Each season, the NHL sees several players break out and cement themselves as true NHLers. The Boston Bruins will certainly be hoping that a few of their players take big steps in their development next season, as the retooling squad has several promising youngsters.
Due to this, let's take a look at a handful of Bruins players who have the potential to break out for the Original Six club during the 2025-26 season now.
Fraser Minten
Fraser Minten is certainly a breakout candidate for the Bruins heading into next season. The 21-year-old forward has shown promise early on his professional career, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if he took a notable step forward for the Bruins next season because of it. This is especially so when noting that he appears to have a good shot of being their third-line center in 2025-26.
Minten just completed his first full professional season, splitting time between the AHL and NHL. In 37 AHL games split between the Toronto Marlies and Providence Bruins, he had nine goals and 20 points. He also played in 21 NHL games this past season, where he recorded three goals, five points, and 48 hits. Overall, it was a solid campaign for the youngster, and it will be fascinating to see if he breaks out for the Bruins next year.
Mason Lohrei
Mason Lohrei took a nice step forward with his offensive game this past season, as he set new career highs with five goals, 28 assists, and 33 points in 77 games. However, like many young offensive blueliners, he had some growing pains when it came to his defensive play, as evidenced by his team-worst minus-43 rating.
With the 2024-25 campaign being only Lohrei's second season in the NHL, he certainly has the ability to hit a new level next season. The potential for him to improve his offensive production is undoubtedly there, but it would also not be surprising if his defensive play improved, now that he has more experience.
Matt Poitras
Matt Poitras has shown signs of promise early on in his career, but he is still looking to cement himself as a full-time NHL player. The 21-year-old appeared in 33 games this past season with Boston, where he recorded one goal, 10 assists, and 11 points. He also spent a good portion of the season down in Providence, posting 17 goals, 24 assists, and 41 points in 40 games.
Ultimately, the Bruins' decision to have Poitras work on his development in Providence proved to be a right one, as he thrived in the AHL and certainly boosted his confidence in the process. Now, he will to carry this momentum over to the NHL level next season with the Bruins and emerge as a key part of their forward group.
Fabian Lysell
Fabian Lysell finally got his first chance at the NHL level with the Bruins this past season, where he recorded one goal, two assists, and a minus-4 rating in 12 games. Yet, he ended the campaign with Boston on a high note, as he recorded all three of his points in the Bruins' final four games. He also had 11 goals and 34 points in 52 games this past season with Providence.
Overall, it has been taking Lysell a good amount of time to develop, but he should not be given up on yet. The 2021 first-round pick has good upside, and he certainly could take a nice step forward with Boston next season. However, he will first need to impress at training camp to earn himself a spot on the NHL roster.
Matej Blumel
Earlier this month, the Bruins quietly signed forward Matej Blumel to a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season. While this was one of the Bruins' smaller moves of the summer, there is no question that the 25-year-old forward is an intriguing player to watch in 2025-26. The potential for him to break out and emerge as an NHL player for the Bruins is there, as evidenced by his excellent AHL stats in recent seasons.
During the 2023-24 with the Texas Stars, Blumel posted 31 goals and 62 points in 72 games. He then followed that up by dominating in 2024-25 with Texas, recording 39 goals, 33 assists, and 72 points in 67 contests. These kinds of numbers at the AHL level are very encouraging, and he very well could break out for the Bruins next season if given the chance to play at the NHL level.
Michael DiPietro
After an incredible 2024-25 season with the Providence Bruins, goaltender Michael DiPietro is undoubtedly someone to watch during the pre-season. With DiPietro re-signing with the Bruins for two years, he should compete for their backup job at training camp. He certainly warrants consideration for the role, as he had a 26-8-5 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.05 goals-against average in 40 appearances this past season with Providence. He also won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's top goaltender.
With how excellently DiPietro played this past campaign, he should be considered a breakout candidate for next season.
Bruins Have Decision To Make With Big Defenseman
At the 2024 NHL trade deadline, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> upgraded their blueline by acquiring defenseman Andrew Peeke from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jakub Zboril and a 2027 third-round pick. Since then, Peeke has been a mainstay on the Bruins' blueline, primarily playing on their bottom pairing.
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