Bruins
The Bruins may transfer all the way in which as much as No. 1 or drop so far as No. 7 total within the 2025 NHL Draft.
For the primary time since 2011, the Boston Bruins are set to choose within the high 10 of an NHL Draft.
Regardless of closing out a depressing 2024-25 season with the fifth-worst document within the NHL, the Bruins won’t know precisely the place they fall within the 2025 NHL Draft order till Monday night time, when the league conducts its annual draft lottery from the NHL Community studio in Secaucus, N.J.
With their document, the Bruins have the chance to maneuver all the way in which as much as both the No. 1 or No. 2 choose — or may fall so far as No. 7.
Listed here are the chances that the Bruins have at touchdown a number of picks coming into the draft, in keeping with Tankathon:
1st total: 8.5 p.c
2nd total: 8.6 p.c
third total: 0.3 p.c
4th total: 0 p.c
fifth total: 24.5 p.c
sixth total: 44.0 p.c
seventh total: 14.2 p.c
Whereas Don Sweeney and Boston’s high brass will welcome the chance to pluck the primary prospect off the draft board on June 27 in Los Angeles, the Bruins ought to have the ability to add a blue-chip expertise no matter the place they settle in on the draft order.
With the lottery set for Monday night time, right here’s a have a look at eight prospects to maintain tabs on the weeks main as much as the NHL Draft.
Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
If fortune falls the Bruins’ method they usually transfer up right into a top-two choose, the choice turns into a bit simpler for Boston on draft night time.
With Boston’s ceiling restricted by the absence of a top-line pivot, including the perfect heart prospect on this draft in Misa would stand as a breath of contemporary air for Boston’s lackluster prospect pipeline.
It wouldn’t take a lot to pitch Bruins followers on Misa’s future as a possible franchise fixture. Be it the sport tape he submitted at Saginaw or the video-game stats he racked up, Misa has all of the makings of a playmaking pressure at hockey’s highest degree.
The 18-year-old ahead paced your entire OHL in scoring final season, posting 134 factors (62 targets, 72 assists) in simply 65 video games. That points-per-game manufacturing paced different top-five picks popping out of the OHL, together with Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Joe Thornton.
In comparison with Steven Stamkos by NHL.com senior draft author Mike G. Morreale, Misa in some respects mimics a suped-up Brayden Level, who makes use of his shifty skating capability and superior hockey IQ to weave by way of Grade-A ice and each hearth off high-danger appears to be like and feed his teammates for high quality scoring bids.
Whereas a few of the prospects additional down on this draft checklist fall into two distinct classes between playmaker and pure scorer, Misa can do each as a dynamic offensive conduit, whereas his 6-foot-1, 184-pound body maps out a prospect who ought to have the ability to face up to the punishment discovered within the NHL ranks as soon as he provides some muscle.
Misa may use a bit extra seasoning, nevertheless it wouldn’t be far-fetched seeing him contribute in a top-six position with Boston in brief order — whereas additionally including a major carry on each the facility play (44 power-play factors) and penalty kill (4 shorthanded tallies).
The 2024-25 season was a depressing marketing campaign for all concerned on Causeway Avenue. Popping out of that yr with a participant like Misa would alleviate a few of that sting, after which some.
Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters (OHL)
If the Bruins transfer as much as No. 1 total, issues get attention-grabbing in a single respect.
Misa would possibly tackle essentially the most urgent want on this Bruins roster shifting ahead. However a fleet-footed, top-pairing defenseman like Schaefer is perhaps the perfect total expertise on this draft class — and might be powerful to go up if Boston is the primary membership on the clock.
For a Bruins workforce whose id has usually been rooted in franchise pillars on the blue line, including a participant of Schaefer’s caliber to a D corps grouping already anchored by Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm could be tempting.
A fractured collarbone at World Juniors may need price Schaefer the remainder of his season in December, nevertheless it’s a testomony to his ability set and ceiling that his standing because the No. 1 prospect on this draft has largely been unchallenged.
