Going into last season, the Boston Bruins knew that if they were going to make a push for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they would need some players to have a rise in production. That was the case, and factor in Marco Sturm's system, and you had all the makings of a team that went from the basement of the Eastern Conference to the first wild-card berth.
If the Bruins are going to grab a second straight playoff berth this season, then they are going to need some other players to step up and increase their production from last year. If that happens, then maybe a second straight playoff appearance is coming. Here are four players who are poised to increase their points this upcoming season.
Fraser Minten
The reasoning for Fraser Minten being on here is that he could come in and grab a top-six pivot spot, and if he does that, there would be talent on his wings that will surely help his production rise. Last season, in his first full pro season, he had 17 goals and 18 assists. He is just beginning to scratch the surface as a player after being acquired as part of the return from the Toronto Maple Leafs last March for Brandon Carlo. Last season's numbers are just the beginning of what Minten can accomplish in the Bruins lineup.
JJ Peterka
Acquired from the Utah Mammoth for two first-round draft picks, JJ Peterka set the bar so high in his days with the Buffalo Sabres that his 2025-26 season in Utah was considered a disappointment. His goals dropped by two to 25, but his assists dropped by 19 to 22. Some players would take those numbers last year, but Peterka has a chance to have a bounce-back season with the Bruins playing in the top six, and maybe even on the first line with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. If he does, it could be a better season in Boston than some think.
David Pastrnak
Speaking of Pastrnak, he was more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer last season with 71 assists. He only had 29 goals, his lowest total since the 2020-21 shortened season. Don't expect that to be a theme if he stays healthy. The addition of Peterka should open up the ice more for Pastrnak, who only had 10 power-play goals last season. He is too good a player, and it would be stunning if he didn't get at least 30-plus goals this season.
Elias Lindholm
Yeah, I know, you might be saying, Elias Lindholm? I mean, sooner or later he's got to have a season that the Bruins' front office is expecting, no? It just might be that general manager Don Sweeney and his staff overvalued Lindholm, but his back injuries over the last two years must not have been easy to play through. He had 17 goals and 31 assists last season, but if he's healthy, he's capable of producing more offensively. This just might be the season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google