The Boston Bruins have done a lot of the necessary work to rebuild their prospect pool over the past few seasons, turning it into something more than a collection of trade chips. Now, some of those names are starting to knock on the door of an NHL opportunity.
Not all of them are, as the Bruins have exciting prospects in the European and college ranks with plenty of time before transitioning to pro, but even the long-term projects are moving in the right direction, and one of the new draft picks has high upside.
It’s that time of the summer, so let’s continue with the prospect rankings. If you missed it, check out 15-11 here. The prospects were weighed on two factors: their NHL-readiness and their NHL ceiling.
Any prospect who is under 23 and has not played a full NHL season is considered.
10) Nils Bartholdsson, RW (Rögle BK)
The Bruins have an affinity for Swedish prospects, and Nils Bartholdsson is one of the more recent gambles. The Bruins drafted Bartholdsson in the third round of the 2026 draft, and he comes with a dangerous shot, a playmaker’s skill set, and upside. He scored 23 goals in the Swedish U20 league, tied for the second-most, and he made a name for himself with Sweden’s U18 team.
In 27 games across a variety of international tournaments last season, Bartholdsson logged 26 points (11-15–26).
There is a lot of upside to Bartholdsson’s game, though he was knocked down the draft board in part due to his 5-foot-10 frame. He impressed at development camp with his speed, shot, and hard-nosed play. He models his game after Viktor Arvidsson, another Swede who is touted for his scoring touch and net-front presence.
Bartholdsson is 18 and will continue to further his development in Sweden. At development camp, he did not rule out a move to the US for college hockey, but also noted that he is looking to compete for more pro minutes in the Swedish Hockey League.
9) Vashek Blanar, LHD (HV71 → UMass 2027)
The Bruins went off the board at the 2025 draft, so much so that the social media team could not find a picture of Vashek Blanar, who Don Sweeney drafted with pick No. 100. There was not much of a report on Blanar, an American-born Czech defenseman who spent the last few seasons of his career playing in Sweden’s lower leagues. However, upon returning to the United States, Blanar quickly showed what he was all about.
The 6-foot-5 defenseman has a lot of raw talent, and because of that, his development will take some time. Blanar showed up to 2025 development camp with a wave of talent offensively, and his defensive game took notable strides by the time 2026 camp concluded. He is committed to UMass for the 2027-28 season, and he will have a shot to play for Team Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Championship in the winter.
He will also compete for senior league minutes with HV71, giving him professional experience before joining the college ranks.
Also Read:Vashek Blanar, Bruins Pleased With Defensive Growth
8) Elliott Groenewold, LHD (Quinnipiac)
Elliott Groenewold will be sticking around at Quinnipiac for his junior year, much like his teammate (and roommate) Chris Pelosi. Groenewold, a native of Springfield, Vermont, is coming off a season where he led the nation with a plus-39 rating and was named ECAC Best Defensive Defenseman. The award does not lie, and that is exactly what Groenewold’s profile entails.
Groenewold is a shutdown defenseman who plays into his 6-foot-2 frame, and he logged top-pair minutes for Quinnipiac last season. Though not touted for his offense, he posted 20 points (7-13–20) this past season, up from 12 (4-8–12) during his freshman year.
The Bruins do not have to rush to sign Groenewold, as they hold his rights until the summer of 2028. He can play out his college career with no pressure, but would fit in seamlessly with the P-Bruins whenever he and the team are ready to take the next step.
7) Dans Locmelis, C/LW (Providence Bruins)
The Bruins have a workhorse in Providence. Dans Locmelis was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and since then, the Bruins have received a promising return. Locmelis moved to New England for the 2023-24 season, joining UMass (Vashek Blanar is taking a similar route) and sticking around for two seasons.
His growth was notable at UMass, but his impact in the AHL was immediate. He posted 12 points (3-9–12) in his first six games.
Locmelis’ 2025-26 campaign was cut short due to a shoulder injury, and he finished with 28 points (15-13–28) in 43 games with Providence. He also added two goals at the Olympics, and since moving up to the Latvian men’s team, he has scored nine goals for Latvia, the second-most among players on the roster.
His case is very interesting, and his injury did him no favors. Locmelis has the potential to break out into a bottom-six option for the Bruins, but that is an already crowded room. He already played top-six minutes in Providence, but with the reshuffling of the roster, Locmelis will have an even greater role next season.
6) Frederic Brunet, LHD (Providence Bruins)
The Bruins have an NHL-ready option in Providence, and Don Sweeney knows it. Frederic Brunet has played the last three seasons with the P-Bruins, and his numbers have only gone up as the seasons go by. The mobile, puck-moving defenseman broke out for 36 points (12-24–36) during the 2025-26 season, leading all P-Bruins defensemen, and he was named to the AHL All-Star Classic in January.
Brunet is sticking around. He signed a two-year contract extension just after the trade deadline. After the Bruins’ moves on July 1, Don Sweeney mentioned Brunet by name, saying there’s a “good chance” we see his skill translate to the NHL.
However, there are nine other defensemen who will be fighting for a roster spot with the way the team is currently constructed, so earning a spot is easier said than done.
Also Read:Bruins’ Crowded Blue Line Could Lead to Another Move
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