The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Make sure to check out the Boston Bruins team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/boston-bruins/

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Welcome back. It has been another eventful off-season in Boston, and for the first time in a while, the Bruins enter a season with more questions than certainties. Gone are the days of simply penciling them in as a 100-point team. This organization is in the middle of reshaping its identity, balancing veterans who still expect to compete with a younger wave that now has to shoulder a larger share of the load.

Last season was a reminder that the Bruins remain a difficult team to play against, but they’re no longer able to overwhelm opponents with elite depth alone. Injuries exposed a lack of secondary scoring, and offensive consistency became an issue throughout the year. Boston can still defend, fore-check, and frustrate teams, but they’ll need more finish if they want to climb back into the Eastern Conference’s upper tier.

The biggest story line heading into this season is the continued transition of the forward group. Several younger players are expected to take on expanded roles, while management continues searching for long-term answers down the middle. The Bruins have traditionally built through structure and detail, but they’ll need more creativity if they’re going to keep pace with the league’s faster, more offensive teams.

Defensively, the Bruins remain in good shape. Charlie McAvoy continues to anchor the blue line, and Boston still possesses the kind of defensive structure that keeps games close. Their biggest challenge will be moving the puck more efficiently and generating offense from the back end without sacrificing what has made them successful for years.

Goaltending should once again be a strength. Whether it’s Jeremy Swayman carrying the bulk of the workload or a more balanced rotation, Boston has the stability in net to remain competitive most nights. If the defense in front of them stays healthy, the Bruins should rank among the league’s better defensive teams once again.

The power play remains one of the biggest swing factors. There is enough talent to produce at an above-average rate, but zone entries, puck movement, and finishing all need to become more consistent. If Boston can push its special teams into the league’s top third while maintaining its usual defensive standards, another playoff appearance is well within reach.

The Bruins may not generate the same level of preseason excitement as some of the league’s younger contenders, but writing them off has rarely been a smart bet. They still have experienced leadership, an established culture, and enough high-end talent to surprise people. Whether this season becomes another playoff run or another step in the organization’s transition will depend on how quickly the next generation turns potential into production.

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 2, 56th Overall: Yuri Ivanov, G

The Bruins didn’t have a first-round pick after acquiring JJ Peterka, making Yuri Ivanov their first selection of the draft. It was an aggressive swing on one of the youngest goaltenders available, and one the organization clearly believed in more than the public rankings suggested.

Ivanov backstopped MHK Spartak Moskva to the MHL Final, posting a .924 save percentage in the regular season before improving to .928 through 16 playoff games. Boston has one of the NHL’s strongest track records when it comes to developing goaltenders, and they’re betting that Ivanov has the athleticism, composure, and technical foundation to become the next success story. He’s several years away, but carries legitimate starter upside if everything clicks.

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Round 3, 88th Overall: Nils Bartholdsson, RW

If there was one pick that screamed “Bruins hockey,” it was Nils Bartholdsson. The Swedish winger combines a relentless motor with an attacking mindset, constantly driving pucks through the neutral zone and getting shots to dangerous areas. He scored 23 goals in just 32 U20 Nationell games before adding another nine goals in nine playoff contests.

At 5-foot-11, size likely pushed him into the third round, but Boston clearly valued his compete level and finishing ability. If his offensive game continues translating against stronger competition, Bartholdsson could become one of the steals of this draft class.

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Round 4, 104th Overall: Matvei Kotkov, RW

Kotkov was another upside swing. The Russian winger exploded during Loko Yaroslavl’s MHL championship run, earning playoff MVP honours after recording 15 points in 18 postseason games. He’s an energetic winger who thrives around loose pucks, attacks with confidence, and has shown a knack for elevating his game in meaningful situations.

His skating remains the biggest developmental focus, but Boston is betting on his offensive instincts and competitive drive carrying him through the next stages of development.

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Round 4, 122nd Overall: Oscar Olsson, LW

Olsson gives the Bruins another projectable winger with NHL size and a straightforward game. He plays north-south, works hard away from the puck, and willingly battles along the boards and around the crease. His offensive ceiling may not be as high as some of Boston’s earlier selections, but his habits and physical tools give him a solid developmental foundation.

