The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed Minnesota star forward Jaxon Nelson.
The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed Minnesota star forward Jaxon Nelson.
Like Gophers head coach Bob Motzko told reporters in Sioux Falls on Thursday, "He should get an NHL deal the way he’s been these last two months.”
Now it is official, Jaxon Nelson has signed a pro contract with the Boston Bruins and will report to the Providence Bruins (AHL) on an ATO. The 6-foot-4 center finished the year on fire for the Gophers. He had five goals and six points in five playoff games this year, including both the Big Ten and the NCAA Playoffs.
He finished the year with 19 goals and 31 points in 39 games for Minnesota. Nelson put the team on his back recently and has definitely earned a contract and a chance at the next level.
Nelson, 24, had 11 goals and 13 points in his last eight games for the Gophers and helped push them to the Regional Finals but lost to Boston University.
What this means for the Gophers
The Gophers will have a fair amount of turnover for next season. Graduate students like Bryce Brodzinski, Justen Close, and Nelson will all be gone. Jimmy Snuggerud may sign with the St. Louis Blues and Rhett Pitlick might go down the same route and sign with the Montreal Canadiens.
Motzko did say after the Gophers beat Omaha in the Sioux Falls Regional that they may look towards the transfer portal.
"We haven't gone to the portal in two years to bring in an older guy," Motzko said. "But we're going to start at some point."
Losing Nelson, Brodzinski, and possibly both Snuggerud and Pitlick from your forward group hurts. The Gophers have a few younger guys coming in next year and will count on some of their players to take jumps next year but I wouldn't count them out on picking up a player or two from the transfer portal.
University of Connecticut's Matthew Wood could very well transfer to Minnesota and play for the Gophers next season. The 6-foot-3 forward had 16 goals and 28 points in 35 games for the Huskies last season and was the Nashville Predators 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft. Wood to the Gophers just makes too much sense.
If Wisconsin's Charlie Stramel enters the transfer portal, I would think there's a good chance the Gophers would be interested as well. The 6-foot-4 right shot center is a Minnesota native and was the Minnesota Wild's 21st overall pick in the 2023 draft. He would be a player I'd imagine many college hockey teams would be interested in but Stramel has to enter the portal first for that to even be an option.
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