Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins’ amateur scouting staff have done a lot of work over the last few seasons to stock up the prospect pool within the organization.
The Bruins have made 72 selections since Sweeney took over as the GM. Brandon Carlo, by virtue of being drafted in 2015, has played the most NHL games (692) out of any Sweeney pick. In the last two seasons, the Bruins have turned in 14 draft selections, up from nine total picks during the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined.
They have even held onto some first-round picks recently, using their two most recent on Boston College centers.
It’s that time of the summer, so let’s get into some prospect rankings. 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.
Max Lundgren, 24, missed the cut because of his age, and Fraser Minten… well, he’s an NHLer.
Let’s start the list:
15) Matvei Kotkov, RW (Loko Yaroslavl)
Matvei Kotkov was a fourth-round pick at the 2026 draft, and immediately upon landing in Brighton for Bruins development camp, he impressed. He is only 17 years old, but he boasts a wide skillset. He can create plays and move the puck, but he also showed his scoring touch.
The 6-foot winger plays for Loko Yaroslavl in the Russian junior league (MHL), and he skated on a line with Bruins prospect Kirill Yemelyanov this past season.
During Loko Yaroslavl’s run to the Kharlamov Cup, Kotkov finished with 15 points (9-6–15) and was named the playoff MVP. He’s the youngest player in MHL history to win the playoff MVP, and after making the pick, Sweeney noted his growth during his draft-eligible season. Kotkov’s development will come in Russia, and the Bruins hold his rights indefinitely, as there is no transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL.
He is years removed from a jump to the NHL, and he will remain with Loko Yaroslavl’s MHL team next season.
14) Liam Pettersson, LHD (Djurgårdens IF)
Liam Pettersson, the Bruins’ second-round pick in the 2025 draft, had an injury-filled 2025-26 season. He dressed for 19 games with Växjö Lakers U20 and finished with 11 points (5-6–11). He is a mobile defenseman who has not shied away from creating plays, and director of player development Adam McQuaid noted his start to development camp after the first day.
There is upside with the 6-foot-2 defenseman, who is leaving Växjö for Djurgårdens IF next season. He dressed in seven games with Växjö’s SHL side over the last two seasons (just two in 2025-26), and he will be fighting for a full-time roster spot on Djurgårdens come the fall. He is a few years removed from the NHL, but as long as he can stay healthy this season, gaining experience at the pro level should see Pettersson rise in these rankings.
13) Yuri Ivanov, G (MHK Spartak Moscow)
The Bruins’ first draft choice of the 2026 draft raised some eyes, but Yuri Ivanov immediately showed that the gamble might be well worth it. The Russian goalie is a long-term project for goalie guru Mike Dunham, but the early signs were promising. He is athletic, has quick reflexes, and was very strong at tracking the play happening in front of him.
Drills during the four-day development camp do not tend to favor the goalies, but Ivanov stood out and looked vastly more mature than a 17-year-old goaltender.
Ivanov won the starting job late into Spartak Moscow’s season, and finished with a 13-3-1 record in 17 games played. He took Spartak to the Kharlamov Cup final, where they lost to Loko Yaroslavl in six games. Similarly to Kotkov and Yemelyanov, the lack of a transfer agreement allows the Bruins to retain Ivanov’s rights indefinitely.
Goalies are not a need in Boston. Jeremy Swayman is locked in until 2032. However, Ivanov is not knocking on the door anytime soon.
Don Sweeney indicated that the goalie will spend at least a couple more years in Russia, developing and working his way up Spartak Moscow’s system.
12) Will Moore, C (Boston College)
Will Moore, another second-round pick on this list, battled injury through his freshman year in Chestnut Hill. He finished with 10 points (4-6–10) in 33 games, then only participated in off-ice activities during development camp as he was recovering from surgery. He also primarily skated bottom-six minutes, as he was playing behind Andre Gasseau and Dean Letourneau down the middle.
Throughout the season, Moore occasionally slid over and played left wing.
Moore will have an elevated role at BC next season, and if he hits the ground running in terms of health, his growth should be hard to miss. He carries a 6-foot-3 frame, needs to lean more into it, but he has a wide skillset and put it on display during the 2025 development camp. He is easily a candidate to slide into the top 10.
There is no rush for Moore, either. The Bruins have a plethora of center prospects, and even more coming out of the Boston College pipeline. They also hold his rights until 2029.
He proved a capable playmaker while with the US NTDP, and carrying that over to BC is the focus for his second collegiate season.
11) Chris Pelosi, C (Quinnipiac)
Chris Pelosi is returning to Quinnipiac for his junior year, looking to build off his 34-point (18-16–34) sophomore season. The Bruins’ 2023 third-round pick finished tied for fourth on the team in scoring and tied for the team lead with six power play goals, and the New Jersey native upped his point totals from 24 (13-11–24) during his freshman year.
He is a well-rounded player, and the Bobcats utilize him in all situations. As well as leading the team on the power play, Pelosi can kill penalties, and he is a hard-nosed 5-on-5 player. He has one of the higher floors among Bruins prospects, but not as high a ceiling as many others in the pool.
Quinnipiac’s success during the 2025-26 season was a reason why Pelosi stuck around in Connecticut for another year, but he also specified consistency as an area for improvement. The Bruins still have time, but they do not have too much time. They have until June 1, 2027, to sign Pelosi, but that extends until August 15, 2028 if he stays in school.
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