Adam McQuaid isn’t hiding the excitement around Will Zellers.
The Bruins’ director of player development offered a sharp endorsement of the fast-moving prospect, and the message was pretty clear: Boston may have landed a real one in the Charlie Coyle trade with Colorado.
“He certainly has the ability to be as high as a top-six scoring winger that you can use in different situations,” McQuaid said. “… He knows the right times to try and create.”
That kind of praise carries weight, especially with Zellers’ stock already climbing. The 20-year-old spent his freshman season of 2025-26 at the University of North Dakota and produced 18 goals and 16 assists in 38 games. He’s listed at 5-foot-10 and 163 pounds, and he’s set to return to North Dakota for his sophomore season in the fall.
Zellers was a third-round pick by Colorado in the 2024 Entry Draft, and his path to Boston came in the deal that sent Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche. The Bruins brought back Zellers, Casey Mittlestadt, and a draft pick in that trade, and it’s starting to look like one that could pay off sooner rather than later.
Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com projected that Zellers could arrive in the NHL next season. If that happens, and if it mirrors the kind of quick development seen with James Hagens, it could accelerate his growth even more.
That’s why Zellers is starting to emerge as one of Boston’s top prospects. For a Bruins team that made major moves at the 2025 trade deadline, this one may end up looking like another shrewd bit of business from Don Sweeney.
In Other News...
Bruins Front Office Turnover Keeps Reshaping Bostons Offseason
The Bruins offseason has already been defined by movement, and now another familiar name is gone from the front office. Evan Gold, who had served as Bostons assistant general manager, has been hired by the New York Islanders as their fourth assistant GM, with added responsibility for leading the AHLs Hamilton Hammers. It is the latest reminder that the Bruins business has not been limited to the roster, as the organization continues to see key pieces shift out the door even while the league at large keeps churning through its own summer changes.
For Boston, front office turnover matters because it can shape everything from development to draft strategy to how the club manages the next wave of personnel decisions. Around the NHL, other teams are navigating similar pressure points, with the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers both showing interest in restricted free agent Arber Xhekaj and several clubs still sorting through draft picks and player movement. In that kind of environment, every departure adds another layer to an offseason that already feels like it is still being rewritten. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Are Betting Big On JJ Peterka For One Crucial Reason
The Bruins made a significant swing for JJ Peterka, banking on the 24-year-old winger to add a different layer to their attack. He arrives with NHL experience and the kind of speed that fits Marco Sturms transition-heavy approach, which has been a clear part of Bostons thinking as it tries to keep pace in a faster league and reshape its forward group around more than just its established names.
There is plenty riding on the move because Boston did not make it lightly, and Peterka is being asked to help in a role that sits somewhere between immediate contributor and long-term bridge. The hope is that he can supply secondary scoring while also helping connect the Bruins veterans and prospects, but the size of the commitment means the fit will matter almost as much as the production. [Read more 🡒]