Grading the Boston Bruins’ 2025 NHL Draft Class: A New Era Begins

The 2025 NHL Draft marked a pivotal moment for the Boston Bruins. With a rare top-10 pick and a clear need to replenish their prospect pipeline, General Manager Don Sweeney and his scouting team approached the draft with a blend of urgency and optimism. The result? A seven-player haul that could reshape the franchise’s future.

Let’s break down each pick, assess the value, and assign grades to the Bruins’ selections.

Round 1, Pick 7: James Hagens, C, Boston College

Grade: A

The Bruins struck gold with James Hagens, a dynamic center who was once projected as a top-three pick. Despite a slightly muted freshman season at Boston College (11 goals, 26 assists in 37 games), Hagens remained a point-per-game player on a stacked roster. His elite skating, vision, and playmaking make him a potential top-line center—something Boston has sorely lacked in its pipeline.

– Hagens fills a critical organizational need at center. 

– He’s already familiar with Boston, playing locally at BC. 

– His upside is immense, with comparisons to William Nylander.

Still, this was a home-run pick and a major win for a team in transition. It’s not often I claim a player to “immediately become the Bruins top prospect”. Charlie McAvoy was the last player drafted I said that about, but that is definitely the case with Hagens here.

Round 2, Pick 51: William Moore, C, USNTDP

Grade: A-

Moore was a projected late first-rounder to early second-rounder who slid to the Bruins at 51. At 6’3″, 181 lbs, he brings size, two-way ability, and a strong hockey IQ. He tallied 59 points in 64 games for the U.S. U18 National Team and was a standout at the U18 World Championship.

– Moore adds size and versatility down the middle. 

– He’s a strong skater with a high compete level. 

– Committed to Boston College, continuing the Bruins-BC pipeline.

This pick was all about value and upside. Moore could become a reliable middle-six center with penalty-kill potential or maybe even a top-six.

They could have looked at Cole McKinney at this spot who went two picks later to San Jose.

Round 2, Pick 61: Liam Pettersson, D, Växjö Lakers (Sweden)

Grade: B+

Pettersson is a smooth-skating, offensive-minded defenseman who led Växjö’s J20 team in scoring among blueliners. At 6’2″, 170 lbs, he’s lanky but mobile, with strong puck-moving instincts.

– Adds a much-needed puck-moving presence to the left side. 

– High hockey IQ and strong transition game. 

– Experience in Sweden’s top junior and pro leagues.

Pettersson is a project, but one with top-four potential if developed properly. I know the need is for right shot defensemen, but they were lacking at this point. They could have looked at Ivan Ryabkin here who went with the next pick to Carolina.

Round 3, Pick 79: Cooper Simpson, LW, Shakopee HS / Tri-City (USHL)

Grade: B

Simpson lit up Minnesota high school hockey with 49 goals and 83 points in 31 games, then added 8 points in 9 USHL games. He’s a pure goal scorer with a quick release and strong motor.

– High offensive ceiling. 

– Brings energy and scoring touch to the wing. 

– Could be a steal if he adjusts to higher levels.

Simpson is a classic boom-or-bust pick, but the Bruins can afford to swing here. As for offensive production at this point, you would have to look at Kristian Epperson who went 9 picks later to Los Angeles.

Round 4, Pick 100: Vashek Blanar, D, Czechia

Grade: B

Blanar is a 6’4″, 183-pound left-shot defenseman with intriguing tools. He’s raw but has shown flashes of offensive upside and physicality.

– Adds size and reach to the blue line. 

– Potential shutdown defender with development. 

– Good value at this stage of the draft.

Blanar fits the mold of a modern stay-at-home defenseman if he can round out his game. I’ve had to do a lot of asking around among European scouts who all assured me this was a very good pick at this point of the draft. I will trust their opinion as I can’t form my own at this point.

Round 5, Pick 133: Cole Chandler, C/W, US High School

Grade: B-

Chandler is a versatile forward who can play center or wing. While his offensive upside is limited, he’s defensively sound and positionally aware.

– Smart, responsible player with leadership traits. 

– Could develop into a bottom-six utility forward. 

– Brings balance to a forward-heavy draft class.

This is a safe, low-risk pick with potential value in a checking role. At this point, seven of the next 8 picks were defensemen. Clearly, the Bruins were not drafting for need on this day.

Round 6, Pick 165: Kirill Yemelyanov, F, Russia

Grade: B

Yemelyanov is a high-energy forward with a strong motor and defensive awareness. He’s not flashy, but he plays a responsible game and brings grit.

– Projects as a bottom-six energy player. 

– Good forechecker and penalty killer. 

– Adds depth and competition to the system.

Yemelyanov is the kind of player all teams’ needs in the playoffs—reliable, physical, and relentless.

Overall Draft Grade: A-

The Bruins entered the 2025 Draft with a clear mandate: inject high-end talent into a thinning prospect pool. They did just that, starting with the franchise-altering selection of James Hagens. The rest of the class is a mix of high-upside swings (Moore, Simpson), steady developmental bets (Pettersson, Blanar), and role players (Chandler, Yemelyanov).

Strengths of the Draft:

– Addressed organizational needs at center and defense.

– Found value in every round.

– Balanced skill, size, and character.

Areas for Improvement:

– No goaltender selected.

– Few “sure things” beyond Hagens.

Still, this draft class represents a turning point for Boston. If even half of these prospects hit, the Bruins will have laid the foundation for their next competitive window.