As such, here\u2019s a look at the Bruins\u2019 top 10 prospects who\u2019ve yet to log at least 15 games in the NHL.<\/p>\n
The Bruins will need to wait a few years for their top 2026 draft pick, 17-year-old netminder Yuri Ivanov, to marinate before seeing if he has the makings of a legitimate NHL talent.<\/p>\n
That timeline may not be quite as long for the 5-foot-10-inch Bartholdsson, who could have gone a lot earlier than the third round (No. 88) had he been just a few inches taller.<\/p>\n
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Despite his smaller stature, Bartholdsson was a menace (23 goals, 19 assists in 32 games) in Sweden\u2019s U-20 league with Rogle BK last year. Only No. 12 pick Alexander Command generated more points than Bartholdsson as an under-18 skater in the U20 Nationell.<\/p>\n
There will be some concerns about how he can handle physicality at the higher levels, but Bartholdsson boasts a lethal shot and a willingness to drive into Grade-A ice \u2014 with the young Swede modeling his game after undersized scoring winger Viktor Arvidsson.<\/p>\n
For all the talk of the Bruins cornering the market on Hockey East talent, the collegiate club Bruins fans might want to keep tabs on next year is a stacked Quinnipiac squad<\/a> in the ECAC.<\/p>\n Leading the charge for the 2026-27 Bobcats is a pair of Bruins prospects, including Pelosi \u2014 a productive, two-way forward. Drafted 92nd (third round) in 2023, Pelosi followed up a strong end to his freshman campaign (19 points in 23 games) with an 18-goal, 34-point performance in 2025-26.<\/p>\n Pelosi generates chances by hounding pucks, forcing turnovers, and cashing in on miscues, while he\u2019s also developed into a reliable special-teams option for Bobcats coach Rand Pecknold. He could be a dependable bottom-six forward in the pro game.<\/p>\n Much like his Bobcats teammate, Groenewold is a no-frills prospect who boasts a pretty high floor thanks to his profile as a hard-nosed defender.<\/p>\n The Vermont native took another major step forward as a sophomore last season, with the 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 110) earning ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman and All-Conference First Team honors.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old led the NCAA with a plus-39 rating, while also chipping in seven goals and 20 points in 40 games. Groenewold could make a push for pro reps in short order as a dependable, left-shot option on the blue line.<\/p>\n The pipeline isn\u2019t exactly stacked with high-impact blue liners, but a mobile D-man like Brunet could make a push for the NHL this fall.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s put himself on our radar now to really push for an NHL opportunity,\u201d general manager Don Sweeney<\/a> said of Brunet in June. \u201cHe\u2019s had the one game<\/a>, but you see his game continue to grow. He\u2019s rounded out defensively. He values that part of the game, whereas before when we first got him, it was go, go, go. I\u2019m a transporter. But now we like the aggressiveness of the offensive blue line.\u201d<\/p>\n Brunet, a 2022 fifth-round pick, has been knocking on the door for a while in Providence, scoring 17 goals and 61 points over the last two seasons (134 games).<\/p>\n A playmaking defenseman with good size at 6-foot-3, Brunet may not necessarily project to be a power-play QB, but could chip in 25-30 points and be a strong transition player who moves pucks out of danger with crisp first passes. If he has a strong training camp and preseason, Brunet could be an appealing candidate to pair with McAvoy.<\/p>\n Another Swiss Army Knife who has been productive at just about every stop of his young career, and could be in line for some NHL reps.<\/p>\n Be it at UMass (33 points in 40 games in 2024-25), on the international stage<\/a> for Latvia (two goals in four Olympic games), or with the P-Bruins, Locmelis has drawn plenty of high marks for his refined 200-foot profile and ability to chip in on the scoresheet.<\/p>\n Had it not been for a season-ending injury, Locmelis would have been one of the top scorers in Providence last winter; he had 28 points in 43 games. He might be more of a \u201cmaster of none\u201d in that his speed, size, and shot aren\u2019t exactly elite \u2014 but he finds a way to impact most of his shifts with a cerebral skillset.<\/p>\n Like Pelosi, he could develop into a trusty third-line forward.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be surprised to see Simpson much higher on this ranking next year, given the 2025 third-round pick\u2019s established track record of shredding opposing defenses.