The Bruins may have found a real one in Jacob Vandeven.
Boston’s fifth-round pick is still early in his journey, but the early returns are hard to ignore. He’s a forward-turned-defenseman who switched positions last December while playing Junior B hockey in Ontario, and that late move helped keep him off plenty of scouting lists. The Bruins gambled on the upside anyway, and so far the towering blueliner is looking like a smart bet.
Vandeven has landed with the London Knights of the OHL, and the fit appears to be ideal. He’s off to a strong start, and one stat in particular jumps out: through seven games to begin the season, he has not been on the ice for a 5v5 goal against.
Not bad for a forward turned defenseman.
Given how recently he changed positions, nobody would have been surprised if the adjustment took a while. Instead, Vandeven has already started carving out a real role for himself in London and is trending toward becoming one of the club’s better defensemen. That matters, because the Knights have a track record of producing NHL-caliber players, and the Bruins could be getting a much better prospect than his draft slot suggested.
There’s no need to slap a ceiling on him just yet, but the early projection is encouraging. With limited tape to evaluate from last season, Jason Bukala’s company, The Pro Hockey Group, described Vandeven as a possible third-pair NHL defenseman. For a fifth-round pick, that’s the kind of read teams want to hear.
The scouting profile fits the eye test, too. Vandeven isn’t the flashiest player on the ice, but he makes the right decisions and keeps things simple in a good way.
At 6-foot-6, he uses his reach well, and he skates better than you’d expect for someone that size. The Pro Hockey Group gave him above-average marks in IQ, skating, puck moving, and physicality.
That combination makes him look like a Bruins-type defenseman through and through, with a path that could eventually resemble the Nikita Zadorov role if everything keeps moving in the right direction. Boston and outside evaluators see the ingredients. Now it’s on Vandeven to turn fifth-round intrigue into an NHL job.
In Other News...
Jake DeBrusk Trade Buzz Could Create A Bruins Problem Nearby
Jake DeBrusk has been in the rumor mill since the March trade deadline, and the chatter has only kept his name in circulation as the offseason takes shape. The former Bruins forward, now with the Vancouver Canucks, was recently listed by Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report as a player who could fit with a handful of clubs, a group that also includes the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild.
From Bostons point of view, the most interesting part of the discussion may be what happens if DeBrusk lands in the Atlantic Division. Two of the teams mentioned are the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, which would put a familiar face back in the Bruins neighborhood even if there is no indication of a reunion in Boston. The Bruins are expected to keep an eye on where he ends up, but the more immediate concern could be seeing him again in a setting that keeps the rivalry a little too close for comfort. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Prospect Suddenly Faces A Concerning Boston College Setback
Boston College finally got a clean result, beating St. Cloud State 4-0 at home for its first win of the season, and Dean Letourneau helped make it look comfortable with an empty-net goal and an active night throughout. For Bruins fans tracking the Eagles closely, the game offered a useful reminder that there are still bright spots in the program even as the early-season roster has been tested.
Will Moore was not among them, however, as coach Greg Brown confirmed the injured forward missed his second consecutive game. Browns update points to a more cautious timeline than the Eagles would like, and it leaves Boston College waiting for a key piece to return while trying to build on a much-needed breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Comeback Featured A Breakthrough Boston Fans Will Love
The Bruins 4-2 comeback win over the Anaheim Ducks had the kind of depth and late-game poise that can carry a team through the early part of a season. Boston got goals from Elias Lindholm and Matthew Poitras to close it out, while David Pastrnak again showed up in a big moment by tying the game and continuing to add to his already important place in the franchise record book.
One of the nights best signs for Boston came from the blue line, where Frederic Brunet made an impact in a way the Bruins have been waiting to see. For a team trying to stack wins and build momentum before meeting the Los Angeles Kings next, getting contributions from across the roster is the sort of development that matters just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]