Bruins sign prospect Jack Studnicka to an entry-level deal

Only days after sending Jack Studnicka back to junior, the Boston Bruins signed the forward prospect to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Tuesday.



The Bruins selected Studnicka, 18, in the second round (No. 53 overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-1, 171-pounder impressed during the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this month, and again during training camp.

“He played very well and opened some eyes,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “You never know when young kids come in, regardless of what round you’re selected, some of them come in and [impress] and he did that and that’s why he played a game because we wanted to get another look at him.”

Cassidy said Studnicka learned it’s a man’s game, and the advice he was given before he went back to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL was to gain strength and learn to be heavier on pucks.

“He’ll go back to junior and hopefully have a lot of success making plays and scoring goals,” Cassidy said. “He’s the captain there so there are a lot of positives and maybe next year he comes in and makes a good push for a young guy.”

Studnicka was not overwhelmed during camp. He was able to make high-end plays and is positionally sound. He's an under-the-radar type of player the Bruins should be excited about. He's projected to be a top-nine forward in the NHL.