By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
The 2026-2027 Boston Bruins season is set to get underway later this month. Several players are looking to further solidify their place in the lineup or step into a new role within the organization. Here are three key players Bruins fans should keep an eye on this season.
Fraser Minten
In his first full year in the NHL, Minten exceeded expectations and became a focal point in the Bruins lineup. He appeared in all 82 games and potted 17 goals and dished out 18 assists.
The young forward was a fixture on Boston’s penalty kill and solidified himself for much of the year as the Bruins third line center. Boston brass decided this offseason the center would be a part of the Bruins’ current and long-term plan.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney inked Minten to a seven-year deal worth just over $50 million this offseason. While that may sound like a steep cap hit, Minten appears to have the right skill set, makeup, and work ethic to be an impactful NHL player for years to come.
This season, it will be fascinating to see how Minten performs after signing this deal and how Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm utilizes him. Will the pressure to live up to the contract negatively or positively impact him? We shall see if Minten plays much of the season with James Hagens and Marat Khusnutdinov on his line, as has been the case during training camp.
Mason Lohrei
It was already a pretty crowded Boston backend before the Bruins brought in new defensive pieces this offseason. Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov are lineup staples, with Henri Jokiharju, Jonathan Aspirot, Will Borgen, Frederic Brunet, Connor Clifton, and Jordan Harris all battling for ice time and solidified roles.
So, where does that leave Mason Lohrei? He will need to play well throughout training camp and preseason to earn a consistent spot in Boston’s top six. Lohrei was scratched in the Bruins’ last three playoff games against the Buffalo Sabres last spring.
If the turnovers and lack of proper positioning become an issue again, Boston has a plethora of options to supplant Lohrei’s place in the lineup. Also, of all these defensemen, he may be the most effective trade piece if the Bruins decide to go that route. He has shown flashes of talent, and his age and height may also appeal to a general manager.
Bruins fans should take note of how Lohrei plays early on. It will certainly help calibrate his placement in Boston’s defensive depth chart and may even signal how long he will be a part of this organization.
Michael DiPietro
For the first time in his career, Jeremy Swayman will be the most seasoned NHL netminder in Boston’s goalie room. DiPietro has spent the past three seasons between the pipes for the Providence Bruins of the AHL.
He has performed really well in the crease. Over 115 games, he has posted a 2.12 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. There are other goaltenders in Boston’s camp, such as Luke Cavallin and Jiri Patera, but DiPietro is getting the start in the first preseason game.
Boston fans should monitor how he looks in preseason and, if he earns the backup role behind Swayman, how he handles NHL competition. The Bruins will not be able to overwork Swayman in the regular season and still complete a successful campaign. Whoever earns the backup goalie role in Boston will need to be solid.
Many players will have a direct impact on this Bruins season. And these three players have an opportunity to really solidify themselves as important cogs in Boston’s framework.
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