Quietly, the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool has been climbing in a few different rankings, but there’s still work to do for an organization that keeps looking for ways to add youth to the lineup.
There are names here that could push for a role soon, and there’s also Fraser Minten, who is trying to take the next step in his development. Matthew Poitras remains unsigned and is trying to earn a full-time spot after spending the last couple of seasons in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins. With that in mind, here are the Bruins’ top five prospects heading into the 2026-27 season.
At No. 1, there’s not much suspense: James Hagens sits alone at the top. After a strong sophomore season at BC, Hagens turned pro, logged a couple of games in the AHL, then signed his entry-level deal and came to Boston.
He also got into a few regular-season games and appeared in the first three playoff games in the opening-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. The rookie looks to have gotten a taste of what’s ahead; now the task is to take another step in 2026-27 and grab a full-time NHL job.
Will Zellers lands at No. 2 after a rapid rise through the Bruins’ system. Boston picked him up from the Colorado Avalanche at the March 2025 trade deadline as part of the return for Charlie Coyle, and he wasted no time moving up the rankings.
In his freshman year at North Dakota, Zellers posted 18 goals and 34 points while skating in the top six. He also made a big impression at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he scored five goals and finished with eight points for Team USA.
The 20-year-old could be ready to make the jump to the pros after this upcoming season.
Dean Letourneau comes in at No. 3 after a major rebound at Boston College. The 2024 first-round pick struggled through a forgettable freshman season, but he bounced back in a big way as a sophomore and is headed into an even bigger junior year with the Eagles.
At 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds, he has the frame to become a useful NHL player someday. Last season, he scored 22 goals and totaled 39 points in 36 games, and if he puts up those numbers again this year, he’ll likely sign in the spring.
If Boston falls out of the playoff race, a few games with the Bruins would not be a surprise.
Frederic Brunet checks in at No. 4.
The defenseman was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 Entry Draft and has been steady with Providence in the AHL. He’ll be one of several blue-liners in camp trying to crack the Opening Night roster, and Charlie McAvoy’s six-game suspension to open the season creates an opening that could shape those decisions.
If there’s a chance for Brunet to break camp with the team, this feels like it.
Dans Locmelis rounds out the list at No. 5.
The 22-year-old forward, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 Entry Draft, spent two years at UMass before joining Providence, where he has put up 18 goals and 22 assists. He’s an interesting player, but the path to the Bruins’ roster is murky.
Boston’s crowd of bottom-six forwards is blocking him right now, and while there’s clearly upside there, exactly where he fits long term remains unclear.
In Other News...
Bruins Fans Will Love Why JJ Peterka Could Fit Fast
The Bruins added a quick, skilled winger in JJ Peterka when they swung a deal with the Utah Mammoth that cost them two first-round picks, and the fit already sounds promising from Peterkas side. After stops in Buffalo and a run with Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics, he spoke positively about landing in Boston, pointing to a comfort level with the coaching staff and some of the people around the room as reasons the transition could come fast.
Don Sweeney made it clear why the Bruins paid that price, emphasizing Peterkas speed and skill as traits that can help a team trying to stay competitive. For Boston, the appeal is obvious: Peterka brings a different gear to the lineup, and the next question is how quickly he can translate that burst into the kind of role the Bruins have in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bruins Still Waiting As Training Camp Gets Closer
With Bostons season opener against the Rangers coming on Sept. 29, the calendar is starting to work against a few familiar names still on the market. New Yorks recent addition of Eeli Tolvanen gave the Eastern Conference contender another piece, while several former Bruins continue to wait for their next NHL landing spot as training camp approaches.
Among the veterans still unsigned are Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly and James van Riemsdyk, all of whom remain in free agency with camp drawing closer. If they are going to crack an NHL roster in the coming weeks, a professional tryout contract could wind up being the most realistic route back into a camp setting. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Playoff Hopes Suddenly Feel More Fragile In The Atlantic
As the Atlantic Division retools around bigger swings and louder headlines, Boston has taken a far quieter approach. Florida has already changed the conversation by adding Brady Tkachuk and reshuffling its goaltending, while other teams in the division are being sized up for bounce-back or backslide seasons. Against that backdrop, the Bruins have made only modest offseason noise, with Don Sweeneys biggest move coming in the draft-day deal for JJ Peterka, leaving the roster looking more familiar than transformed.
That is why a recent look at the teams most likely to disappoint in 2026-27 felt a little telling for Boston, even in absence. Joe Yerdons list included Buffalo, Florida, Ottawa and Detroit, but the Bruins were not on it at all, despite the limited upgrades and the broader uncertainty hanging over the division. For a club trying to stay in the playoff mix, being overlooked as a possible underperformer can be its own kind of warning sign. [Read more 🡒]