Boston Bruins Prospects Update: 2026-27 Preseason Part One

With the 2026–27 hockey season fast approaching, it’s time for our annual check‑in on what Bruins fans can realistically expect from the organization’s prospects skating outside the North American pro circuit.

There’s always going to be a segment of the fan base that remains skeptical of the proprietary formula I use, and I completely understand why. Healthy doubt comes with the territory. But the track record speaks for itself — the model has consistently proven accurate over the years, to the point where I’ve been asked more than once to share it. But it’s not perfect.

In this breakdown, I’m evaluating 21 Bruins prospects competing across the SHL, U20 Nationell, MHL, OHL, QMJHL, and the NCAA. To keep things digestible, the projections are split into two charts, followed by individual notes on each player.

Some of the players on this list have been jumping up and down between leagues. Here is the alternative, depending on what league they end up in.

Liam Pettersson – LD – Djurgardens IF – SHL

After an injury‑marred season, the 19‑year‑old defenseman departed the Vaxjo Lakers system and signed a two‑year junior deal with Djurgardens IF. The projection reflects what Pettersson could reasonably produce if he earns a spot with the SHL club. There’s still a possibility he opens the year in HockeyAllsvenskan or HockeyEttan — Sweden’s equivalents to the AHL and ECHL, or even back to the U20 Nationell — but a 3‑goal, 10‑assist output at the pro level would be excellent production for a 19‑year‑old blueliner and sits comfortably above average for the role he’s expected to play. But it all comes down to opportunities and role.

Vashek Blanar – LD – HV71 – SHL

Like Pettersson, Blanar’s priority this season is earning a spot on the HV71 roster in the SHL. The 19‑year‑old defenseman is coming off a strong campaign in U20 Nationell, posting solid numbers despite playing on one of the league’s weakest teams and ultimately matching his projected output last year. He’s also pushing for a spot on the Czech World Junior roster with a strong showing at the summer Five Nations tournament, which featured many of the country’s top U20 candidates. And while 4 goals and 11 assists may seem unachievable, that level of production from a 19‑year‑old blueliner in the SHL would be considered well above average for the role he’s expected to fill. Blanar has USHL and WHL options available to him following the WJC. Again, this will come down to opportunities and role.

Nils Bartholdson – RW/LW – Rogle BK – U20 Nationell

Few Bruins prospects generated more positive buzz at the 2024 draft than Bartholdsson — and for good reason. The Swedish winger climbed through three levels last season, appearing in the U‑18s, U‑20s, and even earning a five‑game look in the SHL. His breakout came in U‑20 Nationell, where he erupted for 23 goals and 19 assists in just 32 games, making him the highest‑scoring winger the Bruins have drafted in his 17‑ 18‑year‑old season from Sweden. (For context, David Pastrnak was already in the SHL at that stage of his development.) A projected 32 goals and 28 assists for 2026–27 would represent another significant leap — and further cement Bartholdsson as one of the organization’s most explosive young forwards.

Oscar Olsson – LW – Orebro HK – U20 Nationell

There’s never been any doubt about Olsson’s motor or energy. After opening the year in Sweden’s U18 ranks, he earned a quick promotion to the U20 level as a 17‑year‑old and nearly finished at a point‑per‑game pace, posting 30 points in 32 contests — a stronger clip than Dans Locmelis managed at the same age in the same league. His primary value will come on the power play, but if he can take a step forward at five‑on‑five, surpassing the projected 19 goals and 24 assists is well within reach. I find it difficult to bet against Olsson.

Kirill Yemelyanov – C – Loko Yaroslavl – MHL

As of the time this was put together, there’s still no definitive answer on where Yemelyanov will play. As of September 4, both the KHL and MHL updated their rosters, and he remains listed with the MHL squad — despite reports suggesting he’s earned a spot in the KHL. Until there’s official confirmation to the contrary, that’s the information available, so his projection stays in the MHL for now.

But if he makes the KHL roster, 20 goals and 24 assists would be great.

