The Boston Bruins have made their first selection of the 2026 draft, selecting Russian goaltender Yuri Ivanov with the 23rd pick of the second round, the 56th overall pick thus far.

Ivanov, 17, is a super young player in this draft, born in September 2008, only eligible for this draft by four days.

Ivanov went 13-3-1 with a .924 save percentage after taking over the starting job for MHK Spartak Moskva, helping them reach the finals in the MHL (Russia's top junior league).

The Bruins did not have a first-round pick after trading the 23rd overall pick for JJ Peterka.

Most NHL franchises like to select a goalie every year, and Ivanov's ceiling seems very high for a young, project goalie.

NHL Central Scouting ranked Ivanov as the #10 goalie in the draft.

From Elite Prospects:

"Ivanov has the base you’d expect out of a Russian prospect, with good footwork and athleticism. He also carries himself well positionally, prioritizing both getting and remaining square.

"Ivanov is a mostly well-rounded prospect with a good athletic profile. There’s a strong reason to believe he can be a KHL starter in the future, and given his play in the playoffs, there may be an NHL pick here, too."