Going into the 2026-27 season, the Boston Bruins are hoping to inject some youth into the lineup. I know- where have we heard that before? It feels like it's a yearly thing with the Black and Gold that they want to inject young players and then don't.
Two players who would have made this list were Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov, but both are gone. Lysell was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, and Merkulov signed with the Avs as a free agent. With that said, here are three young Boston players who won't see as much NHL time this season as some think.
Frederic Brunet
One player who has been drawing praise this summer, including from the new Providence Bruins head coach Trent Whitfield, is defenseman Frederic Brunet. However, there is a huge logjam at the position despite Charlie McAvoy being suspended for the first six games of the season. Brunet is a promising young defenseman, but unless Sweeney unloads some players either through a trade or down to the American Hockey League (AHL), there are going to be limited roster spots in Boston. As much as it pains me to write this, Boston's history of playing prospects isn't a promising outlook for Brunet.
Matthew Poitras
If there is a prospect who knows all too well what it's like to be stuck in a numbers game, it's Matthew Poitras. After bursting onto the scene in 2023-24, his season was cut short by an injury, and since then, he has been buried in the AHL for the last couple of seasons. He remains unsigned at the time this article is being written, but you think something will get done before training camp begins. It feels like this is a big season for Poitras, with a lot of interesting decisions looming next month with a bunch of bottom-six forwards.
Dans Locmelis
This one might surprise some people, but one prospect entering training camp is forward Dans Locmelis. The former UMass product played in 43 games last season for the P-Bruins with 15 goals and 28 points. His best season in college was in 2024-25 when he had eight goals and 25 assists for the Minuteman. Picked in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Locmelis will get a shot, but like Poitras, there is a logjam of forwards that is going to potentially block him from an NHL roster spot. It wouldn't be surprising to see him get called up at some point should an injury occur, but the opportunity to earn a full-time spot is unlikely.
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