Bruins Top 15 Prospects

The Boston Bruins have been rather limited in draft capital over the last few seasons, but have still amassed a decent looking prospect pool, especially on the blueline, with a few shot-in-the-dark goaltender prospects looking like they are ready to start paying dividends as well. Let's take a look at the top-15 prospects in the Bruins' system right now:

15. Brian Halonen, LW - Providence (E-AHL) / Utica Comets (AHL)
Acquired: Signed as a UFA in 2022

Having just turned 25, Halonen probably doesn't have much upside to him but he has put up some good AHL numbers, giving some hope that he may have NHL potential in him. A physical forward with a nose for the net, Halonen has 11 goals and 15 points in 18 AHL games this season. In the EHE, Halonen has played 80 games for the Providence Bruins, recording 12 goals and 22 points.

14. Dans Locmelis, C - University of Massachusetts (Hockey East)
Acquired: 2023 EHE Entry Draft - 5th round (133rd overall)

The Latvian centre Locmelis flashes good all-around ability, with good hands, vision, and a pretty good two-way game. Locmelis has stood out playing for Latvia at the past three World Junior Hockey Championships, showing some creativity for a team that is often overmatched, and has  compiled 6 goals and 10 points in 16 games over those three tournaments. That success hasn't necessarily translated over to the NCAA yet, however.

13. Ronan Seeley, D - Providence (E-AHL) / Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Acquired: 2021 EHE Entry Draft - 5th round (133rd overall)

To some extent a victim of the NHL Hurricanes' lack of AHL affiliate, Seeley spent time in the ECHL this year before returning to the Chicago Wolves. The Wolves are a bad hockey team and Seeley has had his ups and downs, but he's a smart player and good puck mover, the kind of transition player who is important on the back end in today's game. In the EHE, Seeley has played 4 games with Providence in his AHL rookie season.

12. Riley Kidney, C - Laval Rocket (AHL)
Acquired: 2021 EHE Entry Draft - 3rd round (87th overall)

Kidney's biggest assets are his intelligence and playmaking ability, though he is so pass-first that he tends to become a little predictable at times. He profiles as the kind of player that will have to play on a scoring line at the next level, but the upside is there. Currently a bit buried on a Laval team with a lot of forward depth, Kidney has 14 points in 41 AHL games.

11. Drew Helleson, D - Providence (E-AHL) / San Diego Gulls (AHL)
Acquired: Trade with NYR, 2021

Part of the return in the Bruins' Victor Hedman trade back in 2021, Helleson is a strong defensive d-man who has, so far, not shown a ton of offensive ability. In his third AHL season, Helleson has 9 points in 39 games. Though unlikely to play high in an NHL team's lineup, Helleson has the defensive game and smarts to play in the NHL one day, although it may not end up being with Anaheim. In the EHE, has 16 points with a -14 rating in 73 AHL games with Providence.

10. Alexei Kolosov, G - Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
Acquired: 2021 EHE Entry Draft - 3rd round (75th overall)

Kolosov boasts a wealth of KHL experience for a 22 year old, having already played 116 games for Dinamo Minsk. This past year, Kolosov signed his entry-level contract before being loaned back to the KHL where he went 20-19-0 with 4 SO and a .906 SV%. The numbers are not jaw-dropping but the fact that he's already been a starter in the KHL for this long at this age does indicate some potential.

9. Jet Greaves, G - Providence (E-AHL) / Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
Acquired: Signed as a UFA in 2022

Greaves has started to draw some attention at the AHL level and is 20-9-2 with a .906 SV% this year, even earning a call-up to Columbus for some NHL time. In 3 NHL starts over the past two seasons, Greaves has a 1-2 record but a .937 SV%. In the EHE, Greaves has been Providence's primary netminder for the past two seasons and sports a 23-26-4 record with a .906 SV%. You never know with goaltenders, but it feels like an opportunity at the NHL level may be in the cards in the next season or two.

8. Justin Sourdif, C - Providence (E-AHL) / Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Acquired: Trade with WSH, 2021

A former 3rd round pick in 2020, GM Cook liked Sourdif enough when he took over the team that he sent Alexander Alexeyev away to help bring him in, and Sourdif has so far progressed pretty well. Gritty despite his size and possessing good offensive instincts, Sourdif was a big scorer and a leader for the WHL's Vancouver Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings before transitioning to the AHL with Charlotte and this season, has 24 points in 35 AHL games. The Bruins do expect him in the NHL one day, though it may be a couple of seasons away. In the EHE, Sourdif has 2 points in 8 games in his AHL rookie campaign.

