Absolutely—it’s a yes. But that hasn’t stopped the fanbase from buzzing since the very first puck drop in exhibition. X (formerly Twitter) has been ablaze with questions, hot takes, and passionate debates from both fanbases, proving once again that hockey fans never miss a beat.
At last season’s trade deadline, the Bruins made waves by sending Brandon Carlo to their divisional rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Coming back to Boston: promising forward Fraser Minten, a conditional first-rounder in the 2026 NHL Draft (top-five protected), and a fourth-round pick in 2025 that turned into Vashek Blanar. The Bruins also retained 15% of Carlo’s contract, adding a bit of cap finesse to the deal.
Plenty of fans feel Minten alone made the trade worthwhile—and tossing in a first-round pick? That had Bruins GM Don Sweeney looking like a mastermind. But let’s not forget: Blanar was part of the package too. Sure, it might be a while before we know if he moves the needle, but after reading hundreds of comments from Bruins’ development camp this summer, you’ve got to wonder… how did he slip off the fan’s radar so fast?
Minten has delivered exactly what was promised—and then some. He’s been as advertised and Sweeney hasn’t been shy about giving credit where it’s due, praising his scouting staff for doing the legwork and flagging Minten early. Just last week, Sweeney revealed they had their sights set on him back in his draft year and fully intended to pick him in 2022… they just couldn’t make it happen. Turns out, the interest ran deeper than fans might’ve realized.
Back in 2022, the Leafs grabbed Minten with the 38th overall pick, while the Bruins had to wait until No. 54 to make their move—selecting Matthew Poitras. Two picks, two promising paths, and plenty of intrigue ever since. And now, possibly future teammates.
We’re only a handful of preseason games and four regular season tilts into Minten’s Bruins journey—so yes, it’s a small sample size. But even at this early stage, he looks the part. And if everything breaks right? Boston might’ve just landed their two-way third-line center for the next decade-plus.
That alone may have been enough value for Carlo, especially the way many fans underappreciated Carlo in Boston. But we all know that at trade deadline teams, in this case the Leafs, usually overpay to make a playoff run.
As mentioned, the Bruins also picked up a top-5 protected first-rounder in the deal. Sure, no one’s penciling the Leafs in as a bottom-five team this season—but as every fan knows, the real story unfolds on the ice, not on paper.
If that scenario plays out, the pick shifts to a top-10 protected selection in 2027. But here’s the twist: if it ends up transferring to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of the Scott Laughton trade, it turns into an unprotected first-rounder in 2028. High stakes, long tail.
If that pick lands in 2026—and for the record, I think it will—the Bruins are in prime position to snag a talented player from what’s shaping up to be a deep, skill-rich draft class. As long as they stay true to last year’s blueprint of prioritizing pure talent over anything else, fans have every reason to be excited.
However, draft picks are never a sure thing—some prospects fade, others never get their shot. With their own first-rounder still in hand, the Bruins have the flexibility to treat the Leafs’ pick as a trade chip if the right opportunity comes along. And with two first-rounders lined up again in 2027, that kind of leverage matters. It doesn’t take away from the value they got in the Carlo deal—it just adds another layer of possibility.
And then there’s Blanar—the name that had everyone asking, “Wait, who?” Even the Bruins didn’t have a photo ready when they announced the pick. Talk about flying under the radar.
Blanar turned heads at Development Camp this summer—there’s no denying that. But the numbers paint a tough road ahead; the odds of him cracking an NHL lineup are slim. He’s still raw, still learning, yet there’s something undeniably intriguing about his skillset. It’ll take time—maybe a few years—but the curiosity around whether he can make a real impact began in July, but since forgotten.
The Bruins undeniably landed some major assets in the deal. Still, there’s uncertainty around what that first-round pick or Blanar will become—and even Minten’s future remains unclear. But if the Leafs end up winning a Stanley Cup with Carlo playing a pivotal role, wouldn’t that make the trade worthwhile from Toronto’s perspective?
Dom - Hockey 