By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Well, the 2026 National Hockey League Entry Draft has come and gone. The Boston Bruins made seven selections and three trades, adding nine new faces to the organization. While this was just one step in the B’s hopeful path back to Stanley Cup contention, it was certainly one of the more unique Bruins draft classes in recent memory. Here’s five thoughts on the picks, trades, and direction the team might be going in the near future.
Targeting Immediate Help
The Boston Bruins entered Friday morning with five first-round picks in the next three years. They’re now down to three in the next two, shipping pick #23 and the Florida Panthers’ 2028 first-round pick (Top-10 Protected) to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for German Forward JJ Peterka. While the cost of acquisition was not cheap, and perhaps even a slight overpay, the Bruins landed a young, cost-controlled, speedy, skilled winger who has scored 25 goals or more in each of the last three seasons.
While Peterka is far from the biggest name to move this offseason, there’s no arguing that he’s a legitimate upgrade to the Bruins’ top-six, and one that was sorely needed. Especially after comments from potential captain David Pastrnak about his age and desire to compete for a cup following the team’s playoff elimination. Will the Bruins’ show similar urgency in trying to fill other holes in the lineup?
Goalies, Goalies, Goalies
Entering the draft, there were legitimate questions regarding the B’s crease next season. Many wondered how the backup situation with two-time reigning AHL goalie of the year, Michael DiPietro, and current backup Joonas Korpisalo would shake out, and how that would impact prospects such as Simon Zajicek and Max Lundgren in Providence and Maine. Those current questions have yet to be answered, and now there are questions about the future of the Bruins’ netminders as well.
The Bruins drafted two goaltenders, selecting Russian prospect Yuri Ivanov 56th overall, and Dominican-Slovak netminder Roberto Henriquez with pick #170. Ivanov was the second goaltender off the board league-wide, only behind Tobias Trejbal, who was selected 42nd overall by the Calgary Flames.
The two will be taking very different development paths. Ivanov, who was drafted out of the Spartak Moscow system, will remain in Russia for at least two more seasons, while Henriquez will head to Boston College from the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers, likely representing Team Slovakia at the 2027 World Juniors as well. Boston’s Goalie coaches were heavily involved in the decision to select Ivanov, according to Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Nadeau.
Neither Ivanov nor Henriquez is likely to ever steal the crease from Jeremy Swayman. However, could relying on the opinions of Boston’s goalie coaches in the later rounds pay dividends years later? With so few goaltender prospects selected in the first round, and the Bruins successfully identifying and developing netminders in Swayman, Dan Vladar, and Brandon Bussi in recent years, could investments of late round picks eventually turn into either homegrown backups or useful trade chips in a few years? We shall see.
Solid Forward Haul
While the Bruins technically did use their first round pick on a forward with the acquisition of Peterka, they did not draft a forward in the first two rounds. With James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, Dean Letourneau, Will Zellers, and Cooper Simpson already in the fold, there wasn’t a ton of reason to target forwards with premium picks. That being said, I really like two of the three forwards the B’s selected.
I think of the B’s seven draft picks, and Nils Bartholdsson is the player I’m most high on. The Halmstad, Sweden, native was the B’s third round pick at #88 overall, and had second round grades from several outlets. He scored 23 goals in 32 games in the U20 Nationell with Rogle’s U20 team, and added 17 points in nine playoff games. He also dressed in five SHL games and won a Gold Medal at the U18 World Juniors. He skates well, competes hard, and has a hell of a shot, three things that should make him a fun prospect to follow during his time in the Bruins’ organization. He’s expected to return to Sweden for next season, and should have a decent shot at winning a spot on the Swedish World Junior team.
Not to pat myself on the back, but I did kind of call the Matvei Kotkov selection earlier in my draft previews with company colleague Neil Simmons. I’ve attached what I wrote about him, but I think Kotkov is a solid bet in the fourth round, although we won’t see him in North America until at least 2028. Oscar Olsson is a prospect I wasn’t familiar with prior to his selection, but he does add size to the B’s prospect pool. I wonder if he and/or Bartholdsson end up going the NCAA route.
Will Ignoring Needs = Future Trades/Signings?
Entering the draft, the Bruins’ most pressing needs were a first-line center and a second-pair right-shot defender. Those needs remain the same post-draft. While it was always that the B’s would find a future franchise center in this draft, it didn’t seem that out of the question that the Bruins could potentially find a future member of their defense core. Boston did select two defenders, Jacob Vandeven and Cullen McCrate, in the later rounds of the draft, but both are long shots to play in the National Hockey League.
Vandeven spent the majority of this season in the GOJHL with the Komoka Kings and suited up for the OHL’s London Knights towards the end of the season, scoring a goal in the playoffs. He’s a 6’6″, 207lb, left-shot, who is viewed as a long-term project, and I’d imagine he’ll go the NCAA route at some point. McCrate had a solid season as an overager for the USHL’s Fargo Force, and is headed to Michigan State this year.
With the Bruins’ choosing to prioritize best player available over the team’s obvious needs, it feels like the team’s path forward to improving this specific area of their roster will not come from the draft. There is no obvious prospect that could potentially inherit this role in the pipeline. It’s also unlikely to come via Free Agency, especially with the Carolina Hurricanes acquiring John Carlson’s rights at the draft. I’d expect a trade(s) to at least attempt to address this between now and training camp.
Will the Bruins Sell-Off any Pieces?
Prior to the Peterka trade, the Bruins had been rumored to be interested in extending pending free agents Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke. With the acquisition of the talented German forward at a $7,700,000 cap hit for the next four seasons, many thought that would signal the end of Arvidsson’s time in Boston. However, General Manager Don Sweeney did not entirely close the door on potentially bringing back the Swedish winger. However, in order to so, one would assume the Bruins would need to move money out in order to retain Arvidsson and improve the team’s lackluster defense.
The Bruins did not send out any rostered forwards from last season on day two of the draft, only sending out former first-round pick Fabian Lysell to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Ivan Ivan. Both Mason Lohrei and Sean Kuraly’s names have come up in trade rumors in recent weeks, and it feels like Casey Mittelstadt’s name has been out there for forever. Pavel Zacha has one year left on his contract and would likely fetch a haul, however the time to move him was probably during or before Friday’s first round. Will the Bruins’ clear cap space in order to fit in other additions or recoup draft capital lost in the Peterka acquisition?
Other Quick Notes
I wanted to give a quick shoutout to Black N’ Gold company colleague Jake Ferraro, who did an excellent job representing us in person in Buffalo. Also, shoutout to colleagues Neil, Sam Smith, and Mark Allred for joining me for live coverage of the draft on the Black N’ Gold YouTube channel. Sam, Tom Calautti, and I will be going live on Wednesday morning to cover the beginning of Unrestricted Free Agency, reacting to potential signings, trades, and offer-sheets both by the Bruins and around the NHL. Be sure to join us on YouTube or whatever streaming platform you prefer. I’ve attached a link to the YouTube channel here.
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