7. Dennis Hildeby, G - Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Acquired: 2022 EHE Entry Draft - 5th round (142nd overall)

Hildeby stood out with Farjestad in the SHL, making 28 starts as a 19 and 20-year-old before coming over to North America in which he put up a sparkling .921 SV%. His AHL rookie campaign has gone pretty smoothly, posting a 12-7-4 record with 4 shutouts and a .913 SV% so far - he's even earned a couple callups to the Maple Leafs, though hasn't seen game action yet. It seems likely that Hildeby will be an NHL netminder, and there is plenty of opportunity in the Toronto crease.

6. Xavier Bourgault, RW - Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
Acquired: 2021 EHE Entry Draft - 1st round (19th overall)

Regarded as an offensively gifted, highly intelligence player in his draft year, the offense hasn't come as easily for Bourgault at the AHL level as it was originally hoped. Though it appears he's been playing well - and his defensive game has been very strong - one would have been hoping for more than the 50 points in 103 games that Bourgault's first foray into professional hockey has produced. The Bruins are hoping the production will eventually back up the good things his play has shown. In the EHE, Bourgault is playing big minutes in Providence and has 5 points in his first 8 AHL games.

5. Justin Barron, D - Providence (E-AHL) / Laval Rocket (AHL)
Acquired: Trade with CGY, 2021

A smooth skating, puck moving defenseman with strong offensive instincts, Barron has shuffled back and forth between the Montreal Canadiens and Laval Rocket over the past few seasons. There is plenty of refinement that needs to be done in the defensive end, but Barron is young and has the skill to be a very good NHL defenseman. He has 29 points in 87 career NHL games and 44 points in 83 career AHL games. In the EHE, Barron has occasionally battled injuries but has spent the last two years in Providence with 79 points in 135 AHL games to his credit.

4. Dylan Samberg, D - Providence (E-AHL) / Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Acquired: Trade with VGK, 2022

Samberg has slowly but surely improved into a very reliable player for the NHL's Winnipeg Jets. The Bruins believe a permanent step into a top-4 role is in Samberg's very near future. Samberg isn't as physical as his size would indicate, but he plays a mature game and is very good defensively and on the penalty kill. He has 26 points and a +26 rating in 128 NHL games. In the EHE, Samberg had a breakout last year with 39 points in 72 AHL games for Providence, and was recently called up to make his EHE debut due to an injury to Carson Soucy, where he picked up an assist.

3. Daniil But, LW - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
Acquired: 2023 EHE Entry Draft - 1st round (22nd overall)

Though he hasn't been given a ton of ice time at the KHL level, But has played well for a player of his age, with 10 goals and 19 points in 50 KHL games this season. He's a big, lanky winger with a nasty shot that he can get a ton of leverage on and has underappreciated creativity and playmaking ability, somewhat reminiscent of a poor man's Patrik Laine.

2. Pavel Mintyukov, D - Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Acquired: 2022 EHE Entry Draft - 1st round (7th overall)

Just recently back from injury with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, Mintyukov has had a great rookie season, with 19 points in 41 games and showing he belongs on an NHL PP at just 19 years of age. Mintyukov is extraordinarily creative on the back end, a great skater, passer, puck mover with exceptional hands. The upside is there for a true top-pairing defenseman within the next few seasons.

1. Brock Faber, D - Providence (E-AHL) / Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Acquired: Trade with CBJ, 2023

A player the Bruins insisted on in the return when they traded Jack Eichel last season, Faber has been even better than they could have imagined in his NHL rookie season. A revelation on the back end, Faber is strong defensively but has found his offensive game given the opportunity to run Minnesota's powerplay and is tied for the NHL's rookie scoring lead with 33 points in 52 games. He has 25 points in his last 31 games and 17 in his last 15 while playing nearly 25 minutes in all situations for the Wild. In the EHE, Faber has 8 points in Providence's first 8 games and will assuredly make the jump to Boston next season.

Jared Mitchell

Nice list. Some pretty good Dmen on the way for you.

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