Matvei Kotkov – LW – Loko Yaroslavl – MHL

Kotkov broke into the MHL two years ago as a 16‑year‑old and nearly produced at a point‑per‑game pace. Last season, despite being limited to just 36 games, he still posted 14 goals and 17 assists before erupting in the playoffs and earning MVP honors during his club’s championship run. There’s no questioning Kotkov’s offensive toolkit; the key now is maintaining engagement shift‑to‑shift – and finding a B game. If he does, he’s primed for a major breakout. A 29‑goal, 36‑assist season is well within reach — and frankly, it wouldn’t be surprising if he pushed past those totals.

However, if he makes the KHL roster, 18 goals and 20 assists would be a great season.

Cullen McCrate – RD – Brantford Bulldogs – OHL

McCrate is leaving the Fargo Force in the USHL to join the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL after they acquired his rights from Owen Sound Attack. On paper, hitting 15 goals and 39 assists may look like a stretch, but he’s stepping into one of the best‑run junior programs in the world — a team that plays sound defensively yet consistently produces offense. Their system fits McCrate’s game perfectly. So, while the expectations are undeniably lofty, he’ll be in an ideal environment to make them attainable, or even surpass them.

Casper Nassen – RW/LW – Lake Superior State – NCAA

Nassen has yet to fully meet expectations through his first two collegiate seasons. His freshman year was hampered by playing on a Miami (Ohio) squad that struggled mightily, and while both the team and Nassen took a step forward as a sophomore, he still fell short of his projection. His transfer to Lake Superior State for his junior year signals an understanding that he needs greater opportunity — and all indications are that he’ll get it. An 11‑goal, 17‑assist projection may not look flashy on paper, but it represents a meaningful step in the right direction and the type of progression he needs.

Will Zellers – LW – University of North Dakota – NCAA

Zellers made an immediate impact at the collegiate level last season, bursting onto the scene with 18 goals and 16 assists as a freshman and blowing past my projection attached to him. On the back of that breakout, the model now expects him to take another step in 2026–27, projecting 24 goals and 25 assists. That’s a substantial jump, and even if he falls slightly short, this still profiles as his likely final year of college hockey before turning pro. The only caveat: it could be a long season for North Dakota as they go for a national title.

Cooper Simpson – LW – University of North Dakota – NCAA

Simpson will draw plenty of attention this season as he looks to translate his USHL production to the NCAA, and the inevitable comparisons to Zellers will be front and center. The model projects him to outpace what Zellers was expected to produce last year, while landing just a shade below Zellers’ actual freshman output. If Simpson meets those lofty benchmarks, Bruins fans can feel confident that multiple scoring threats are moving steadily through the pipeline. Of course, they have to make it count at the next level.

Dean Letourneau – C – Boston College – NCAA

Letourneau made the right call in returning to Boston College for another season. This is his team now, and he’ll be the focal point for a program looking to rebound after a disappointing year. As strong as his campaign was last season, he’s poised to shoulder the added pressure and push his game even further. A projected 28 goals and 24 assists would be a massive leap — the kind of production that puts a player squarely in the Hobey Baker conversation. The expectations are lofty, but there’s every reason to believe he can meet them.

Kristian Kostadinski – LD – Boston College – NCAA

I’ve had my doubts about Kostadinski ever since the Bruins called his name at the 2023 draft. His skating simply didn’t look close to NHL caliber. But each season he’s come back a little better — still not where it needs to be, but trending in the right direction. There’s time, and he has runway to keep developing. That said, he’s not an offensive defenseman, and expecting him to be one would be unfair. A projected 1 goal and 7 assists reflects his game accurately — and that’s perfectly fine for the type of player he is.

Will Moore – C – Boston College – NCAA

In many ways, Moore’s freshman season mirrored Letourneau’s — he wasn’t often given prime offensive opportunities, and those chances were rare. The key difference, of course, is that Moore didn’t arrive a year early as Letourneau did. All signs point to increased usage this season, and with it, a statistical rebound. Not to the level of Letourneau’s breakout, but for Moore, a projected 11 goals and 12 assists would be more than respectable at this stage. It would mark a clear step forward and reinforce that he’s trending in the right direction. At the same time, he could easily outproduce those totals depending on opportunities.

