The Boston Bruins have signed prospect Oskar Steen to a three-year entry-level contract. Steen’s deal will kick in next season and carries an average annual value of just over $809K.
A sixth-round pick from 2016, the 21-year old Steen broke out this season in the SHL scoring 17 goals and 37 points in 46 games. That was good enough to lead all forwards on his team, and should bode well for his chances at the professional level in North America. The first thing you’ll notice with Steen is an incredible first step, as his acceleration is the key to his offensive game. The 5’9″ forward can create separation in the offensive zone almost at will, and get behind defenders through the neutral zone.
Still, there’s a long way to go for Steen to be an NHL contributor. He’ll need to prove his talent at the AHL level first, but any sort of contribution from a sixth-round pick is a bonus. The Bruins’ 2016 draft looks like a great one so far, as Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic and Ryan Lindgren have already made their NHL debuts—the latter for the New York Rangers after a trade in 2018.