The San Jose Sharks added another piece to their prospect pipeline on Wednesday, picking up a former Boston College captain from the Bruins in a trade that shuffles draft capital more than it shakes up the NHL roster right now.
Boston sent unsigned prospect Andre Gasseau and a 2026 fourth-round pick (originally the 120th overall selection) to San Jose. In return, the Bruins got back a 2026 fourth-rounder (104th overall, originally Florida’s) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (157th overall, originally Montreal’s). So Boston moved up 16 spots in the fourth round and added a fifth-rounder, while the Sharks got a bigger body with some college production.
Gasseau, 22, just wrapped up his senior season at Boston College with 23 points in 23 games — six goals and 17 assists. He wore the captain’s C for the Eagles and finished fourth on the team in scoring. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound forward from Garden Grove, California, leaves the NCAA with 111 points across 135 games. That’s 43 goals and 68 assists over four years.
Reunited With a Familiar Face
Gasseau won’t be walking into a completely陌生的 locker room in San Jose. He’ll link back up with former BC teammate Will Smith, who the Sharks drafted fourth overall in 2023. That duo helped push the Eagles to the NCAA national championship game last season.
The Bruins originally grabbed Gasseau in the seventh round of the 2021 draft, 213th overall. He never signed his entry-level contract with Boston, so the Bruins moved his rights rather than lose him for nothing when his college eligibility expired.
What the Scouts Say
Scouting reports describe Gasseau as a shooter with some flash — the kind of player who finds soft spots between the faceoff dots and gets his shot off quick. Elite Prospects’ evaluation notes he turns tricky passes into powerful wristers and can beat defenders one-on-one when he’s moving through the neutral zone. He’s not a pure power forward despite the size, but he’ll work the boards and create space.
This is the second move of the day for San Jose, who earlier acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring from Buffalo. The Sharks are clearly stockpiling bodies and picks as they keep rebuilding around their young core, which includes Macklin Celebrini and Smith.
Gasseau will likely slot into the Sharks’ AHL affiliate in San Jose or compete for a bottom-six role during training camp. There’s no rush — his entry-level deal hasn’t been signed yet, but the Sharks now hold his exclusive rights.
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