Fraser Minten was a great add for the Bruins

Once perennial contenders and trade deadline buyers on the backs of one of the best core groups in recent NHL history, the Boston Bruins have entered new territory as a team trying to accumulate young talent and build back toward contention.

At last year’s trade deadline, general manager Don Sweeney was firmly in the sellers’ camp, and he cashed in when he moved defenseman Brandon Carlo to the division rival Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, he landed a 2025 fourth-round pick, a 2026 first-round pick and a possible future core player in center Fraser Minten.

After the deal, he shined with AHL Providence and got a shot at the NHL level, scoring one goal in six games to close out his 2024-25 season. After breaking camp with the Bruins and impressing in the team’s first two games, he continues to look like a strong find that fits the franchise’s identity perfectly.

On Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed what a breakout for Minten means for how Sweeney’s recent moves will be evaluated.

Tyler Yaremchuk: A big one for Fraser Minten who made the Boston Bruins’ Opening Day roster. He was part of the Brandon Carlo trade last year… he zips up the ice in OT and finds the back of the net. The Bruins are 2-0 to start the year. When you look at rebuilds in hindsight, you need to draft well, all that stuff, but a good trade here and there? You get Minten in that deal for Carlo, it’s a Bruins blue line that was getting pretty full… that’s looking like a pretty nice piece of work for Don Sweeney.

Carter Hutton: It does. For how much Don Sweeney’s been judged for that Marchand trade… but a trade like this where you get a younger guy and a key piece who has a good future. It’s going to be good.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…