The Bruins have come to terms on a two-year, entry-level contract with center prospect Riley Duran, per a team release. The contract carries a cap hit of $867.5K and will begin next season. Duran, who completed his junior season at Providence College last weekend, will finish the season on a tryout with the Bruins’ AHL club in the same city.
The 22-year-old Duran was drafted by the Bruins in the sixth round of the 2020 draft and had one season remaining of collegiate eligibility before his exclusive signing rights with Boston expired. The 6-foot-2, 181-lb Massachusetts native was selected straight out of high school and spent his post-draft season playing major junior hockey with USHL Youngstown before kicking things off with Providence in 2021-22.
Duran was relatively consistent through his three seasons with the Friars, although his play dropped off slightly in 2023-24. He recorded 55 points in 102 games with the school, a 0.54 points per game average, but produced only 0.46 per game this season (9-7–16 in 35 GP). He was an unexpectedly important piece of the United States contingent at the 2022 World Junior Championship, where he rattled off 2-3–5 in 5 GP en route to a quarterfinal loss.
His ceiling is that of a two-way, third-line center, but he will need some significant seasoning in the AHL before he’s considered for a recall. He’ll be an RFA when his deal expires in 2026.