When training camp for the 2026-27 NHL season begins next month, there are going to be a handful of young Boston Bruins players looking to make an impact. Some of them made an impact in 2025-26, but more are hopefully following suit this upcoming season.
One of the young players who had a very good season was Fraser Minten. Things went so well that President Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney both praised him in May at their end of the season media availability after the Buffalo Sabres dispatched the Black and Gold in six games in the opening round of the postseason. In fact, it certainly sounded like they are hoping Minten takes another step in 2026-27.
Mike Gould of the Daily Faceoff listed some potential breakout sophomores for the upcoming season, and surprisingly, Minten was omitted from the list.
Bruins Fraser Minten omitted from potential breakout watch list
Gould listed some sophomore breakout candidates for the upcoming season, and Minten wasn't on the list. Now, there could be several reasons for that, but one name that was on it was Ryan Leonard from the Washington Capitals.
Last season for the Caps, Leonard had 20 goals and 25 assists in 75 regular-season games, while for the Bruins, Minten had 17 goals and 18 assists in 82 games. There is no doubt that both players could have better seasons and what some would consider breakout seasons, but consider that Minten hasn't come close to scratching the surface yet; would it be surprising to see him improve on his stats this winter?
Both players were acquired in different ways. Leonard is a homegrown talent for Washington after he was selected eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. As for Minten, well, you already know the fleecing that Sweeney pulled on the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline in March of 2025.
To refresh your memory, Sweeney sent Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs for Minten, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, and a conditional 2026 first-round pick. It was top-5 protected, and by now, you know that Toronto won the Draft Lottery in May and kept the pick.
Sure, not getting the first-round pick past June hurts the Bruins, but in the overall big picture, getting Minten and having him play the role he did last season was huge. What would be even bigger is if he can break out in his "sophomore year" and take another big step in the right direction. He might be getting overlooked now, but sooner or later, the rest of the NHL is going to know just how good he can become.
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