On paper, Schaefer is seemingly the whole lot a workforce is on the lookout for in as we speak’s NHL with regards to a top-pairing D. The 6-foot-2 blueliner is an elite skater and slick playmaker who recorded 22 factors in 17 video games whereas operating Erie’s energy play.
However Schaefer — who doesn’t flip 18 till the primary week of September — is extra than simply an offensive-focused D-man, as he logged heavy minutes and killed performs within the D-zone by means of bruising checks and fast outlet passes. Morreale in contrast him to Zach Werenski, whereas Corey Pronman of The Athletic drew parallels to Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson.
Concentrating on the blue line seems like an ill-advised transfer for the Bruins in the event that they rise as much as No. 1 total. However there’s lots to love about rolling out a high pairing of Schaefer and McAvoy for the following decade.
James Hagens, C, Boston Faculty (NCAA)
If the Bruins are banking on worth, having an uber-skilled ahead like Hagens fall to them within the 5-7 vary would stand as a significant coup for a franchise that was hindered by a dearth of high-end expertise in 2024-25.
Hagens entered this season because the presumptive No. 1 choose within the 2025 NHL Draft, drawing comparisons to Jack Hughes as a dynamic, top-line pressure on the subsequent degree.
However, his inventory has seemingly slipped after a powerful first season as an 18-year-old freshman at Boston Faculty. Though the middle posted 37 factors (11 targets, 26 assists) in 37 video games towards elite competitors in Hockey East, some expertise evaluators had been possible anticipating a bit extra.
Given his lofty draft projections, there may need been some disappointment that the New York native didn’t storm onto the scene and put up a season like different elite abilities in collegiate hockey like Macklin Celebrini (64 factors) and Jack Eichel (71 factors).
Hagens has a couple of query marks relating to his smaller dimension (5-foot-11, 178 kilos), the affect of getting a powerful supporting solid at BC (Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault), and his hesitancy to place pictures on internet.
However make no mistake, if he’s accessible when Boston more than likely lands on the clock at No. 5 or No. 6, the Bruins have an opportunity so as to add a authentic top-line expertise.
Hagens’ label as a possible No. 1 choose this fall was not with out advantage.
Past his popularity as arguably the perfect skater on this draft class, Hagens closed out his tenure with the U.S. Nationwide Group Improvement Program with 102 factors in 58 video games in 2023-24.
That very same season, he set a brand new scoring document on the 2024 World U18 Championships with 22 factors (9 targets, 13 assists) in simply seven video games, breaking the earlier document set by Nikita Kucherov.
Anton Frondell, C, Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Frondell is perhaps essentially the most interesting prospect amongst that second tier of heart prospects after Misa.
The 17-year-old Swede might be essentially the most NHL-ready product after Schaefer, particularly after posting 25 factors (11 targets, 14 assists) in 29 video games in Sweden’s second-tier skilled league (Allsvenskan).
Whereas that will not pop off the identical web page as Misa’s lofty stat line, it stands as the perfect points-per-game manufacturing for a U-18 participant in Allsvenskan historical past. The gamers behind Frondell on that checklist? William Nylander and David Pastrnak.
Armed with a heavy shot that he makes use of to shred opposing PK items on the person benefit, Frondell additionally had a pro-ready body (6-foot-1, 198 kilos). He’s not precisely an influence ahead, however Frondell has the physique and the willingness to have interaction down low.
Given Boston’s want for a shot-first, top-six expertise who can deal with the trials of NHL competitors, a pivot like Frondell checks off loads of packing containers.
However that pro-ready skillset and scoring contact may additionally make him the precise kind of prospect that one other workforce sitting at No. 3 or No. 4 would scoop up earlier than Boston has an opportunity to submit their draft card.
Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
If “ability” is perhaps the buzzword for Hagens and Frondell, “secure” seems to be the apt description for a participant like Desnoyers.
