Buffalo Sabres prospect Olivers Murnieks is headed to Boston College sooner than expected, with Elite Prospects’ Robert Chalmers reporting Sunday night that the Eagles “expect” him to join the program for the 2026-27 college hockey season.
That would be a year earlier than the path previously projected for the Latvian center, who was thought to spend another season in the QMJHL before making the leap. Boston College has not yet announced its full roster for the new campaign, but its schedule is already set: an Oct. 3 exhibition against the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, followed by the regular-season opener Oct. 9 at home against Alaska.
Murnieks was taken by Buffalo in the fourth round, No. 124 overall, of the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1 center is coming off a productive season with the Saint John Sea Dogs, where he put up 20 points in 31 games, scoring seven goals and adding 13 assists.
He also logged plenty of miles on the international stage. Murnieks represented Latvia at both the U18 and U20 World Championships, then skated with the senior national team at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Across the two junior tournaments, he produced 10 points in 12 games, with two goals and eight assists. He did not record a point in five games with the senior side.
Murnieks, like fellow Sabres pick Ilia Morozov, was one of the youngest players in the draft class. He didn’t turn 18 until July 31.
There’s no question the raw ingredients are intriguing, but the road ahead is a demanding one. HockeyStats.com projects Murnieks with just a 4% chance of eventually becoming a full-time NHL player, based on reaching 200 games played.
For him to beat those odds, the offensive game has to sharpen. He has shown flashes, but not enough consistent finish during his recent time with Saint John and the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers over the past two years. The next step is making himself a regular threat around the crease, because he hasn’t shown a lethal shot and most of his value going forward figures to come from cleaning up rebounds and second chances.
The details away from the puck need work, too. His positioning is usually solid, but his defensive-zone reactions - whether it’s a stick check or a body check attempt - have tended to arrive a beat late with Saint John last season.
Skating is another area where Boston College could help. His stride is smooth, but he doesn’t yet have the top-end burst that separates the high-end forward prospects from the rest of the pack.
So while the move to college hockey gives him a strong development setting, this won’t be a quick evaluation. The report points to at least two seasons, and probably three, at Boston College before he’s ready to turn pro. If Murnieks does make the climb, it’s likely to come as the kind of dependable, hard-working net-front center who can settle into a bottom-six NHL role.
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