Bruins Draft Boston College Freshman Trevor Kuntar

The Boston Bruins continued to surprise in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and also kept their string of American-born players going selecting Boston College freshman and six-foot, 203-pound center Trevor Kuntar with their third round pick (89th overall) Tuesday.

After being passed over in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kuntar scored 28 goals and had 28 assists in 44 games for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) this past season. He was ranked 143rd overall by the NHL Central Bureau but he was also ranked 83rd by TSN Draft expert Craig Button so not everyone was taken aback by this pick as they were by the Bruins drafting defenseman Mason Lohrei with the 58th overall pick in the second round. An NHL scout actually had this to say to Boston Hockey Now late Tuesday afternoon:

“Look, we didn’t have him where the Bruins took him but I can see this kid being – and I hate being generic saying this – a steal down the road. I know ‘Yorkie’ [Boston College Head Coach Jerry York] loves him and thinks he’s a bulldog!”

That’s pretty much how a confident and excited Kuntar described himself to the media in a Zoom call after he was drafted.

“I’m a hard-working player,” the Williamsville, NY native said when asked to describe his playing style. “I love to compete. A two-way power forward, I love to compete every night. I’d say someone I compare myself too is either Jamie Benn or Mathew Tkachuk.”

Clearly, if Kuntar can replicate what Benn and Tkachuk have accomplished so far in their careers, Kuntar will be one of the best draft day steals in recent memory. Until that either come to fruition or not though, Kuntar – who was originally committed to Harvard but de-committed and chose Boston College – plans to take advantage of the proximity he will have to the Bruins living just Green Line ride away from Boston in Chesnut Hill, MA.

“Boston College is 20 minutes from the city, right where they are,” Kuntar said. “I’m just super excited about that opportunity and to get to know the whole organization, staff, and everything. It’s just a once in a lifetime opportunity and I couldn’t be more grateful.”