If his puck skills continue to improve, he has the profile of a dependable complementary winger.

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Round 5, 157th Overall: Jacob Vandeven, LHD

Boston addressed the blue line by selecting Jacob Vandeven, a 6-foot-5 left-shot defenseman from the London Knights. His reach, size, and defensive presence immediately stand out, and he projects as a shutdown defender who can kill penalties and match up against bigger forwards.

The offensive game is still developing, but players with Vandeven’s frame and mobility are always worth investing in during the middle rounds.

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Round 6, 170th Overall: Roberto Henriquez, G

The Bruins doubled down in goal by selecting Roberto Henriquez out of the Green Bay Gamblers. Henriquez gives the organization another long-term project between the pipes and reinforces Boston’s philosophy of consistently replenishing its goaltending pipeline.

Goaltenders take patience, but few organizations have earned as much trust developing the position as Boston.

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Round 7, 216th Overall: Cullen McCrate, RHD

Boston closed its draft by adding right-shot defenseman Cullen McCrate. A competitive defender who keeps his game simple, McCrate relies on positioning, physical engagement, and efficient puck movement rather than flashy offense. As a seventh-round selection, he’ll have plenty of development ahead, but right-shot defensemen with size are always valuable bets late in the draft.

Overall, the Bruins targeted long-term upside rather than immediate NHL help. Two goaltenders headline the class, while the forward group adds scoring potential and the blue line gains a pair of projectable defenders. It may not be the flashiest haul, but it’s a draft class built around patience, development, and organizational depth.

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Offseason Moves

Boston entered the offseason with a clear goal: improve the supporting cast around their aging core while keeping the competitive window open. After a season that showed the Bruins could still defend at a high level but lacked enough secondary scoring, Don Sweeney attacked both the forward depth and the blue line.

The biggest move came through the trade market, with Boston acquiring JJ Peterka, giving the Bruins another legitimate top-six offensive threat. The move came at a significant cost, but it showed the organization’s commitment to building around their current core rather than beginning a full rebuild.

The Bruins also focused heavily on reshaping the defense. Adding Will Borgen and bringing back Connor Clifton gave Boston more physicality and depth on the right side, while Jordan Harris added another mobile option capable of moving the puck. The defensive additions fit Boston’s identity while providing insurance for a group that dealt with injuries throughout the season.

Incoming (Remaining years, AAV)

• JJ Peterka – 4 years, $5.000 Million
• Will Borgen – 3 years, $4.100 Million
• Connor Clifton – 2 years, $3.330 Million
• Kalle Väisänen – 2 years, $875K (ELC)
• Ivan Ivan – 1 year, $775K
• Jordan Harris – 1 year, $1.400 Million
• Riley Duran – 1 year, $875K

Outgoing

• Viktor Arvidsson
• Charlie Coyle
• John Beecher
• Brandon Carlo
• Alec Regula
• Jeffrey Viel

Re-Signed

• Morgan Geekie – 3 years, $5.500 Million
• Mason Lohrei – 2 years, $2.850 Million

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In the System

Risers

Dean Letourneau

There might not be a bigger stock increase in Boston’s system than Dean Letourneau. A year removed from a freshman season where the production simply wasn’t there, Letourneau completely flipped the narrative with a breakout sophomore campaign at Boston College.

The size was always the selling point. At 6-foot-7, there are not many players in hockey who combine that frame with his hands and shooting ability. The question was whether he could actually process the game fast enough against higher-level competition.

That answer is becoming clearer.

Letourneau started using his size as a weapon, winning battles, protecting pucks, and creating chances from areas where big players should operate. The 22 goals and 39 points at BC were impressive, but the bigger takeaway was how much more comfortable he looked creating offense instead of simply surviving shifts.

The upside remains extremely intriguing. There are still skating questions, but a 6-foot-7 center with legitimate offensive instincts is something every NHL organization would love to develop. Letourneau has gone from a long-term project to one of the most interesting power-forward prospects in hockey.

