By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The Boston Bruins made a clear statement about their organizational priorities at the 2026 National Hockey League Entry Draft, selecting two goaltenders in Yuri Ivanov in the third round (56th overall) and Roberto Leonardo Henriquez in the sixth round (170th overall). With these picks, the Bruins demonstrated their commitment to building long-term depth between the pipes and identified the need to take a major swing yesterday in day two of the draft festivities at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
General Manager Don Sweeney addressed the decision in his post-draft press conference, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the picks. “Well, obviously, we selected two goaltenders, and you know, our guys have done a lot of work on that. It’s not like you, take an approach where you’re just gonna take a goalie every year, and we just felt this year there were two players we were able to select who were in positions that we valued.”
“You know, sometimes it takes a little time for them to jump to the next level, you know, MHL, VHL, and then KHL. So, you know, we’ll be able to monitor that one, because, uh, it’s a long timeline, and we felt we needed to get back out in front of having depth in that position, so we attacked it today. Presented, and our guys did a lot of work to be able to feel like they were good in that spot.”
Boston Bruins Second Round Selection Goaltender Yuri Ivanov
Ivanov, the Russian netminder taken 56th overall, was a focal point of the Bruins’ second-round selection strategy. Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Nadeau provided insight into the team’s evaluation process: “Yeah, no, I think this was an interesting goalie year. Um, certainly we’re cognizant of public lists and what’s out there. But, you know, for us, we’ve got to look at the attributes and value the players the way we value them. Um, you know, we had the opportunity to watch him play live a number of times.”
“Arnie Bondarev, our Russian scout, saw him a number of times. We watched him on video. We tracked him. Uh, certainly as the year went on, we got a little bit more excited about his game. He had a few, you know, really strong games at the end of the year. He’s part of Gold Star Hockey, so he goes down to the camp prior to the draft. We got a chance to see him live down there and meet with him. Uh, we’re just really excited about where his game could get to. Um, one of those picks where, you know, you could look at the list and say, “Okay, is it worth waiting on him and taking a chance that he’s there later on?” But for us, if you want the player, you know, we didn’t want to risk waiting. So for us to go and pick him where we did, we’re really comfortable with that swing.”
Ivanov, a 17-year-old native of Moskva, Russia, catches with his left hand and stands at 6′-3″ and weighs in at 166 pounds. Last season in the MHL with his hometown MHK Spartak Moskva team, the tenth-ranked international goaltender per the NHL’s final rankings, went 13-3-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
Boston Bruins Sixth Round Selection Goaltender Roberto Henriquez
Henriquez, chosen in the sixth round, adds another layer of depth to the system. Ryan Nadeau, Director of Amateur Scouting, discussed what made Henriquez stand out to the Bruins: “Yeah. We love his competitiveness. Um, kid who had a real strong year in Green Bay, um, battles hard, uh, like the athleticism. Just a kid who, you know, made a jump from last year, was on our radar pretty early with some play, um, with the way he can attack pucks and just, y- again, we stayed on it. We have a, we have a really good, um, group with Bob Essensa and Mike Dunham, and their ability to get out, watch games, and really digest a lot of video. Um, just a player that they like and are excited to work with.”
The Bruins’ scouting staff followed Henriquez closely throughout his strong season with Green Bay in the United States Hockey League (Tier 1 Junior), noting his competitiveness, athleticism, and growth over the past year. His ability to battle for pucks and make key saves under pressure convinced the Bruins that he was worth selecting, even late in the draft. With the guidance of a strong goalie development group, the organization is optimistic about Henriquez’s potential to grow into a valuable prospect.
Roberto is 6′-2″ and 185 pounds, and was born in Slovakia, who also has dual citizenship in the Dominican Republic. This left-handed catching netminder spent the 2025-26 regular season playing for the Green Bay Gamblers, posting a 21-9-4 record, along with a 2.22 GAA and .921 Save% in 37 games played. The 19-year-old is committed to playing in the NCAA for the 2026-27 campaign with the Boston College Eagles of the Hockey East Conference.
Current Boston Bruins Goaltending Depth
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo was a historic one, with a record-breaking 32 goaltenders selected over the weekend. This unprecedented run on netminders underscored just how critical it was for the Boston Bruins to address their own organizational depth in goal—a move that, given the landscape, now appears all the more prudent.
At the NHL level, the Bruins are set with the reliable tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpidalo, while Michael DiPietro provides a dependable third option. Down in Providence, the recent signing of Simon Zajicek to a one-year, two-way contract alongside Max Lundgren, who signed a one-year, entry-level deal, ensures the AHL Bruins have a solid duo to lean on for the upcoming season. However, beyond that, cracks in the pipeline quickly become apparent. With former Kelly Cup Champion Luke Cavallin rumored not to be returning, and collegiate prospect Philip Svedback likely to become a free agent after August 15th, the organization’s depth chart was on the verge of thinning out dangerously.
In this context, the Bruins’ decision to draft two new goaltenders stands out as not only timely but necessary. While some may question the wisdom of using multiple picks on netminders, the sheer volume of goaltenders taken this year—paired with the Bruins’ own looming depth gaps—makes a compelling case for the moves. Strengthening the crease from within is never a bad strategy, especially in a year where the league as a whole prioritized the position. For Boston, these additions could prove to be longer-term developmental processes as it looks to maintain a robust pipeline, guided by Bob Essensa and Mike Dunham, and avoid future gaps in its creative developmental structure.
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