By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
A new season of college hockey means a new crop of undrafted free agents looking to play their way into a pro contract. NHL teams annually comb college hockey not only to sign their drafted players, but also to land the signatures of the top players who slipped through the cracks on draft day and earned another look.
The Boston Bruins’ penchant for developing prospects through college has made them a regular presence in this pipeline, signing several future NHLers like Torey Krug, Kevan Miller, and Noel Acciari out of the UDFA market. More recently, they landed Ryan Tattle, Max Lundgren, and Will Gilson all out of college last spring.
With less than half of their forward core in Providence signed beyond this year, the Bruins could tap into the pipeline again next spring. With that in mind, here are five free agent forwards to keep your eyes on in the 2026-27 season:
Jack Musa – UMass – Musa was one of the most coveted forwards on the market last spring and opted to return to school for his senior year, passing on interest from several NHL teams, including the Bruins. The newly appointed co-captain of the Minutemen has 46-54-100 in 111 career games in Amherst, setting new career highs in each season.
His 36-point junior campaign earned Second Team All-American and Hockey East Second All-Star Team honors. He added a pair of goals for the US Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup midseason. The Bruins would be wise to take another run at him at season’s end.
Mason Marcellus – Quinnipiac – Another New England-based prospect, another team captain. Marcellus heads into his senior year after recording at least 34 points each season with the Bobcats, and 32-76-108 for his career.
Marcellus arguably has the strongest ties to the Bruins of any player on this list. He attended their development camp over the summer, partially thanks to recruitment from his assistant captains Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold. Throw in the addition of their teammate Gilson last spring, and it’s clear Boston has kept a keen eye on the Bobcats, making Marcellus a more likely signing than most.
Ethan Whitcomb – UConn – Whitcomb may not have the gaudy stats of the duo above, but he has the size (6’4”, 209lbs) and physicality that Boston craves. He attended Bruins development camp in 2025 and took a step forward in his subsequent sophomore season with the Huskies, setting career highs across the board in offense (7-10-17) and slashing his penalty minutes in half. He came on strong down the stretch, scoring in each game of UConn’s Hockey East tournament run to a second consecutive final.
Like Marcellus, the signing of his teammate Tattle suggests Boston has been doing its due diligence on the Huskies. As UConn Hockey Hub has noted, a strong junior season for Whitcomb could yield an NHL offer in the spring.
David Deputy – Miami (OH) – The third and youngest member of the development camp cohort on this list, Deputy burst onto the college hockey stage as a freshman last season by leading Miami in goal-scoring with 15 and helping the RedHawks improve by 15 wins from the prior year. Deputy recorded four multi-goal games, including a hat trick, and scored twice in an upset win over eventual top seed Western Michigan.
While Bruins draft pick Casper Nassen’s transfer severed Boston’s immediate ties to the Miami program, Deputy will be a reason to keep the RedHawks on your radar.
Hayden Stavroff – Dartmouth – The only prospect on this list without any concrete connection to the Bruins, Stavroff is a name to know regionally for his proximity to Boston and nationally, because many NHL teams will be hot after him the moment Dartmouth’s season ends. Stavroff was a key driver behind the Big Green’s first NCAA tournament berth since 1980, leading the nation with 29 goals, including a goal in their ECAC tournament win over Princeton that punched their ticket.
His stellar sophomore season yielded ECAC Player of the Year, Ivy League Player of the Year, First Team All-American, and Hobey Baker Top 10 honors. Needless to say, he should be on the radar of pretty much every NHL scouting department. Stavroff attended LA Kings camp over the summer, alongside fellow undrafted teammate Hank Cleaves, so Boston would have some ground to make up if they decide to go big game hunting.
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