By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Since being drafted by the Boston Bruins with the 132nd overall pick in the 2022 National Hockey League Draft, defenseman Frederic Brunet has only played in one NHL game. Brunet has been a mainstay in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins since the 2023-24 season.
Fast forward to this AHL season, and Brunet has become arguably the best defenseman on Providence’s roster at 22 years old. Earlier this month, Brunet signed a two-year extension to remain a Bruin for the future. Brunet is unfortunately injured at the moment with an upper-body injury and may not be back for Providence until the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs begin in a couple of weeks. However, Brunet’s growth this season is one that he and Providence needed, which gives the Bruins organization high optimism.
Even with currently being injured, Brunet’s numbers this season are excellent in 60 games played. Brunet’s 30 points are the seventh-most on Providence’s roster. Brunet is the only Providence defenseman who has recorded 30 points this season. Along with leading Providence defensemen in points, Brunet’s 11 goals also lead all defensemen on the roster. Brunet’s presence on the ice has been crucial, with his +18 rating being the sixth-highest on Providence’s roster. Brunet’s career year helped him earn his first AHL All-Star Game appearance this season, joining teammates Michael DiPietro and Patrick Brown, and head coach Ryan Mougenel.
The rise of Brunet was one Providence needed to see. Brunet has found confidence this season that he first showed with Providence last season. Brunet recorded 25 points with a +18 rating in 69 games last season with Providence. This season, it took Brunet 15 fewer games to reach his point total from last season. Brunet’s career year has been a big reason why Providence’s 97 points this season lead the entire AHL.
Brunet’s 11 goals this season are a major area for his improvement. Brunet scored seven goals combined in the AHL in his first three seasons in the league from 2022 to 2025, but has now turned into a reliable goal-scoring defenseman this season. Brunet has been able to score timely goals. Four of Brunet’s 11 goals this season have been game-winning goals, one of which was an overtime winner on Feb. 15 against the Bridgeport Islanders. Before this season, Brunet had not scored a game-winning goal.
Excitement is with reason in the Bruins organization with Brunet’s career year. Brunet will be on board for two more years after this season, and his AHL season could shake up Boston’s roster for next season, with some defensive uncertainty. Defensemen Andrew Peeke and Jordan Harris are both free agents after this season.
There’s no guarantee that Peeke or Harris will return to Boston, and if one or both of them leave, that can open an opportunity for Brunet to get NHL experience. Boston could also have concerns around defenseman Mason Lohrei this offseason. Lohrei has one year remaining on his contract at a salary of $3.2 million. If Boston likes what Brunet has done in the AHL this season, trading Lohrei to free up some cap space could be an option. That would also potentially lead to Brunet getting NHL experience.
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