Boston Bruins select Shakopee’s Cooper Simpson in 3rd Round of 2025 NHL Draft
By Bill Schleper
The Boston Bruins’ front office was busy on day two of the 2025 NHL Draft, making two trades and drafting six players - with one of those draftees being none other than Shakopee’s own Cooper Simpson, who got the call in the 3rd round of the draft as the 79th overall pick of the draft. The pick was acquired in a trade made earlier in the day with the Montreal Canadiens.
As a quick-wristed, crafty forward for the Shakopee Sabers Varsity Boys’ Hockey Team, Simpson’s 49 goals in 31 games this past season led all Minnesota high school players, helping the Sabers make their first-ever appearance in the 2025 Minnesota State High School League State Tournament, with a deep run in the tournament. Along with his 49 goals for the Sabers, Simpson also added 34 assists, giving him a head-spinning 83 points in just 31 games during the 2025 season. After the high school season concluded in March, Simpson went on to play for the USHL's Tri-City Storm - scoring 8 points (7 goals, 1 assist) in just 9 games.
A quick check on Elite Prospects' Draft Guide tells it all about Simpson: “An explosive skater, Simpson blends pace, puckhandling, and separation shooting to overwhelm opposing defenders and goaltenders. He boasts a diverse deke package, executes plays in both tight and open space, and uses deception masterfully around the crease.”
Simpson is listed as a 6-foot tall,180 pound forward, and has committed to The University of North Dakota for the 2025-26 season, where he'll play with another Bruins’ prospect, Will Zellers from Maple Grove, MN., whose rights were traded to the Bruins back in March, 2025, from the Colorado Avalanche. The two will have a chance to form a bond playing for UND during the 2025/26 season. Zellers, also a forward, was a 3rd round pick of the Avalanche back in 2024 - so the two will have much in common and could be a duo to look out for in the coming years if things pan out the way that Boston hierarchy is hoping they someday will.