Boston Bruins
“This is a mutual long-term commitment that reflects our confidence in Fraser and the important role he will play, as well as Fraser’s belief in our team moving forward.”
Fraser Minten appeared in all 82 games with the Bruins last season. John Tlumacki/Boston Globe
September 8, 2026 | 10:39 AM
3 minutes to read
One of the Bruins’ top young players is sticking around for the long haul.
The Bruins announced on Tuesday morning that they have signed forward Fraser Minten to a seven-year, $50.4 million contract extension through the end of the 2033-34 season.
Minten will play the 2026-27 season on the final year of his entry-level contract at a projected $879,166 cap hit before his seven-year extension goes into effect before the following 2027-28 season.
Minten’s annual cap hit on his seven-year deal is $7.2 million.
Signing Minten to a new contract stood as one of the top offseason moves for the Bruins, who are looking to build a new core of young talent behind expected franchise pillars like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman.
“We are excited to have signed Fraser to a long-term extension,” Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney said in a statement. “Since joining our organization, Fraser has continued to grow and earn the accelerated trust of his teammates and coaching staff.
“His hockey sense, competitiveness, responsible two-way game, and offensive growth make him a valuable player for our group. This is a mutual long-term commitment that reflects our confidence in Fraser and the important role he will play, as well as Fraser’s belief in our team moving forward.”
That $7.2 million annual cap hit might raise a few eyebrows for some fans, especially given that it’s doled out for a player with just 102 games of NHL experience.
But Minten’s contract follows a growing trend of NHL clubs paying a premium up front and banking on the potential of younger players whose continued development could make those steep cap hits much more palatable over time.
A surging cap ceiling also plays into these heftier contracts, with the NHL’s salary cap constraints getting lifted over the last few years.
After operating at an $88 million cap ceiling during the 2024-25 season, the cap has spiked every year since then — and is now at $104 million. It’s expected to jump again to $113.5 million for the 2027-28 season, with NHL agent Allan Walsh projecting the cap to reach $123 million for the 2028-29 season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins followed a similar script to Boston earlier this summer when they signed 23-year-old Ville Koivunen to an eight-year extension worth $4 million per year. Koivunen appeared in 39 games with the Pens last season, scoring two goals and seven total points.
Minten has a longer track record, showcasing his upside as a potential top-six center with Boston last season.
The 22-year-old forward — acquired by Boston as part of the Brandon Carlo trade with Toronto in March 2025 — appeared in all 82 games with the Bruins last season, scoring 17 goals, 35 total points, and averaging 15:33 of ice time per game.
The 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward took home the NHL’s Rookie of the Month in January, was voted as the Bruins’ 7th Player Award for the 2025-26 campaign, and led all NHL rookie skaters in plus-minus at +21.
Initially projected as more of a high-floor, 200-foot center likely suited for a third-line role, Minten’s uptick in offensive upside was a welcome sight for the Bruins. He routinely earned reps in Boston’s top-six unit down the stretch last year, skating alongside David Pastrnak.
FRASER MINTEN WITH A BEAUTY TO END THE SHOOTOUT IN THE 9TH ROUND
The Caps lose out on a VERY valuable extra point in their playoff race pic.twitter.com/aD5dDzMFd4
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 14, 2026
The Bruins are banking on Minten’s continued growth as a potential top-six weapon, which could turn his contract into a steal in due time.
“Why not,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said in May when asked if Minten could be a potential No. 1 center. “But now it’s still maybe too early to say that. First of all, I will always say it’s always up to the player.
“You know, if you grab a guy like Minten, started probably 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.”
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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