Bruins
Duran was taken by the Bruins in the sixth round (182nd overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
The Boston Bruins are officially bringing another local product into their prospect pipeline.
Boston announced on Sunday evening that it signed Providence College forward Riley Duran to a two-year, entry-level contract with an annual cap hit of $867,500.
Duran, who hails from Woburn, will report to the Providence Bruins on an ATO (amateur tryout contract) for the remainder of the 2023-24 season — with his entry-level deal not going into effect until next season.
A sixth-round pick (182nd overall) by Boston in the 2020 NHL Draft, Duran has played the last three seasons with the Friars — developing into a high-motor forward who could cause havoc in a bottom-six role at the next level.
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound forward has skated in 102 total games with Providence from 2021-24, totaling 27 goals and 28 assists for 55 points. During his junior campaign in 2023-24, Duran scored nine goals and posted 16 total points over 35 games.
Duran also appeared in five games with Team USA in the 2022 World Junior Championship, notching two goals and three assists.
Even though other skaters in Boston’s system like Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov might offer a higher ceiling, Duran’s floor is easier to chart as a bottom-six contributor thanks to his versatility, speed, and punishing style of play.
Duran regularly stood out during Boston’s Development Camps every July due to his knack for fishing out pucks along the boards, winning battle drills, and landing welts on the forecheck.
“When he plays his best, he’s playing a power game,” Providence coach Nate Leaman told The Boston Globe’s Andrew Mahoney last month of Duran’s skillset. “He’s involved with plays along the wall. He’s involved with taking pucks to the net. He’s heavy over the puck when he’s playing his best hockey.”
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