By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
As the excitement of the National Hockey League off-season begins to settle, it’s a great time to evaluate the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool. It’s no secret that the team headed into last season with one of the most depleted prospect pools in the NHL. In light of recent struggles, the Bruins decided to focus on rebuilding their stock. Since the trade deadline, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has done an excellent job of positioning the team for future success.
First and foremost, this is my personal list, and the only rules I have are that the players must be younger than 25 years of age and must not be established NHL players. Therefore, players like Michael DiPietro and Mason Lohrei are not eligible for this list. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge some honorable mentions—Elliott Groenewold, Frederic Brunet, and Ty Gallagher—who just missed the cut. I recommend keeping an eye on them next season.
#1 James Hagens, C – Boston College
There is no surprise regarding the Bruins’ top prospect, James Hagens, who was selected seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Fans are incredibly excited about his potential. Hagens had an impressive season with the Boston College Eagles, recording 11-26-37 in 37 games as a freshman. He also earned a spot on the United States World Junior Championship team, where he contributed to their gold medal victory by scoring 5-4-9 in 7 games. It was a remarkable year for James, and I couldn’t be happier to welcome him to our organization.
James Hagens is an exceptionally talented player. His incredible skating, fluid stick-handling skills, and powerful shot made him a top prospect in this draft, and he surprisingly fell to the Boston Bruins at the seventh pick. During the World Juniors, Hagens excelled under pressure and performed even better when the stakes were high. With Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault moving on, Boston College is in search of its next star, and James Hagens is set to take on a much larger role this season.
#2 Matthew Poitras, C – Boston/Providence Bruins
Matthew Poitras was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. This past season was a rollercoaster for him, as he was called up and sent down multiple times. In the NHL, the Guelph Storm product struggled with consistency, recording just 1-10-11 in 33 games. However, he turned things around in the American Hockey League, where he scored 17-24-41 in 40 games with the Providence Bruins. While Poitras initially faced challenges with physicality in the NHL, he showed significant improvement during his second stint in the AHL. Fans can look forward to seeing how much his game has developed over the past few months.
#3 Fraser Minten, C – Boston/Providence Bruins
The Boston Bruins acquired Fraser Minten in a trade that sent defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It took several weeks for Minten to join the Providence Bruins due to visa issues, but once he hit the ice with the team, it quickly became clear that he has the potential to become a solid NHL player. A product of the Kamloops Blazers, he possesses exceptional skill and a wicked shot. More importantly, his defensive abilities rank among the best of any forward prospect in the league.
When Fraser has the puck, he plays aggressively; if you give him a few strides, it’s difficult to dislodge him—you have to swing your stick and hope it slows him down. Minten isn’t afraid to use his body, either, and he can be utilized in all situations. He finished the season as a key player on Providence’s top power play and penalty-killing units. The Vancouver native completed the NHL season with Boston, where he managed only one goal in six games. However, he finished with 3-4-7 in 11 games with Providence. I believe that Minten will begin the next season in Boston.
#4 Dans Locmelis, C – Providence Bruins
Dans Locmelis was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He had a very eventful season, which began last summer when he represented his home country of Latvia in the Olympic Qualifiers. After the Qualifiers, Locmelis returned to UMass-Amherst, where he had a fantastic season, recording 8-25-33 in 40 games. After being eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, Dans signed with the Boston Bruins before being sent down, marking the start of his most dominant performance of the season. He played alongside another Bruins’ top prospect, Matthew Poitras, and in just six games with the P-Bruins, Locmelis tallied 3-9-12, averaging an outstanding two points per game.
Locmelis wrapped up the past year as he began it, by leaving the P-Bruins early to join Team Latvia at the World Championship. There, he once again impressed everyone, recording 4-2-6 in seven games. Dans is an exceptional player who consistently shines wherever he plays. He is well-rounded, and while I always believed he would be a good player, I don’t think anyone anticipated he would finish the AHL season as he did. Some consider him a dark horse to start this season in Boston, and I agree with that assessment.
#5 Fabian Lysell, RW – Boston/Providence Bruins
Fabian Lysell was selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He has spent the last three seasons with the Providence Bruins and recently received an extended opportunity in the NHL. The young Swedish player had a rollercoaster season, starting in the AHL in a manner that was uncharacteristic for him. However, it has been a pleasure to watch his growth both on and off the ice throughout the year.
Lysell finished the last AHL season with 11-23-34 points in 52 games. He concluded his NHL stint with 1-2-3 in 12 games. The Vancouver Giants Product is expected to be a frontrunner to start the upcoming season in Boston. Lysell’s speed is one of his most desirable traits, but ultimately, he will need to produce consistently to secure his spot in the lineup. With his entry-level contract set to expire after this season, fans will be looking for Lysell to take a significant step forward in his performance.
