By: Tom Calautti | @TCalauttis
One of the biggest issues facing the Boston Bruins over the last 5-10 years has been internal player development. Whether it’s refining details to fit the pro game, honing offensive talent to become more involved, or just simply allowing young players to improve, the Bruins organization has fallen short in that department.
With Marco Sturm at the helm, and a new philosophy surrounding how to develop young talent, the tide seems to be turning.
When Don Sweeney and Bruins management set out to find a new coach at the beginning of last offseason, they made sure to use the interview process as an opportunity to self-scout and find areas where they can improve. One of the biggest issues identified by the candidates was, you guessed it, player development.
“The player development part of it was certainly a big part of those conversations,” said Sweeney during Sturm’s introductory press conference.”(Emphasis on) How you integrate the players and when they’re going to be ready and having connectivity with your minor league program, and how that relates to the development they’re doing there. (Those) were some very constructive things that took place during the process that I’m grateful for.”
Management eventually settled on Sturm as the 30th coach in Boston Bruins history. According to Sweeney, his strong history in player development both with the Kings organization and at the national level made him a strong candidate.
“(Sturm) has been part of player development,” remarked Sweeney. “So he knows that path and what it takes to make those steps, so he can challenge whoever it’s going to be.”
When you look at the 29-20-2 Boston Bruins (currently situated in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference) you can point to the usual suspects as reasons for their success. David Pastrnak has put up another incredible campaign, Charlie McAvoy has bounced back after an injury riddled season, and Jeremy Swayman has returned to form. But beyond the heavy hitters, this team’s young guns have started to come into their own.
The Black and Gold currently have three regular contributors age 25 and under: Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Mason Lohrei (for the record Jordan Harris is 25 as well but has missed too many games to qualify). I don’t think it’s a stretch to see each of those ‘young guys’ have taken major steps forward since Sturm came to town.
On the season Fraser Minten has posted 12-11-23 in 51 games. Khusnutdinov comes is with 11-11-22 in 46 games and Lohrei rounds out the trio with 6-15-21 in 46 games. Those stats may not jump off the page, but when you look at how impactful those three have been in recent games, it’s clear their upward trajectory is starting to take shape.
Since November 26, 2025, each skater has played exactly 27 games for Boston. In that time, their numbers have ballooned, indicating a marked step forward in their development.
The most pronounced progress has come from the recently acquired Minten, who’s posted 9-8-17, which would put him on pace for 52 points 82 games. over the last 27 games Minten has remained a consistent contributor on the penalty kill, become a staple on the second powerplay unit, and honed his playmaking and finishing abilities to compliment his already solid two-way play.
Khusnutdinov isn’t far behind. He’s posted 8-8-16 over the last 27, good enough for a 49 point pace across 82 games. The former Minnesota Wild forward has taken his game to a completely different level this season. He’s established himself as one of the team’s most prolific forecheckers and puck retrievers, played impactful top six minutes, and become a key cog on a first line that’s currently buzzing.
The last of that bunch is Mason Lohrei. The towering defenseman notched 4-7-11 over the 27 games and is a +3 (which is significant given the -43 he posted last season). His production pace is similar to last season, but his defensive game is markedly improved. He’s still prone to some in-zone gaffe’s, but it’s evident that under Sturm he’s playing a much more responsible game, both with and without the puck.
Those are the youngest of the bunch that have improved their games under Sturm, but they aren’t the only ones. Alex Steeves has advanced from AAAA player to bottom-six contributor, Jonathan Aspirot has gone from AHL journeyman to playing top four minutes and becoming a reliable and dependable shutdown defenseman, and even Morgan Geekie has improved his passing and become a more well-rounded offensive threat.
It may be a bit hyperbolic to give all credit for these improvements to Sturm, but I think it’s fair to say that an organization that’s been spinning has wheels in the ‘player development’ department finally looks to be gaining some traction.
If the Boston Bruins want to become contenders again and get back to where they were during the Bergeron and Chara days, they’re going to need their young players to keep developing, their prospects to take steps forward, and the organization as a whole to become a more fertile ground for player development.
It’s still early in the process, but it looks like the Bruins have found their man in Marco Sturm.
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