With the NHL Draft Lottery looming next Monday, the Bruins will soon know where they‘ll pick in the first round this summer.
As it stands, Boston finished with the fifth-worst record, and they have an 8.5% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick, per Tankathon. They won’t finish any lower than seventh, regardless.
So who are the seven draft prospects the Bruins could be targeting when the first round rolls around in June?
Let’s take a look:
Michael Misa, Forward
6-foot-1, 184 pounds, Oakville, ONT, Canada
Saginaw (OHL): 65 GP, 62 goals, 72 assists, 134 points
The Bruins need a top-six center badly and Misa profiles as the best in his draft class. Granted exceptional status to play in the OHL since he was 15 years old, he’s always been better than a point-per-game player for Saginaw, and took things to another level this season. Misa led the OHL in points and finished Top 5 in goals, power-play goals, and game-winning goals.
Matthew Schaefer, Defenseman
6-foot-2, 183 pounds, Stoney Creek, ONT, Canada
Erie (OHL): 17 GP, 7 goals, 15 assists, 22 points
The likeliest No. 1 overall pick, Schaefer was terrific for Canada in World Juniors before a broken collarbone landed him on the shelf. Defense isn’t Boston’s greatest need, but Schaefer is one of those outstanding blue line prospects that could be too good to pass up.
BC’s James Hagens takes an off-balance shot during the semi-final round of the men’s Beanpot hockey tournament between Northeastern University and Boston College at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. on February 3, 2025.Katie Morrison-O’Day
James Hagens, Forward
5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Hauppauge, NY
Boston College: 37 GP, 11 goals, 26 assists, 37 points
Bruins scouts didn’t need to go far to see Hagens at Chestnut Hill this season, where he put up 37 points in 37 games in a highly competitive Hockey East. The center raised his stock with a strong World Juniors performance, scoring nine points (5G, 4A), in seven games en route to Team USA’s gold medal.
Caleb Desnoyers, Forward
6-foot-2, 178 pounds, Saint-Hyacinthe, PQ, Canada
Moncton (QMJHL): 56 GP, 35 goals, 49 assists, 84 points
A tall yet fleet-footed center, Desnoyers was the No. 1 pick in his OMJHL draft and lived up to the hype. This season he was the best player on a dominant Moncton (53-9-2) team. In 56 games, he finished with a +51 rating.
Anton Frondell, Forward
6-foot-1, 198 pounds, Trangsund, Sweden
Djurgarden (AllSvenskan): 29 GP, 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points
The top European skater, Frondell is a center with a heavy shot that gave grown goalies trouble in his Swedish league this season. It’s a skill that’s expected to translate to NHL ice eventually.
Porter Martone, Forward
6-foot-3, 208 pounds, Peterborough, ONT, Canada
Brampton (OHL): 57 GP, 37 goals, 61 assists, 98 points
The top power forward prospect in this class, Martone is a big, heavy-footed winger. He’s a physical gamer with excellent puck-handling skills. However, power forwards have been dangerous evaluations for Don Sweeney’s front office, given the signings of Matt Beleskey and David Backes.
Jake O’Brien, Forward
6-foot-2, 172 pounds, Toronto, ONT, Canada
Brantford (OHL): 66 GP, 32 goals, 66 assists, 98 points
O’Brien is a climber in pre-draft rankings thanks to an exceptional season centering Brantford. He’s been a weapon on the power play this season, racking up an OHL best 41 assists with the man advantage.