If the Bruins’ offseason has made one thing clear, it’s that the blue line is crowded. Boston has plenty of defensemen headed toward training camp, and even with Charlie McAvoy set to miss the first six games because of his suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson at the end of Game 6 in May, there still aren’t enough spots to go around.
That’s why Frederic Brunet is one of the most interesting names to watch when camp opens in the middle of September.
On Wednesday, the Providence Bruins introduced Trent Whitfield as their next head coach, and the longtime AHL assistant didn’t hesitate when asked about Brunet. Whitfield, who spent the last decade with the P-Bruins, said the young defenseman stood out from the start.
“He was probably our best defenseman from day one right through the end of the season,” said Whitfield. “He’s well on his way.
Now he just needs a little bit of runway in Boston … he’s ready to go. Mentally, physically, his skillset, he’s an NHL player.”
That’s a strong endorsement, and it carries weight coming from someone who watched Brunet’s growth up close. The 22-year-old was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 Entry Draft, and he got his first NHL taste at the end of the 2024-25 season, skating 14:23 against the New Jersey Devils.
Most of his case, though, has been built in Providence. Brunet put up 12 goals and 24 assists with a plus-18 rating last season, a sign of how much his game has progressed at the AHL level.
The challenge now is fit. Brunet shoots left, and that side is already crowded for Boston.
A trade could still be part of the equation, and Mason Lohrei looks like the most likely name to move if the Bruins decide to make one. He would also be the player most likely to draw interest, and he could even be included in a larger deal that addresses one of Boston’s other needs.
However it shakes out, Marco Sturm will have options on the back end in his second season as head coach. Brunet is right in the middle of those decisions, and if Boston tries to send him back to the AHL, there’s a real chance he gets claimed. With that much upside, the Bruins may not want to take that gamble.
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