#6 Will Zellers, F – University of North Dakota
Will Zellers was acquired at this past trade deadline in a deal that sent Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche. A player who was relatively unknown at the time of the trade has proven to be a tremendous find, as he dominated the United States Hockey League (USHL) while playing for the Green Bay Gamblers. Zellers concluded the season with an impressive stat line of 44-27-71 52 games.
The Shattuck St. Mary’s alumnus was named the USHL Forward of the Year and Player of the Year. Zellers is a highly skilled player, making everything look effortless on the ice. His shifty skating and impressive puck-handling make him difficult to defend. I strongly recommend keeping an eye on him next season as he begins his freshman year at the University of North Dakota.
#7 Georgii Merkulov, F – Boston/Providence Bruins
Georgii Merkulov, who went undrafted, signed with the Boston Bruins after completing his freshman year at the Ohio State University during the 2021-22 season. Since then, he has been the P-Bruins’ leading point scorer for three consecutive years. In this past season, Merkulov recorded 15-39-54 in 59 games. Unfortunately, he suffered a significant injury a few weeks before the season ended and was unable to return in time for the playoffs.
Merkulov is a highly skilled offensive player with an impressive hockey IQ and exceptional hockey sense. The Youngstown Phantoms product possesses a wicked one-timer, which he showcased several times this past season, even though he has a pass-first mentality. Georgii deserves an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, but he continues to be overlooked in the AHL. He doesn’t fit the typical Boston Bruins style; he is shorter, not particularly strong along the boards, and doesn’t excel in a full 200-foot game. However, he can effectively contribute during crucial power-play minutes and capture fans’ attention with his creativity. I still believe he has earned a shot in the NHL. The question is, will the organization give him that chance?
#8 William Moore, C – Boston College
William Moore was selected in the second round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Last season, he experienced a drop in the draft rankings despite being widely regarded as a clear first-round pick. The Bruins organization couldn’t be more thrilled with this selection. The native of Mississauga, Ontario, played for the United States National Team Development Program last season, where he recorded 27-32-59 in 64 games.
Moore is a well-rounded player who excels in various aspects of the game. He has strong skating and stickhandling skills, which enable him to control the pace of play effortlessly. If you watched a few of his games last season, it became clear that the offense revolves around him. Moore consistently keeps the puck on his stick and is particularly effective when playing below the goal line. He is an excellent addition, and I am excited to have him as part of the Bruins organization.
#9 Dean Letourneau, C – Boston College
Dean Letourneau was chosen in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. At first glance, his impressive stature is striking, as he stands at an incredible 6’7″. Last season was challenging for Dean, as he spent most of his time in the bottom six at Boston College, finishing the season with three assists in 36 games.
Letourneau faced heavy criticism for his performance last season. However, it was later revealed that he underwent a procedure on his broken hand during the Christmas break, which impacted his play. Fans have been quick to label him a bust, but it’s impressive to see how well he moves for someone of his size. The smoothness of his movements is genuinely remarkable. Dean possesses a powerful shot that I hope will be showcased more in the upcoming season. I placed the St. Andrew’s alum lower on this list due to his uneventful performances last season, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he ranks much higher next season.
#10 Chris Pelosi, F – Quinnipiac University
Chris Pelosi was selected in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Last season, he had a challenging start at Quinnipiac and ultimately was one of the final cuts from Team USA’s World Junior Championship squad. After the break, Chris returned to school and excelled in ECAC competition, helping the Quinnipiac Bobcats position themselves for the NCAA Tournament. The Sioux Falls Stampede product finished the year with 13-11-24 in 38 games, which is impressive for a freshman.
Pelosi has quickly established himself as a top contributor to Coach Rand Pecknold’s offense. Chris excels around the net, using his physicality to create space for his shot. One standout quality of the Mount St. Charles alum is his competitive spirit; he is always the first to the puck and consistently keeps his feet moving on the ice. The New Jersey native has experienced an up-and-down career, but this has only highlighted his resilience and professional mindset. If he continues to develop at this rate, he could find himself in Providence sooner rather than later.
This top ten list fills me with optimism for the future. Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has done an excellent job replenishing the prospect pool. While the depth of the system is impressive, there is still a lack of high-end talent. Nonetheless, I commend Sweeney for his hard work, and we are beginning to see the positive results.
It’s coocoo bananas to list Zellers so low, he should be second on this list.