The Boston Bruins have signed defenseman Frédéric Brunet to a three-year entry-level contract carrying a cap hit of $860K, per a team release. Boston assigned Brunet to AHL Providence on October 1, where he’s likely to spend the entire 2023-24 season.
Brunet, 20, was a 2022 fifth-round draft choice of the Bruins after going undrafted upon his initial eligibility in 2021. It’s not entirely his fault – he was pushed down the depth chart and appeared in just 33 games with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Océanic in 2020-21, recording just nine points and never getting significant scouting attention. He turned things around the following season, however, leading Rimouski defenders in points and earning the honor of hearing his name called by the Bruins on draft day.
After Rimouski named him captain to start the 2022-23 season, Brunet would split the campaign between the Océanic and the Victoriaville Tigres thanks to a midseason trade. Across both teams, Brunet broke out even further for 73 points in 66 games, adding on 28 penalty minutes and a +2 rating. That was good enough to earn him second place in QMJHL scoring among defenders, trailing only Anaheim Ducks prospect Tristan Luneau. He also notched three assists in five playoff games for Victoriaville as they were ousted in the first round by the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Brunet also had a rather raucous start to his professional career, recording two assists in a lone appearance with Providence at the tail end of last season. He’ll now gun for ice time among multiple other Bruins defenders under contract slated for Providence.