With the off-season here, we here at The Hockey News Boston Bruins asked for your questions for our first mailbag. We appreciate your questions and are excited to answer them now.
In this first edition of the series, we will answer questions on the seventh-overall pick, Don Sweeney, Fraser Minten, and more.
PhilB: Do you think Sweeney should trade the 7th pick or use it to try to get a younger player since their prospect pool is ranked one of the worst in the league?
I am very much in favor of the Bruins keeping the seventh-overall pick instead of trading it, and it's for the exact reason you mentioned. The Bruins sport one of the NHL's weakest prospect pools, and the seventh-overall pick provides them with a golden chance to try to fix that.
While this year's draft is more of a wild card compared to recent ones, the Bruins should still have some exciting options to consider once they are on the clock. A few forwards who could be available at the No. 7 spot include James Hagens, Brady Martin, Porter Martone, Caleb Desnoyers, Jake O'Brien, and Roger McQueen.
The only way trading the seventh-overall pick could make sense is if the Bruins bring in a young and proven top-six forward or top-four defenseman who can help them both now and in the future. However, I really think Boston needs to keep this pick.
BlacknGold: Do you believe the two-year extension Sweeney signed had more to do with the optics of having a secure and stable front office to entice potential free agents, or does Neely and the Jacobs believe in his ability to get the club back on the rails in short order?
Charlie Jacobs expressed his confidence in Sweeney and Cam Neely following the season, so I do think Jacobs genuinely believes that Sweeney can turn this ship around. However, time will tell if Sweeney can actually do that after landing his two-year extension.
However, I would say the Bruins' need for a new head coach (before they hired Marco Sturm earlier this month) also played a notable role in Sweeney landing his extension when he did. I also think you are also onto something when it comes to the free agency element. Players certainly could feel iffy about joining a team that has a GM in the final year of their deal.
Spencer Lazary: Do you think Fraser Minten is a lock to make the opening night roster? Also, could he turn out to be the next Leafs killer like Rask was?
I'd say that Minten has a pretty good shot of making their opening night roster, but I wouldn't consider him a lock for it just yet. With Minten being just 20 years old, it would be understandable if the Bruins wanted him to start the year in Providence. However, his smart two-way play could land him a spot in Boston's bottom six. This is especially so if the Bruins don't bring in any new centers during free agency.
As for your Leafs killer question, I would say anything is possible. There is always a big risk in trading a divisional rival, and Minten will have plenty of opportunities to try to prove to the Maple Leafs that they made a mistake moving on from him. However, I also think the Maple Leafs needed a defenseman like Brandon Carlo, so that trade could end up being a win-win for both sides as it ages.
Anonymous: With the importance of an excellent goalie needed to win the cup, why are goalies not selected higher in the draft? Is it because of the unknown transition ability to the NHL?
Exactly. It is more difficult to predict how well a goalie will transition to the NHL level versus a forward or defenseman. Furthermore, goalies also often need multiple years after being drafted before they are ready to make the jump to the NHL level. Thus, teams with early picks normally go for top skaters, as they can help their NHL roster far more quickly.
Here is a notable example. Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov was selected 11th overall in 2020, and he has only 16 games of NHL experience on his resume, with 13 of them coming this season. The 23-year-old goalie undoubtedly has high potential, but it simply takes goalies more time to be NHL-ready.
Anonymous: JJ Peterka is a player the B's should go after.
This reader's comment was submitted before JJ Peterka was traded to the Utah Mammoth on June 26, but I still think it is worth discussing. I personally would have loved it if the Bruins acquired Peterka. When noting that he is only 23 years old and already a proven top-six winger, he would have been a great fit for the Bruins as they retool their group.
When looking at the numbers Peterka put up in 2024-25, he would have been a significant addition to the Bruins' forward group. In 77 games this season with the Sabres, he posted 27 goals, 41 assists, and 68 points. This is excellent production, and his skill set could have made him a strong fit on the Bruins' first line with David Pastrnak. Yet, with Peterka being traded to Utah, he is no longer a possible option for them, unfortunately.
However, with the Bruins having plenty of cap space, they certainly could look to bring in a top-six winger through free agency. A few names who can hit the market on July 1 include Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Brock Boeser. Still, Peterka would have been a great addition for the Bruins.
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