Boston Bruins prospect Will Zellers kept rolling over the weekend and earned NCHC Forward of the Week honors after a big two-game set for No. 4 ranked North Dakota.
Zellers piled up three assists in Friday’s 3-2 win at Bemidji State, then followed that with two goals and one assist in Saturday’s 4-3 rematch victory at home. The sophomore forward now leads North Dakota in points after the first weekend of the season, and he’s tied for sixth nationally while having played the fewest games.
The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native was originally selected by Colorado in the third round (76th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired via trade along with Casey Mittelstadt and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft (Liam Pettersson) for Charlie Coyle and a fifth-round pick in 2026.
Elsewhere in the NCAA, Casper Nassen produced four points across a split weekend for Lake Superior State. He had two assists in Thursday’s 7-4 loss at Lindenwood, then came back on Friday with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win in the rematch.
Through two games, the junior forward is tied for second on the team with four points. The Norrtalje, Sweden, native was drafted by Boston in the seventh round, 214th overall, in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Providence picked up its first win of the season, taking down the Charlotte Checkers 6-2 while dropping both of its other games last weekend. The Providence Bruins are now 1-4-0-0.
The win came with a memorable moment for goaltender Simon Zajicek, who was credited with the first goalie goal in Providence Bruins history. Zajicek turned aside a shot from the point, the rebound fell to a Charlotte forward, and the resulting errant pass wound up in the empty net at the other end.
He also made 30 saves on 32 shots and was named first start of the game. Through two starts this season, the Frydlant, Czechia, native owns a 1.52 goals against average and a .943 save percentage.
In juniors, Cullen McCrate picked up an assist in Brantford’s 4-2 loss to Kingston on Saturday. The defenseman has one goal and five assists through seven OHL games. The Adrian, Michigan, native was selected by Boston in the seventh round, 216th overall, of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Over in Europe, Vashek Blanar opened his season with a productive stretch for HV71 Jr. in the Swedish Junior Hockey League. The defenseman has three goals and three assists in four games. The Vail, Colorado, native was selected by Boston in the fourth round, 100th overall, of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Oscar Olsson also continued to fill it up for Orebro HK Jr. in Sweden. He scored three goals over his last two games and now has seven goals and five assists through 12 games this season. The Huddinge, Sweden, native was drafted by Boston in the fourth round, 122nd overall, in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
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 🡒]