Will Zellers

Zellers has quietly become one of the biggest winners in Boston’s revamped prospect pool. Originally acquired as part of Boston’s roster reshaping, he has quickly gone from intriguing secondary piece to a legitimate scoring prospect.

The shot has always been the calling card. Zellers has a release that can beat goaltenders from distance, but the biggest improvement has been his ability to consistently create offense. He scored 44 goals in the USHL before transitioning to North Dakota, where he continued producing against stronger competition.

What separates Zellers is the combination of skill and compete. He isn’t just waiting for chances — he creates them through pressure, quick decisions, and attacking mentality.

The biggest question is whether his smaller frame will limit his NHL ceiling. However, with his goal-scoring ability and improving all-around game, Zellers has moved into the conversation as a potential middle-six NHL winger.

James Hagens

There is not much left to say about Hagens that scouts haven’t already covered, but his development has continued exactly as Boston hoped when they selected him seventh overall.

Hagens is the type of player who changes the pace of a game with his brain before his skill. His ability to manipulate defenders, find passing lanes, and create offense from nothing is what separates him from most prospects.

After another dominant season at Boston College, where he led the team with 47 points in 34 games, Hagens entered the professional ranks with expectations that he could eventually become a major piece of Boston’s next core.

The biggest question is not whether he has NHL talent — it is how quickly he can turn that talent into NHL production

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Fallers

Matthew Poitras

Poitras is a difficult player to classify because the talent that made him one of Boston’s most exciting young players is still obvious. The vision, creativity, and hockey IQ are all legitimate NHL traits.

The issue is that his development has slowed.

After bursting onto the scene and making the NHL as a teenager, injuries and inconsistency have interrupted his momentum. The question now is not whether Poitras can make plays  it is whether he can consistently create enough separation and pace to handle NHL match ups.

Boston’s prospect pool has changed dramatically. With Hagens, Letourneau, Zellers, and other young forwards pushing through the system, Poitras no longer has the same clear path to an offensive role.

There is still an NHL player here, but the projection has shifted. The former potential top-six center now needs to prove he can become a reliable everyday contributor.

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Expected to Start in the NHL

• James Hagens
• Fraser Minten
• Matthew Poitras

Likely to See NHL Action 

• Ivan Ivan
• Riley Duran
• Cole Koepke
• Ryan Walsh
• Matvei Kotkov
• Jacob Vandeven

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Bruins prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. 

1. James Hagens
2. Dean Letourneau
3. Matthew Poitras
4. Will Zellers
5. Will Moore
6. Cooper Simpson
7. Liam Pettersson
8. Ivan Ivan
9. Nils Bartholdsson
10. Frederic Brunet
11. Riley Duran
12. Chris Pelosi
13. Beckett Hendickson
14. Roberto Henriquez
15. Kalle Vaisinen
16. Dans Locmelis
17. Loke Johansson
18. Yuri Ivanov
19. Cole Chandler
20. Ryan Walsh

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Final Thoughts

The Bruins entered the off-season with a clear identity crisis: were they going to chase the final years of their veteran core or start building toward the next era? Instead, Boston found a middle ground. They added immediate NHL help while continuing to create opportunities for their younger players. The additions of JJ Peterka, Will Borgen, and Connor Clifton gave the roster more speed, physicality, and stability without completely sacrificing the future.

The biggest takeaway is that Boston finally started addressing the need for more high-end skill. Peterka gives the Bruins another legitimate offensive threat alongside David Pastrnak, something the team has lacked outside of its top players. The back-end additions also fit the Bruins’ traditional identity — big, hard-to-play-against defenders who can handle difficult minutes.

The next step is seeing how quickly the younger group takes over. Players like Fraser Minten, Matthew Poitras, James Hagens, and Boston’s prospect pool will determine whether this becomes a short-term reset or the beginning of the next competitive window.

Overall, this was not a flashy off-season built around one massive swing. It was a calculated attempt to balance the present with the future. The Bruins added more speed, more depth, and more options while keeping the foundation intact. The question now is whether those changes are enough to push Boston from a playoff team into a true contender.

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Make sure to check out the Boston Bruins team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/boston-bruins/

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If you want to see more hockey talk, you can follow me personally on Twitter/X – @OwenHilsinger