No matter how you look at it, the Boston Bruins still rank near the bottom of the NHL in terms of prospect depth. There are several factors behind this, including trading away high draft picks at past deadlines and inconsistent drafting. Ask any Bruins fan, and you’ll hear a range of opinions—most of them pointing to general manager Don Sweeney.
The 2024-25 campaign was one to forget for Boston, which became major sellers at the trade deadline. Through several moves, the team added draft picks and a few intriguing prospects. While the organization frequently mentions the importance of getting younger, they’ve often opted to patch roster holes through free agency with veteran signings instead.
Following the deadline, Boston gave opportunities to several prospects from their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. And to their credit, many of those young players showed promise. Depending on how the roster shapes up this offseason, a few could earn full-time NHL roles as early as the 2025-26 season. Here are three Bruins prospects that fans should be excited about.
Fabian Lysell
It took longer than some fans would have hoped, but top Bruins prospect Fabian Lysell finally got his shot at the NHL level—and after a slow start, he began to settle in and show why he’s close to sticking with the big club. Like many young players making the jump, it took him a bit to adjust, but as he gained confidence, his play improved noticeably.
Before his call-up, Lysell tallied 11 goals and 23 assists in 52 games with the Providence Bruins this season. He recorded his first NHL goal in April against the Pittsburgh Penguins and added two assists, averaging 13:27 of ice time per game. The 2021 first-round pick flashed his trademark speed and gave glimpses of the high-end talent he possesses. If he continues to develop, he could become a real difference-maker, and there’s little doubt he’ll be a strong contender for a full-time roster spot in 2025-26.
Fraser Minten
When the Bruins dealt Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, they received promising prospect Fraser Minten in return. Minten was highly regarded by Leafs fans, but Toronto had to include him to land the shutdown defenseman they wanted from Boston.
Minten appeared in 19 games for Toronto over the past two seasons, including 15 this year where he tallied two goals and four points. After the trade, the 2022 second-round pick began his stint with the Providence Bruins before joining Boston for the final six games of the season. He scored once against the New Jersey Devils and averaged over 15 minutes of ice time per game. Known for his strong play in all three zones, Minten, like Fabian Lysell, brings plenty of upside and is expected to seriously compete for a full-time roster spot at training camp this September.
Michael DiPietro
You might be wondering, “A goalie? Really?” Yes—because after Brandon Bussi’s breakout campaign last year, it was Michael DiPietro who stepped up this season for Providence. DiPietro emerged as a compelling option for next year, especially if GM Don Sweeney makes significant roster changes this offseason. He earned AHL First Team honors and won the Baz Bastien Award as the league’s top goaltender, finishing the season with a 26-8-4 record, a 2.05 goals-against average, and a .927 save percentage.
Tensions rose late in the season when Joonas Korpisalo publicly expressed frustration over his limited playing time, followed by his agent pressing the front office to either commit to him as a regular starter or trade him. If Sweeney decides to move on from Korpisalo, it could pave the way for DiPietro—who becomes a free agent this summer—to step in as Jeremy Swayman’s backup. DiPietro would come at a lower cost than Korpisalo’s \$3 million cap hit, potentially freeing up cap space for other needs. His standout AHL performance could make dealing Korpisalo a more viable and appealing option.