The Providence Bruins opened their season on October 13th with high expectations, as many of the Boston Bruins prospects are on the roster. The start to the season has been slow, with two losses out of the gate, but a 4-2 win over the Bridgeport Islanders has broken the ice for the Bruins’ AHL affiliate. One of the key contributors in the victory is former Boston College forward Trevor Kuntar, who scored his first professional goal to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Kuntar is coming off an impressive camp where his tenacious forechecking and willingness to get to the net were on display.
On March 29, 2023, the Bruins signed Kuntar to a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $867,500. The former Boston College Eagles’ assistant captain elected to join the Providence Bruins this season in the American Hockey League after participating in Bruins training camp and playing in the Prospects Challenge. Kuntar spent the summer rehabbing an elbow injury after surgery. The 6-foot, 200-pound forward is a scrappy forward who is projected to be a bottom-six forward in the NHL.
Kuntar is looking to make his stay in Providence a short one and is hopeful to join the Bruins NHL club at some point this season. The stocky forward has the type of game that can translate to the NHL with a heavy shot and the ability to get the dirty areas on the ice. The third-round draft pick increased his offensive production at Boston College last season with 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games. In order to crack the Bruins lineup, Kuntar will have to show consistency on a nightly basis, and getting his first goal early in the season helps his cause.
Kuntar is currently eighth on the Bruins Benders Podcast Top 30 Bruins Prospects list. The goal he scored was just the type that the Buffalo native typically scores, in front of the net fighting for a loose puck. It was a thrill for Kuntar, who told the media after the game, “It definitely felt really good. It was a huge relief. I’m looking forward to building on that and keep getting better throughout the year.” The Bruins are hopeful that Trevor Kuntar has many more goals to come.
