By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
NHL development camps annually give teams and fans their first look at newly drafted prospects, along with a glimpse of the progress made by prospects already in the system. They also provide a platform for teams to bring in other undrafted or overlooked prospects, either to fill out the camp roster or with an eye to potentially sign them down the road. The Boston Bruins brought eight non-roster invites to their development camp this past week. Let’s get to know them a little:
David Deputy – RW – Miami (NCAA) – Deputy burst onto the scene last season as a freshman with the Miami Redhawks. The Gurnee, Illinois, native led the team in goalscoring 15-7-22 in 31 games, the most by a Redhawk player since the 2017-18 season. He quickly worked his way up to the top line alongside now-first-round-pick Ilia Morozov and helped Miami to an 18-win season, a 15-win improvement from the year before, and the most for the program since the 2014-15 season.
Mason Marcellus – LW – Quinnipiac (NCAA) – Marcellus, a late addition to development camp, comes in as one of the most seasoned skaters among the free agent crop. Recently named captain as a rising senior at Quinnipiac, Marcellus has recorded 32-76-108 in 115 career games with the Bobcats, recording at least 34 points each year, and has spent time playing alongside Chris Pelosi over the latter’s first two seasons.
Jaxsin Vaughan – RW – Everett (WHL) – The only Canadian junior hockey player of the group, Vaughan has four years under his belt with the Regina Pats and Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. He spent this past season as an alternate captain with the Silvertips, recording a career-high 21-17-38 in 68 games en route to a 57-win season and Ed Chynoweth Cup championship, the first in team history.
Max Burkholder – RD – Colorado College (NCAA) – Burkholder arrives at dev camp as the latest member of a growing pipeline between Colorado Springs and Boston, joining current Providence Bruin Ty Gallagher and previous camp attendees Ryan Koering and Gleb Veremyev. Burkholder entered his junior season as team captain but was limited to just three games with the Tigers due to injury. He’d previously posted a career-high 6-20-26 in 37 games as a sophomore.
Lincoln Krizizke – LD – Dubuque (USHL) – The youngest skater of the free agent crop. Krizizke went undrafted at the NHL Draft last weekend following his debut season with Dubuque in the USHL. He recorded 6-12-18 in 51 games from the blueline for the Fighting Saints, earning All-Rookie First Team honors. He’s committed to Ohio State for the 2027-28 NCAA season.
Michael Neumeier – LD – Western Michigan (NCAA) – The Saskatchewan-born defenseman is participating in his third development camp with a different team, having attended Seattle in 2024 and Vegas last year. He won ECAC Rookie of the Year in 2024-25 and finished his two years at Colgate with 15-28-43 in 72 games, ranking second in the NCAA in ice time per game as a sophomore. He’ll continue his career at Western Michigan after entering the transfer portal this offseason.
Kyle Chauvette – G – New Hampshire (NCAA) – Chauvette may have the most unique situation of every player at dev camp, as unlike most, he has already suited up for an NHL game. Chauvette served as the emergency backup goalie (EBUG) for the San Jose Sharks during their visit to TD Garden on March 12th. Chauvette had exhausted his collegiate eligibility the night before after his senior season with New Hampshire following three years at Union. As reported by Bridgette Proulx and noted by BNG colleague Mark Allred in a recent article, Chauvette is set to be the Bruins’ EBUG for this upcoming season.
Max Macchioni – G – Fitchburg State (NCAA) – Like Marcellus, Macchioni was a late addition to camp. Like Chauvette, he’s a goaltender with a unique background. The North Kingstown, RI native came to Warrior Ice Arena by way of the Fitchburg State Falcons out of DIII college hockey, where he posted a 22-20-5 record and a .919 Sv% in 50 career starts, and a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tournament title in 2025. He’s the only player at camp who has played professional games, making eight appearances for the Blue Ridge Bobcats of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) this past spring.
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