s Development Camp over the summer. His skating and puck-handling skills particularly caught the attention of the Black n Gold team in attendance, and have been on full display at both Cornell and Michigan.
He racked up 7-31-38 over 71 games with the Big Red, skating on one of the nation’s top defenses, and winning back-to-back ECAC Tournaments. Since transferring to Michigan, he has led all Wolverine blueliners with 18 points and was named the National Co-Defender of the Month in October for the number one-ranked team heading into the postseason.
Robertson’s connections with the Bruins through Dev Camp, as well as with former teammates, make him the most likely to sign among free-agent defensemen. His IQ and puck skills would be an attractive addition to further bolster organizational depth on the left side.
CJ Foley – RD – Jr – Dartmouth
Like Robertson, Foley also attended the Bruins Development Camp over the summer and thrives in a puck-moving role on the blueline. Both have very similar builds, skillsets, and Ivy League backgrounds, but the biggest trait in Foley’s favor is that he is a right-handed defenseman, which we’ve already established as a greater area of need within the Bruins organization.
Foley has skated on Dartmouth’s top pair for each of the past two seasons, and as their primary power-play quarterback, recording 19-50-69 in 95 career games in Hanover. As a sophomore, Foley earned All-ECAC and All-Ivy League First Team Honors for his 11-19-30 season, which led the team in scoring. This year, while his scoring pace has cooled, he has been one of the most heavily deployed defensemen in the country with nearly 25 minutes of ice time per game, and the Big Green are on the doorstep of their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1980.
Boston’s familiarity with the Hanover, Mass native would make Foley a strong candidate to sign, should they look to add depth and offense on the right side of the blueline between the trade deadline and the draft.
Vinny Borgesi – RD – Sr – Northeastern
Borgesi is without a doubt the top right-side defenseman and arguably THE top defenseman on the free-agent market this year. A skilled and smooth-skating two-way blueliner, Borgesi has been one of the most durable and consistent players at his position, leading the nation in time on ice each of the last two seasons, with 28 and 27 minutes a night, respectively, and recording 16-64-80 in 132 career games.
He’s Northeastern’s main puck mover, power play quarterback, penalty killer, and their captain. Bruins fans may look at Borgesi and think of Torey Krug due to their comparable stature (5ft 8 – 5ft 9), but Borgesi plays a more comprehensive game, whereas Krug focused more heavily on driving offense.
Defensemen with that combination of production, leadership, mobility, and usage are always hot commodities on the college market, especially now when the NHL is starved for quality right-shot defenders. He is sure to be one of the most coveted free agents league-wide, and Boston could benefit from competing for his signature.
Evan Murr – RD – Jr – Minnesota State
Murr is an under-the-radar prospect for the Bruins to reinforce their right-shot depth within the organization. Playing for Minnesota State in the CCHA, he won’t get the same love as other players above at bigger brand-name schools, but he has been a rock-solid defenseman for three years in Mankato.
Ryan Sikes from PuckPreps described him as “an elite defender and premier offensive engine with top-tier playmaking and puck distribution.” He leads the Mavericks in time on ice and has led Mavericks defensemen in scoring in all three of his seasons, tallying up 22-56-78 in 113 total games. He’s up for his second consecutive CCHA Defenseman of the Year award and has made at least the All-CCHA Second Team in every season.
Murr may not be the flashiest or most well-known name on the free agent market, but he’s undeniably an effective defenseman. He would be an interesting low-risk, high-upside developmental option to bring in for a Bruins coaching staff that knows how to refine college talent.
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