Riley Duran

December 2025 – Duran grew into a much bigger role last season. He opened the year as a rotational piece and ended it by making his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in the final few games. When Providence needed someone to step up, he did just that, earning a top-six spot to close out his AHL campaign. This year, though, the offense has regressed. He has just one goal and four assists in 23 games, and he’s been stuck in the bottom six for most of the season. Duran has spent this season primarily on the right wing in Providence, but he actually started the year on the left side, a small but meaningful plus, since it shows he can play both wings. Even so, Boston has multiple players ahead of him on each side. With his current play, a call-up this season feels unlikely. Duran is a workhorse who plays a physical, heavy-forechecking game without compromising his defensive reliability. He is a steady two-way forward who projects best as a bottom-six option. That is what made his late-season scoring burst last year so encouraging, but that touch hasn’t carried over. Still, he’s a selfless player who can eat minutes, kill penalties, and play a responsible role. He still looks about a year or two away from being truly NHL-ready. From a fantasy perspective, he’s someone to avoid for now; there’s too much uncertainty around where his development goes next. Kenny Kaminsky