Why Insider Expects Center Prospect to Make Bruins Roster

The Boston Bruins have a need for a third-line center, and one insider expects a top prospect to earn that role.

At last year’s trade deadline, Boston was a seller and one of its big deals was trading Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and prospect Fraser Minten.

Minten was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic expects the 21-year-old to make the roster.

“Minten will participate in the Prospects Challenge this weekend in Buffalo,” Shinzawa wrote this week. “The Bruins play the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. The games could be his throat-clearing for a permanent varsity stay.

“The Bruins are hunting for centers. In particular, they need a No. 3 pivot to replace Charlie Coyle,” Shinzawa added. “This is the job for somebody who likes taking matchup shifts, raises his hand for defensive-zone starts, stretches sticks on pucks and forces turnovers.”

Minten added 10 pounds in weight this offseason so he could be stronger to play in the NHL. With the added size, Shinzawa expects Minten to take full reign of the third-line center role in Boston.

“Minten’s fate, then, could depend on how the Bruins deploy Zacha. If they use the ex-Devil, for example, as a left wing to give Mittelstadt defensive support on the No. 2 line, it gives Minten runway to contend for the No. 3 job,” Shinzawa added. “He can already check off boxes of a D-zone specialist: skating low and slow in front of his net, occupying passing lanes, accelerating to highway speed once his team gains possession.”

Minten is known for his defensive ability as he can be part of a shutdown line in the NHL. But, regardless of his role, Shinzawa expects the top prospect to be a part of the Bruins’ opening night roster on Oct. 8 against the Washington Capitals.