Elliott Groenewold – LD – Quinnipiac University – NCAA

Groenewold has already established himself as a reliable defensive defenseman with a hint of untapped offensive upside, some of which surfaced last season. Now, as he enters his junior year, he needs to take another step — and that’s exactly what the projections call for. The jump to 9 goals and 17 assists isn’t dramatic, more of a steady progression than a breakout, but offense has never been the foundation of his game. After a disappointing finish for the team last year, the real intrigue will come after the season, when we see what direction Groenewold chooses for the next stage of his career.

Chris Pelosi – C – Quinnipiac University – NCAA

Pelosi has delivered two straight seasons of steady offensive growth, and 2026–27 should continue that trend. A projected 22 goals and 20 assists isn’t a dramatic leap from last year — more a continuation of the reliable pace he’s established as both a freshman and sophomore. He’ll have every opportunity to exceed those numbers, with top‑unit usage and all‑situations deployment, but even if he lands right on the projection, it’s still a strong season. And like Groenewold, all eyes will be on Pelosi following the season to see what direction he chooses for the next step in his career.

Jonathan Morello – C – Boston University – NCAA

Morello was a strong point producer in Junior A, but that scoring touch didn’t fully carry over to the USHL or his freshman season at Boston University. Instead, the defensive reliability he was known for took center stage. In fairness, his 6 goals and 7 assists last year came largely from a fourth‑line, shutdown role. With an expanded opportunity expected in his sophomore season, the projection jumps to 10 goals and 14 assists — a significant increase, but well within his capabilities based on what we’ve seen in the past.

Beckett Hendrickson – LW – University of Minnesota – NCAA

After a strong USHL career, Hendrickson’s offensive game didn’t fully translate to the collegiate level at Minnesota. I had hoped he might enter the transfer portal this offseason, but that didn’t materialize. Still, there’s plenty to like in his game beyond pure offense. Despite the scoring struggles, he’s projected for 10 goals and 17 assists — a breakout of sorts — and it’s not out of reach if he’s given a larger role than the third‑ and fourth‑line assignments he’s carried through his first two seasons.

Ryan Walsh – C – Cornell University – NCAA

After three strong seasons at Cornell, it was surprising that Walsh didn’t turn pro following 2025–26, especially with him entering this year at age 23. He added a new layer to his game last season, shifting from a primarily goal‑driven profile to more of a playmaking presence — a change that made projecting his upcoming year more challenging. The model points to a balanced attack of 17 goals and 21 assists, a reflection of that evolving skill set. With Boston’s path now crowded, the real intrigue will come at season’s end, when Walsh decides what direction, his career takes next.

Cole Spicer – Western Michigan University – NCAA

By now, everyone knows the challenges Spicer has had to navigate to get to this point. The skill has always been there, but the obstacles in his path have too often held him back. No one can predict what the future looks like for him, but the hope is that he’s finally moved beyond those setbacks. He posted a half‑point‑per‑game pace in just 13 games at Western Michigan last season, and the projection for 2026–27 — 11 goals and 15 assists over a full campaign — is well within his reach. Spicer is absolutely capable of delivering that kind of production.

Cole Chandler – Cape Breton Eagles – QMJHL

Chandler delivered something close to a breakout campaign in Shawinigan last season, and he did it without compromising the core of his identity — his reliable, 200‑foot game stayed firmly in place even as his offensive workload grew. A summer trade to Cape Breton now puts him in a role with heavier expectations and the ice time to match. He’ll be 20 before the schedule wraps, making him one of the older skaters on the roster, and that naturally raises the bar. His 28 goals and 41 assist projections won’t blow anyone away for a 19‑year‑old in the QMJHL, but the numbers only tell part of the story; Chandler’s value comes from the completeness of his game, not just what shows up on the scoresheet.

Jacob Vandeven – LD – London Knights – OHL

Forecasting Vandeven’s season comes with a built‑in layer of uncertainty, largely because no one can say with confidence whether he’ll remain on the back end — where he switched positions last year while still in the GOJHL — or whether London eventually shifts him back to his natural spot up front. Early indications suggest the Knights intend to keep him on the blueline, and that’s the lens through which a projection of 3 goals and 19 assists takes shape. Even that may prove conservative, but he’ll be learning the position in real time, and that kind of on‑the‑fly development often comes with bumps along the way.