The Moncton heart boasts the very best ground amongst that high crop of pivots on this draft class as a possible two-way, second-line heart. “Secure” draft picks and “high-floor” prospects would possibly make some Bruins followers recoil, however Desnoyers could be removed from a low-value pickup by the Bruins.
If something, his well-rounded sport would possibly make him essentially the most interesting choice for the Bruins at picks 5-7 if the Quebec native is up for grabs, particularly on condition that Boston must hit on this choice.
He could not have Hagens’ wheels or Frondell’s shot, however Desnoyers has few faults in his total sport. He skates effectively, has good fingers, is a heads-up passer, and is a poised defensive asset who can throw his weight round.
He’ll must tack on some muscle (178 kilos) however Desnoyers additionally has the makings of a big-bodied pivot (6-foot-2) who may finally be utilized in all conditions.
And for the entire discourse about him being the safer choice with a decrease ceiling, Desnoyers nonetheless put up 84 factors (35 targets, 49 assists) for the Wildcats in the course of the common season and has posted 24 factors (9 targets, 15 assists) in 13 video games this postseason.
Desnoyers might not be a point-per-game playmaker on the NHL degree, however he may finally grow to be an efficient 2C — able to placing up 60-70 factors whereas incomes some Selke votes.
Positive feels like a participant that the Bruins would like to have for the following decade.
Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
O’Brien continues to see his inventory rise within the months main as much as the NHL Draft.
The Toronto native has seemingly pushed himself into the dialog alongside the likes of Frondell, Hagens, and Desnoyers off of a dominant season with the Bulldogs, scoring 32 targets and posting 98 factors in 66 video games towards OHL competitors.
That playmaking poise had NHL Central Scouting take discover, as they ranked him the No. 4 prospect amongst North American skaters, forward of Desnoyers (No. 7 total).
A poised passer who generates high quality scoring possibilities by working across the internet, O’Brien can burn groups in a rush off a slick backhand feed or dish from behind the objective line. O’Brien, who turns 18 in June, might want to each bulk up (172 kilos) and work on his skating on the subsequent degree.
However O’Brien’s skillset paints the image of a ahead who may develop right into a potent top-six offensive risk — even when it’d take a couple of years for him to make these strides within the NHL ranks.
Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
A 6-foot-5 centerman with some jam? Appears like the kind of participant that the Bruins’ high brass would covet.
However as tantalizing as McQueen’s mix of dimension and ability is, the ahead is perhaps finest considered as a attain for Boston, even when the Bruins drop all the way in which to No. 7 total.
Though McQueen’s sport tape showcases a younger skater who may develop right into a second-line menace down the center, his robust manufacturing at Brandon (20 factors in 17 video games) was undercut by a again harm that price him over 4 months of play this yr, whereas skating has been tabbed as a weak spot in his sport.
After rolling the cube on one other rangy centerman throughout final yr’s draft in Dean Letourneau, it stays to be seen if Boston would need to additionally swing for the fences on a prospect in McQueen with excessive upside, however some notable purple flags.
Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Martone is the lone ahead on this grouping that isn’t a middle — nevertheless it’s powerful to depart a possible top-six energy ahead off this checklist if he’s round when Boston picks.
The 6-foot-3 Martone initiatives as an affect participant within the professional sport given each his dimension and the manufacturing (37 targets, 61 assists) that he submitted with Brampton this previous season.
As anticipated, Martone makes use of that imposing body to win puck battles, jam dwelling rebounds, and crush skaters into the glass. However his finest worth is perhaps his passing, as he created loads of tap-in tallies for his linemates by taking over house in high-danger ice.
Given the premium positioned on top-six brusiers within the NHL, Martone might be a top-five choose on this draft class, with Morreale projecting him as a playmaking winger akin to Corey Perry.
Just like Schaefer, Martone doesn’t essentially tackle Boston’s most urgent want for the long run. But when the winger does begin to slip in that 5-7 vary, the Bruins would possible be remiss to not gauge whether or not or not a participant like Martone would generate essentially the most sizable affect amongst that crop of prospects.
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