By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter/X @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins started their season off on a high note last night, shutting out the New York Rangers 3-0 at TD Garden. David Pastrnak donned the captain’s ‘C’ for the first time, and Jeremy Swayman was spectacular in net, but the star of the show was Fraser Minten.
It wasn’t the smoothest or cleanest of games from either team. Both managed 15 or fewer shots across the first two periods, and the scoring didn’t start until the 16:14 mark of the final frame. But when the Bruins needed him most, Minten was there to save the day.
The play materialized in the neutral zone when Mason Lohrei gloved down a pass near the boards at the red line and chipped a backhand feed towards the middle of the blue line. Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov entered the zone together, with Minten possessing the puck. The centerman feigned a pass to his linemate before ripping a puck through the stick of defenseman Adam Fox and past goaltender Igor Shesterkin to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
This wasn’t the first time the former Maple Leaf played a role in a game’s deciding tally. Across the 82 games of his impressive rookie season, Minten scored two game-winners (both overtime tallies) to help lead the Bruins to important victories. In addition, he posted five game-winning assists for a total of seven game-winning points in his first full NHL season.
No matter the scenario, the moment never seems too big for Minten. A fact has caught his coach’s eye more than once.
“He definitely had more confidence coming into this season,” said head coach Marco Sturm following last night’s victory. “I told the coaches he’s just one of those guys, you look down, it’s a zero-zero hockey game, and it’s five minutes left…he wants to be out there. There are a lot of guys who are playing tight. Not him.”
Being able to live up to the moment is one of the reasons the Boston Bruins made a major investment in Minten this offseason. A little over a week before training camp started, the Black and Gold signed the two-way center to a seven-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $7.2 million.
“Since joining our organization, Fraser has continued to grow and earn the accelerated trust of his teammates and coaching staff,” said General Manager Don Sweeney of the signing. “His hockey sense, competitiveness, responsible two-way game, and offensive growth make him a valuable player for our group. This is a mutual long-term commitment that reflects our confidence in Fraser and the important role he will play, as well as Fraser’s belief in our team moving forward.”
The Bruins brass doubled down on the importance of Minten to the franchise at Monday’s season-opening press conference. President Cam Neely addressed naming Pastrnak the team’s captain and also discussed the leadership group who have emerged on this roster. In addition to the three lettered captains (Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm), he went on to mention Nikita Zadorov, Morgan Geekie, Tanner Jeannot, and Minten as individuals who would be relied on for leadership.
That’s an incredible vote of confidence for a 22-year-old who’s only been in the organization since March of 2025. The fact that Minten’s leadership stands out in a locker room full of veterans speaks volumes about the player’s poise, maturity, and growth since joining the team.
If everything goes according to plan this season, the Boston Bruins will get major contributions from their young guys and make a competitive push towards playoff. If they’re able to build off of last year and further establish the new young core they’re building, then it will be a success.
A hefty portion of that plan revolves around the continued growth and development of Minten. If he can improve his offensive game, maintain his defensive prowess, and continue to be an off-ice leader, he’s someone the Boston Bruins will rely on both in the present and the future.
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