By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
They say you can never have too much of a bad thing. In the case of the 2025-26 Boston Bruins, you can never have too many draft picks playing at Boston College.
The 2025 NHL Draft saw the Bruins select BC players with their first two picks. After James Hagens fell to Boston at seventh overall, the Bruins doubled down on the Eagles by selecting incoming freshman William Moore 51st overall in the second round. The picks marked the third consecutive year that the Bruins drafted a BC-bound prospect, after Dean Letourneau in 2024 and Kristian Kostadinski in 2023.
With Hagens already having spent a year on campus, Moore’s arrival on Chestnut Hill will make him one of six Bruins picks on the Eagles roster for the 2025-26 NCAA Hockey season, joining co-captain Andre Gasseau, Oskar Jellvik, and the aforementioned Hagens, Letourneau, and Kostadinski.
Like Hagens, Moore was not projected to be on the board when it was time for the Bruins to make their pick. Moore spent his draft year with the US National U18 team, finishing second in scoring with 27-32-59 in 64 games, including 10-11-21 in 25 games against USHL competition. While his production was still solid, especially given that he didn’t turn 18 until March, his performance didn’t quite live up to initial expectations heading into the season.
Early draft class rankings had him slated as a mid-late first-round prospect, but he settled into the 30-40 range by June, to Boston’s benefit. The Bruins did not initially own the pick used to select Moore; they acquired it at the trade deadline in the three-team deal that sent Trent Frederic and Max Jones to the Edmonton Oilers. By virtue of being involved in a trade with Frederic, Moore also becomes the latest branch of the Cam Neely trade tree from 1986.
EliteProspects describes Moore as a player who does a bit of everything, from high-end plays to the finest details. Corey Pronman of The Athletic considered him arguably the most talented player on this year’s U.S. NTDP (National Team Development Program). Pronman also noted Moore for having a lot of tools that will appeal to NHL teams, as a big forward who has played some center, skates well, has good puck skills, and can make creative plays with the puck.
Black n’ Gold Hockey’s own Tom Calautti had a good look at him during Bruins Development Camp back in June, and had glowing reviews for the soon-to-be Eagle:
“Moore sticks out simply because of how big he looks on the ice. He stands at 6’3” but moves so quickly and is such a gifted skater that he almost seems larger. Moore describes himself as a playmaker, and it’s easy to see why. The BC-commit constantly looks for teammates (sometimes to a detriment) and uses his length to hold on to pucks and create time and space.
There were more than a couple of times he rang the posts and dented the end boards, so getting him to become more shot happy will be a priority. Another player who had a solid camp.”
Moore is coming into a BC lineup where most of the top six forward group is already settled. The first two lines will feature some combination of Gasseau, Hagens, Jellvik, Teddy Stiga, and Ryan Conmy, leaving one spot up for grabs. Moore certainly has the skill to claim that last slot, whether as the second line center or on the wing, but he’ll face stiff competition from Letourneau, Brady Berard, and Will Vote.
Starting on the third line won’t necessarily be a bad thing for him, as he’d be flanked by upperclassmen who could help his adaptation to the college game, but earning a place on the second line would be an early testament to his skill level and how the coaching staff views him. Regardless of where Moore starts in the Eagles lineup, one thing’s for sure: with a goal against BU already on his resume, he’s going to fit in quickly on Chestnut Hill.
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