Woburn’s Riley Duran seeing stock soar among Bruins prospects

Riley Duran has played only 15 total games of pro hockey. But it didn’t take long for Providence Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel to see that the Woburn native has the mettle and drive necessary to carve out a career at hockey’s highest level.

“We want him to play free, let his skill take over and he was exceptional for us,” Mougenel said Wednesday of Duran’s impressive debut in the AHL. “And I said it before, it’s not that I was a little bit surprised at his skill set and his separation, his hands, his shot.

“But he’s a player, and it’s funny — because the truth is some guys’ games translate better in pro than they do in college and junior. And I think he’s one of those guys.”

For all of the talk of the middling returns put forth by the Bruins’ prospect pipeline in recent years, Boston has developed several impact players at the NHL level, all cut from different strands of cloth.

There’s the poised, potential franchise goalie like Jeremy Swayman. The pugnacious power forward in Trent Frederic. The playmaking blueliner gifted with a 6-foot-5 frame in Mason Lohrei.

Duran, a sixth-round pick by Boston during the 2020 NHL Draft, presents more of a lunch pail approach when compared to other Bruins youngsters like Fabian Lysell or Georgii Merkulov. 

But the 22-year-old forward was lumped in with both middle-six forwards earlier this summer when Don Sweeney mentioned possible prospects who could make a legitimate push for NHL reps out of camp. 

“I would say that [Georgii Merkulov] and [Fabian Lysell] or Riley Duran — keep going down the list. Just pin your ears back, train your ass off this summer, and come with the intent that there’ll be an opportunity here,” Sweeney said in July.

Based on Mougenel’s sentiments, it seems as though Duran’s stock has only continued to rise with Boston’s full-squad training camp set to open on Sept. 18. 

“Him coming at the end of the year was huge for him,” Mougenel said. “I think it’s probably accelerated where he is, especially for training camp. And I expect him to really push. I think he’s a [Jim Montgomery] type of player, [assistant coach] Chris Kelly type of player — they’re going to enjoy him.”

Duran’s motor, physicality, and well-rounded skill set make him an appealing candidate for a checking-line role at the next level in due time.

But after scoring 27 goals and 55 points over his three seasons at Providence College (102 games), Duran’s offense carried over during his brief stint against stronger competition in the AHL — posting four points in his 11 games with the Baby B’s while regularly hounding the puck on the forecheck.

Duran is quick to credit Friars head coach Nate Leaman and Providence’s program for getting him ready for added physicality and grind that awaits in the pro game, adding that his own play style has allowed for an easier adjustment after making the jump up from the collegiate ranks. 

“I play my own brand,” Duran said. “I like to play my own game. I don’t have to change anything up, maybe just a couple things body-positioning wise. But besides that, it’s just playing my own game, and hopefully things work out.”

At first glance, Duran might be seen as a long shot to make Boston’s roster out of camp. Unlike a Lysell who could benefit from an opening in the Bruins’ top-six grouping, Duran is going to have to leapfrog a bottom-six grouping already featuring players like Johnny Beecher, Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, and Justin Brazeau. 

But Duran doesn’t have to look back very far to see Bruins prospects accelerating their timeline based on their own merit — with Beecher, Lohrei, and Matthew Poitras all earning regular reps after strong camps last fall. 

“It’s really cool to see that everyone has a different story. It’s really cool being with those guys and seeing that and see how hard they work, encouraging you,” Duran said after rookie camp opened Wednesday. “Sweeney said today, ‘If you work hard enough, they’ll make room for you, but you just gotta play hard and play your own game.’”

For Duran, the first step toward making a case for NHL minutes will come on Friday at the annual Prospects Challenge in Buffalo. 

After an offseason filled with anticipation, the local product feels as though he’s ready to make a push. 

“I’m ready to go and ready to play some games,” Duran said. “I mean, it’s been long summer. Ready to play some hockey, right?”