Boston Bruins
“I was really impressed with how he wanted to learn and improve, ask questions, and he was really taking everything in.”
Fraser Minten scored 17 goals in his first full season with the Bruins. AP Photo/Nick Wass
The growth of Fraser Minten stood as one of the most encouraging developments for a retooling Bruins team in 2025-26.
Minten — acquired from the Maple Leafs as part of the deal involving Brandon Carlo in March 2025 — was projected to be a potential third-line center in the NHL ranks in due time.
But, the 21-year-old pivot showcased legitimate top-six upside in his first full year with Boston.
Once viewed as a potential roster-bubble player with Boston entering training camp, Minten quickly earned the trust of first-year head coach Marco Sturm — earning a spot on the Opening Night roster and playing all 82 games with the Bruins this past year.
Minten, who took home NHL Rookie of the Month honors in January, scored 17 goals and 35 total points with the Bruins while averaging 15:33 of ice time per contest.
Minten’s growth didn’t go unnoticed for Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron, who was impressed with the youngster’s poise and rounded-out skillset throughout this past year.
“I got to know him a little bit this year — just a few times that I was around at the rink,” Bergeron said of Minten while speaking to NBC Sports Boston on Monday. “I was on the ice with him once, and then we talked face-off a little bit. I was really impressed with how he wanted to learn and improve, ask questions, and he was really taking everything in.
“So it was great to see. Obviously has a bright future, great potential. Obviously did great this year, and I know there’s more to come with him, and it’s more growth, and it’s great to see from a guy at that age — to want to learn and to improve and to work on things that can better your game, so it’s always a great thing to see.”
Minten’s profile as a two-way center who can anchor a third line and chip on special teams already holds plenty of value for a Bruins team in need of young talent across its reworked depth chart.
But, his promising reps alongside David Pastrnak in a top-line role — and his nose for the net — offer hope that the young forward has even more to give as a potential top-six fixture moving forward.
“Why not,” Sturm said last month when asked if Minten could develop into a No. 1 center. “Now, it’s still maybe too early to say that. First of all, I will always say it’s always up to the player. If you grab a guy like Minten, who started on the fourth line, and all of a sudden, nobody thought he could be the number two [center]. And all of a sudden, he had a few games at number one.
“So that’s how big a jump he made. So we just have to, I think with him, we have to be patient too. It can’t be like this every year. Maybe it does. He definitely has potential, let’s put it that way.”
Minten still has a ways to go if he wants to follow in Bergeron’s footsteps as the next great 200-foot center in Boston. Still, there’s a lot to like about Minten’s ceiling and how he should continue to grow on this current roster.
“Just trying to be the guy that makes those playoff games, helping the team move on past the first round, and keep going and just be a guy who can help teams win,” Minten said last month of his future role with Boston.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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