By: Jack Aylmer | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jack_Aylmer
With the Boston Bruins’ final pick of the 2026 National Hockey League Entry Draft held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, the team selected defenceman Cullen McCrate in the seventh round (216th overall), taking a flier on a player fresh off a breakout season in the USHL with the Fargo Force. Listed at 6’2” and 205 lbs, the 19-year-old is determined to prove the organization got a steal in choosing him.
“I’d describe my game as a hard-working, two-way defenseman who plays a reliable game in all three zones and can contribute offensively when the opportunity is there,” McCrate told Black N’ Gold Productions on what Bruins fans can expect from his playing style.
Skating the 2025-26 campaign with the Fargo Force, the 19-year-old boasted a plus 19-rating, while tallying 10 goals and 20 assists across 61 games. He also netted a goal and was credited with three assists during nine playoff contests this past spring.
This was a major improvement compared to McCrate’s production over the prior two years, when he recorded a -7-rating, two goals, and three assists across his first 50 career USHL games. However, he took his game to another level last season, a transformation Elite Prospects summarizes as a “depth defenceman turned high-end top-pair defender” and having the “trajectory teams value.”
McCrate’s emergent performance clearly caught the eye of Boston’s front office. After being drafted, he participated in the team’s annual Development Camp held at the Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Massachusetts, where the Michigan native competed against some of the organization’s top prospects.
“I had the opportunity to learn from a great group of players and coaches, both on and off the ice, who really set me up for success,” said McCrate. “The camp helped my development by giving me valuable feedback and showing me exactly what I need to improve on to continue taking the next step as a player.”
After displaying positive signs of putting it all together and becoming a complete dual-threat defenceman at the USHL level, McCrate’s progression will be worth monitoring as he’s committed to play next at Michigan State University during the 2026-2027 campaign.
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