Bruins sign Dans Locmelis to three-year, entry-level contract

On Tuesday, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced the team has signed forward Dans Locmelis to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The deal, set to begin next season, will carry an NHL cap hit of $860,000 through the 2027-28 campaign. In the meantime, Locmelis will join Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on an amateur tryout agreement.

Locmelis was originally taken by the Bruins in the fourth round, 119th overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft. He has spent the past two seasons at the University of Massachusetts, where he was one of Greg Carvel’s top scoring threats.

After posting 14 points in 30 games during his freshman season, the Latvian center busted out for eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 40 games this past year. His play helped the Minutmen sneak into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. Locmelis helped the team upset favored Minnesota in the opening round in Fargo last Thursday, assisting on Aydar Suniev’s game-winning goal in overtime.

However, despite Locmelis scoring in the regional final, UMass came short of advancing to the Frozen Four, falling to Western Michigan this past Saturday.

Across two seasons at UMass, the 21-year-old scored 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points.

Along with a solid college career, Locmelis has made several appearances on the world stage. He played for Team Latvia in three straight IIHF World Junior Championships, winning bronze for his country at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Locmelis was also a key part of the Latvian squad that punched its ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics through qualification earlier this season.

Boston (30-35-9) is seventh in the Atlantic Division, holding the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Providence (36-22-7) is fourth in the AHL’s Atlantic, already having punched its ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs.