As long as the effort is there, the willingness to give Minten a chance should remain in place.
Bruins betting big on prized prospect in 2025-26
Posted October 5, 2025
The Boston Bruins have a significant bet on a prized prospect who's poised to take the next step this season.
The Boston Bruins have placed a significant wager on one prized prospect this season. Coach Marco Sturm has moved the pieces on his chessboard to accommodate Fraser Minten in the club’s lineup.
Minten was the major piece in the Brandon Carlo trade last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. As such, the club is betting that Minten will turn into the prospect the Leafs once envisioned as a potential second-line center.
However, Sturm and the Bruins have tapered expectations for the 21-year-old. That’s why the Bruins' first-year coach has him on the third line with Tanner Jeannot and Marat Khusnutdinov.
That third line has the potential to be a solid defensive unit while chipping in offensively. They won’t burn out the lightbulb on the goal light, but at least they can provide meaningful depth scoring.
If the bet pays off, the Bruins could have themselves a much deeper lineup. To accommodate Minten in the lineup, Sturm has Casey Mittelstadt as the second-line pivot with Pavel Zacha on the wing. That move seems to have paid off. On Saturday against the Rangers, Zacha scored a goal with Mittelstadt picking up an assist.
If that line continues to gel, it will take the pressure off the rest of the Bruins’ lineup. Then, it’s up to Minten to prove he can hang in the 3C role for now. But if everything really goes according to plan, fans could see Minten climb up the depth chart much faster than anticipated.
Minten could make other Bruins expendable
This season comes with much more uncertainty than other seasons. The Bruins will be looking to shake off last season’s disastrous campaign. But the main issue is that there’s no guarantee that this year’s team can turn things around.
Yes, there’s plenty of talent there. Players like Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, and Minten promise to bring a new crop of young stars to the fold. But the fact is that fans won’t know what to expect from the club until it hits the ice.
If things go well, the Bruins could challenge for a playoff spot. Coupled with a strong performance from prospects like Minten, the Bruins could be emboldened to make a move. For instance, the team might consider moving a piece like Mittelstadt to address another key area.
The odds are that a talented young player like Fraser Minten could reach a new level in 2025-26. He’ll have an opportunity to prove he can play. The club will be patient with him as he grapples with the challenges of becoming a full-time NHL center.
Boston Bruins star a major advocate for team's change heading into 2025-26 season
One Bruins star is in full support of Marco Sturm and his system.
At this time last year, the Boston Bruins were preparing to open the 2024-25 season against the Florida Panthers, minus one of their top players, goalie Jeremy Swayman. He held out of training camp without a contract, but just hours before the team boarded a flight for South Florida, he agreed to a new contract. It didn't make sense to play two nights later.
Last season ended up being a forgettable season for the Bruins' top goalie and his teammates as they finished tied for last place in the Eastern Conference. It ultimately cost Jim Montgomery his job in November, and then interim coach Joe Sacco followed suit after the end of the season.
In June, general manager Don Sweeney announced the hiring of former Boston forward Marco Sturm as his next head coach. Sturm brought in a different system to camp, and one that is going to take time for everyone to nail down.
In free agency, Sweeney loaded up on physicality in the bottom-six, which is going to make the Bruins tougher to play against this year. Well, that's the goal anyway. On Saturday, the Black and Gold closed out the preseason at 4-1-1 (not that it matters) with a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers at the TD Garden. Following the game, Swayman sounded confident in his teammates and the system in place is going to have a positive impact in 2025-26.
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman confident in Marco Sturm's system
Swayman played all 60 minutes against New York, his final tune-up before Wednesday night's season opener against the Washington Capitals. He stopped 30 of the 31 shots the Rangers fired at him, but truth be told, despite facing 30 shots, there were not many high-danger chances for the visitors.
“We have a great system that Marco and the coaching staff has put together for us,” Swayman said. “And we just have to do it the right way with our speed and physicality and attention to detail through all 60 minutes. I think we'll be really successful this year when we play that way.''
There is nowhere to go up for this year's Boston Bruins after the season they endured last season. Sturm system has shown some signs of working in the preseason, but now the games are for real and it will be put to the test in the season-opener against the Capitals.
