Bruins' new look under Marco Sturm shows vast differences from past regimes, with bold decisions reshaping Boston's roster
The Boston Bruins need young talent within the organization to emerge for them to get back to Stanley Cup contention. Fraser Minten, the youngest Bruin to make the team out of camp, has been exactly what the doctor ordered, and the 21-year-old center paid dividends Thursday night with the game-winning overtime goal as the Bruins defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.
After the game, the “Minty” talked about the opportunity to play a role in Boston to start the season and what he will need to do to stick on the NHL for the season and beyond.
“Obviously, it’s different than the AHL, but nice to come in and play in it right away out of camp like that,” Minten said. “I feel like I’ve been doing it for two months now, so I’m used to it.”
“I have room to continue to get better at everything,” he added. “For me, faceoffs, being good defensively, it’s going to be big to get out there and get D-zone starts and get out there on the PK.”
Minten scored his fourth NHL goal to win the game and has shown a steady 200-foot game beyond his years. A game that impresses Head Coach Marco Sturm to the point of saying, “I like him”. It is a simple statement but one that stands out for an NHL head coach to say about a young player.
The Bruins wanted Minten included in a trade that sent Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. In all, Boston received Minten and a 2026 first round draft pick, which looks like quite a return right now.
Following a strong training camp, Minten won a spot in Boston’s opening night lineup as the Bruins’ third-line center, beating out other forwards like Matt Poitras, Matej Blumel, and Fabian Lysell for limited bottom-six roles. Poitras is back in the AHL and someone that is vying for the very position Minten has secured in Boston.
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told Minten he was impressed with Minten’s work ethic and training camp performance. “The reason I’m going to let you start in Boston — it’s all you,” Sturm told Minten.
Teammate and first line center Elias Lindholm said this after the game about Minten: “He’s a really good kid. He has a lot of respect for the game and for his teammates. He’s a good kid, and we love seeing him do well.”
It is only two games into the season, but Fraser Minten is giving Bruins fans and management hope that a young forward is emerging as an important member of this team. As third line center, Minty has been a breath of fresh air.
Ben Johnson just gave Lions fans another reason to despise him
After the Detroit Lions lost to the Washington Commanders in last year's playoffs, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pretty quickly left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. With how that loss went, a strong section Lions' fans leaned into the idea Johnson's focus was elsewhere when it shouldn't have been.
Leaving to become the head coach of a division rival adds a significant layer to how Lions fans feel about Johnson. Add in what he said upon arriving at Halas Hall, and Bears' defensive coordinator Dennis Allen later revealing when Johnson first contacted him about possibly being on his coaching staff, and Lions' fans have plenty of fuel for their disdain won't ever be assuaged just by their team beating Johnson's new team.
The Lions' offense did plenty well enough in that playoff loss to the Commanders, but five turnovers was the ultimate undoing.
One play from the playoff loss to Washington that drew particular ire ire from Lions fans was a trick play where wide receiver Jameson Williams threw a pass.
A costly interception followed, when the Lions were trailing by 10 and in striking distance.
Johnson’s creativity as a play caller is generally appreciated. But occasionally straying from simple things, and instead digging into his creative bag, was a point of critique at times when he was the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
Ben Johnson invites more ire from Lions’ fans
Johnson’s Bears are taking on the Commanders in Week 6. So the last time he faced them came up during his session with the media on Wednesday.
“Yeah, I think when I look back at that game there were, we had a lot of turnovers”, Johnson said.
“I felt like within that setting, that as good as that (Commanders) offense was clicking, you know, you feel a little bit of pressure on offense to go score for score and you don't want to fall behind by two scores against a good team like that," Johnson said. "So, might have been a little bit more aggressive with the play calls and got away from the game plan a little bit based on how that game went.”
“End of the day, you take care of the football, that game maybe goes a different direction.”
A segment of fans though Johnson wouldn’t leave the Lions until they won a Super Bowl, even if that was never a logical reason for him to continue to brush off head coaching opportunities. Then when he did leave, he went to a division rival.
Now, Johnson has acknowledged mistakes he made in his final game as Lions offensive coordinator. If fans needed any more fuel to their hatred fire, they have it now.