<\/p>\n After dominating at Shakopee (Minn.) High with 49 goals and 83 points in 31 games, it\u2019s been so far, so good from the 19-year-old forward in the USHL. He ranked second with 34 goals and posted 74 points over 61 games with Youngstown in 2025-26.<\/p>\n Armed with a blistering shot, Simpson can score from just about anywhere in the offensive zone, and also has the hands and anticipation to both capitalize on rush chances and find soft spots in coverage to pepper the net.<\/p>\n If Simpson \u2014 who will join fellow Bruins prospect Will Zellers on a stacked North Dakota squad<\/a> \u2014 continues to produce as a freshman in the NCHC, look out.<\/p>\n Sweeney didn\u2019t mince words earlier this month when asked about the reasoning behind trading veteran netminder Joonas Korpisalo<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just feel that Michael has earned this opportunity,,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While he\u2019s only made four appearances in the NHL, the 27-year-old netminder \u2014 originally acquired from the Canucks as part of an October 2022 trade<\/a> involving Jack Studnicka \u2014 was the AHL\u2019s top goalie in each of his past two seasons with Providence.<\/p>\n Beyond that accolade, DiPietro was named AHL MVP<\/a> for the 2025-26 campaign, leading the league in wins (34), GAA (1.91), and save percentage (.930).<\/p>\n He\u2019s a bit of a late bloomer, but it\u2019s hard to argue against the results.<\/p>\n Similar to Simpson, Zellers is a shot-first, scoring winger who has legitimate 25-goal upside.<\/p>\n One of the top prizes plucked by the Bruins as part of their fire sale, the 2024 third-round pick of Colorado has seen his stock soar since arriving in Boston.<\/p>\n The Minnesota native earned USHL Player of the Year honors after notching 44 goals and 71 points across 52 games in 2024-25. He didn\u2019t slow down after making the jump to North Dakota<\/a>, tallying 18 goals and 34 points over 38 games as a college freshman.<\/p>\n He also saw his stock soar at the World Juniors<\/a> this past winter \u2014 going from a spare forward into arguably Team USA\u2019s most impactful winger with five goals and 8 points over five games.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not the most imposing figure at 5-10, but Zellers \u2014 who said he models his game after a fellow undersized scoring winger in Jake Guentzel \u2014 blends his heavy shot with a high motor and a creative approach in the offensive zone. He could carve out a middle-six role<\/a> in the next few years.<\/p>\n What a difference a year makes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 6-7 forward was always going to be a long-term investment, selected in the first round in 2024 coming off a dominant year at the prep level \u2014 127 points in 56 games at St. Andrew\u2019s College.<\/p>\n His upward trajectory took a major hit after he accelerated a year ahead, then went goal-less (with three assists) in 36 games as a Boston College freshman in 2024-25. But for all the fears over Letourneau being a complete whiff, the 20-year-old center rebounded in a major way as a sophomore, posting 22 goals and 39 points in 36 games.<\/p>\n Letourneau\u2019s silky mitts and sharp wrist shot might have helped him stuff the stat sheet at the prep level, but the BC product\u2019s willingness to use his imposing frame and reach to win puck battles, wreak havoc, and truck his way into Grade-A ice has made him a matchup nightmare in Hockey East.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a valid case to be made that Letourneau has the highest upside among Bruins prospects. There are a lot of skilled forwards in the collegiate ranks, but there aren\u2019t many who are are 6-7 and 235 pounds.<\/p>\n If the Bruins do take another step forward in 2026-27, Hagens carving out a regular role should factor into those fortunes.<\/p>\n The seventh pick in the 2025 draft earned a cup of coffee with the Bruins after another strong season at Boston College (23 goals, 47 points in 34 games as a sophomore).<\/p>\n Even if the playmaking forward didn\u2019t necessarily pop over his very limited reps \u2014 one assist in five games, including three playoff appearances \u2014 the skill and upside are evident with the potential top-six fixture.<\/p>\n While he might start out on the wing, Hagens is at his best at center \u2014 with his elite edge work and pass-first approach making him the type of player who will consistently generate chances.<\/p>\n Even with some expected growing pains as a rookie, Hagens is a tantalizing talent who will play a key role.<\/p>\n Honorable mentions: F Will Moore, D Vashek Blanar, F Matvei Kotkov, G Max Lundgren<\/a>, D Liam Pettersson, G Yuri Ivanov<\/a>, F Ryan Walsh<\/a>.<\/p>\n