Fresh off winning the NCAA championship with Denver, defenseman Boston Buckberger has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets to a two-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2026-27 season.
Buckberger, 22, played three seasons at Denver and registered 24-62-86 and a cumulative +94 plus/minus rating in 128 games from 2023-26. He helped the Pioneers win the 2024 and 2026 NCAA championships and was selected to the Frozen Four All-Tournament team this season.
“Boston Buckberger is a smart, skilled defenseman who can play in all situations and has a championship pedigree,” said Don Waddell, Columbus general manager. “He was among the top scoring defensemen in college hockey this year and a big part of Denver’s championship team. We are very excited that he is now part of the Blue Jackets organization.”
The 6-0, 190-pound blueliner recorded 10-19-29, 18 penalty minutes and a +32 plus/minus rating in 43 appearances in his junior campaign in 2025-26. He ranked second among all NCAA players in plus/minus rating and finished sixth-T among blueliners in goals and ninth-T in points. He set up the game-winning goal that propelled Denver to a 2-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin in the championship game at the 2026 Frozen Four on April 11.
Buckberger, who participated in the Blue Jackets’ development camp in July 2025, set a career high in points and finished fifth-T among all NCAA players in plus/minus rating and eighth-T among blueliners in scoring in his sophomore campaign in 2024-25 with 9-21-30, 22 penalty minutes a +30 in 41 games. He posted 5-22-27 and 27 PIM in 44 contests with the Pioneers in his freshman season in 2023-24.