By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Boston Bruins made four selections through two rounds of the 2026 National Hockey League Draft, selecting goaltender Yuri Ivanov in the second round, forward Nils Bartholdsson in the third round, and forwards Matvei Kotkov and Oscar Olsson in the fourth round. Before the draft, the Bruins didn’t own a fifth-round draft pick; that changed when the team made a trade surrounding prospect Andre Gasseau, in which the Bruins received a fifth-round draft pick from the San Jose Sharks.
The fifth-round draft pick originally belonged to the Montreal Canadiens. With the 157th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Bruins selected defenseman Jacob Vandeven, making it the first defenseman general manager Don Sweeney selected in the draft.
Vandeven is a native of Komoka, Ontario. Vandeven played only eight games for the London Knights in the OHL and recorded no points in the 2025-26 regular season, but scored one goal during the 2026 playoffs. However, Vandeven was solid over the past two seasons in the GOJHL. In the 2024-25 season with the St. Thomas Stars, Vandeven recorded 29 points in 46 games. With the Komoka Kings this past season, Vandeven recorded 32 points in 47 games. At 6’6″, 207 lbs, Vandeven brings a huge presence on the ice as a defenseman who can play physical, block shots, clear pucks out, and use his offense when needed.
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