By: Andrew Patten | Follow me on Twitter/X @a_patten11
As General Manager Don Sweeney continues to reshape the Boston Bruins’ roster, youth and depth have taken center stage. Two of the most intriguing puzzle pieces in this ongoing retool are center Fraser Minten and winger Marat Khusnutdinov. Both arrived in Boston via savvy 2025 trade deadline maneuvers and have quickly carved out specific roles within the organization.
With both forwards under contract through the 2026-27 season before hitting restricted free agency (RFA), management will soon need to weigh the financial and structural cost of keeping them in Black and Gold long-term. Let’s break down what possible contract extensions could look like for Minten and Khusnutdinov based on their current trajectories, historical comparables, and the Bruins’ evolving cap sheet.
Fraser Minten: The Budding Core Piece
Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in March 2025, Fraser Minten has completely blown past initial expectations. After solidifying his spot in the Bruins’ lineup following a breakout 2025-26 campaign, Minten captured the NESN 7th Player Award—an honor historically bestowed upon the Bruin who most exceeds expectations.
At 6’2″ and 205 pounds, Minten possesses the ideal NHL build for a modern, multi-situational center. His exceptional defensive awareness, spatial positioning, and strong even-strength play have even earned him high praise from franchise legend Patrice Bergeron.
Minten’s current contract carries a modest $879,166 cap hit through 2027. If he maintains his trajectory as a reliable middle-six center who can produce around the 20-goal mark while playing heavy defensive minutes, Sweeney could look to lock him up on a medium-to-long-term deal. According to AFP Analytics, they project the young center’s extension to be a three-year deal at a touch above $11.5 million.
Marat Khusnutdinov: The Speed and Depth Anchor
Marat Khusnutdinov was brought over from the Minnesota Wild prior to the 2025 deadline and was promptly extended on a team-friendly two-year deal through 2026-27 at a $925,000 cap hit.
The 23-year-old Khusnutdinov relies on high-end, blazing speed, relentless puck pressure, and a tenacious motor. All of that added up to a solid 2025-26 season for the Russian forward, who tallied 15 goals and 18 assists in 77 games during his first full season in Boston. While his ceiling may not be quite as high as Minten’s, his utility as a high-energy third liner who can kill penalties and drive pace makes him incredibly valuable to a championship-caliber bottom six.
Because Khusnutdinov will have salary arbitration rights when his contract expires in 2027, his next cap hit could be dictated by raw point production. AFP Analytics currently has a projected Khusnutdinov extension at two years for about $5.7 million.
Locking up both players simultaneously, whether it be this summer or next, should be one of the top priorities for Don Sweeney and his staff. With the salary cap expected to expand, keeping young, valuable players like Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov won’t hinder Boston’s ability to make other moves in free agency or on the trade market.
Especially if Sweeney and their representatives can come to terms on deals around what they’re projected to receive by AFP Analytics. By executing these extensions properly, the Bruins can solidify the spine of their forward group for the remainder of the decade.
Leave a Reply