With their fifth-round pick, 157th overall, the Bruins selected from the London Knights of the OHL Jacob Vandeven.
Vandeven spent the bulk of his draft year in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League — a Junior B circuit that feeds into the OHL — rather than with London. He saw only eight regular‑season games with the Knights and added four more in the playoffs, making his time at the OHL level more of a brief cameo than a true showcase.
He’s a towering presence at 6‑foot‑6 and a sturdy 207 pounds, and he’s not shy about using that frame — whether it’s stepping up for open‑ice contact or asserting himself along the boards. For a defender his size, he moves impressively well. He’s poised at the offensive blue line, and he’s armed with a heavy, point‑driven shot that he consistently gets through to the net.
What impresses me the most – and I do follow the GOJHL a lot – is his ability at puck retrievals and transition and ability to jump into the play for such a big players. It speaks volumes to his hockey sense and skating.
The GOJHL isn’t a league that draws heavy scouting attention, so the Bruins deserve some credit for identifying him — even if the pick felt a round early to me. Still, Vandeven is exactly the kind of long‑range project you take a swing on in the later rounds. He shows flashes of the tools needed to eventually reach the pro ranks, but make no mistake: this is a long‑term investment, not a quick return.
If I can take one positive out of this it’s that he is likely returning to the London Knights next season and they have a knack for developing players for the NHL.
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Dom excellent work on providing unique insights for Bruins fans on these young players!
Thanks Tony. Appreciate it.