Hockey is finally back. This week, the Bruins opened their training camp awaiting their first preview match against the Washington Capitals on September 21. One of the stories that come in this season is the state of the prospect pool of the team and whether there will be young players who can perform and have an impact in 2025-26.
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Although there have been only a few days of training camp so far, Rookie Camp and the annual prospects Challenge took place last week, giving the chance to evaluate the Rookie talent that enters training camp. Less than two weeks inside, here are some early striking in the Rookies, and those to watch while the pre -season matches are starting.
Fraser Minten
Fraser Minten is perhaps the most long -awaited young player of the couple. The 21-year-old already made his NHL debut in the 2023-24 season and played four games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season he appeared in 21 NHL matches, 15 for the Leafs and six for the Bruins after he came to the team as part of the Brandon Carlo deal at the Handelsdeadline.
With 25 NHL games under his belt, Minten has shown large flashes of potential, which means that excitement pops up for his ever -inevitable NHL scene. The experience clearly translated into the Rookie camp and at the prospects challenge. He played a major role in leading the attack, wore the ‘A’ and contributed a goal and an assist during their victory over the New Jersey Devils.
So far he has brought the momentum of Rookie Camp and the Prospect Challenge into the training camp. He spent time playing on the third line with Johnny Beecher and Fabian Lysell, who, if the three could get some chemistry, would be a fascinating group to play together. Given the depth problems of the team in the middle, Minten has A very good shot When making the opening night schedule if he can keep the momentum.
Simon Zajicek
A 24-year-old Czech goalkeeper, Simon Zajicek is an intriguing recent addition to the Bruins Prospect Pool. Last May he signed a one-year-old contract, two-way contract after an impressive season in the Czech Extrigaa, where he went 15-13-0 with a 2.12 goals-to-average (GAA) and .930 savings percentage.
His first start in a match in North America came against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Prospects Challenge. While the Bruins lost that game, he kept the game much closer than it could have been without him in the net and was one of the more impressive players of the game. He had several impressive rescues and looks like he could grow into a solid NHL target. During the camp and prospects, he received a lot of praise from coaches and management.
Zajicek’s addition could not come for the Bruins at a better moment. They have not chosen a keeper in the design since 2022 and they have lost all the rights to their choice from that year, Reid Dyck. With goalkeepers who tend to develop longer, there were some worries about the depth of the team in the position, especially after losing Brandon Bussi in free agency last summer.
So far, Zajicek has shown for the spring current and growth during his professional career and now makes the leap to North -America, where he will hopefully continue his growth and move forward. He will play more than likely this season in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Providence Bruins, and what he has shown so far, he will be an interesting player to watch in 2025-26.
Brett Harrison
Brett Harrison is an interesting prospect. The 22-year-old was a third round Pick by the Bruins in the NHL design of 2021. He is a man who always seems to make noise around this time of the year and gets attention to impressive performances in training camp and preseason. He played on a line with Minten at the prospects Challenge, and had a good appearance and set up a few assists (from ‘Haggerty: Rookies off on the right foot after the camp’, Boston Sports JournalSeptember 16, 2025).
Harrison participates in the training camp and the preseason and has some momentum from Rookie Camp and the Prospects Challenge. He will be a rookie to keep an eye on the following week to see how he is doing in the preseason and how long he lingers. There is little chance that he will make the opening night schedule, but the time starts for him at the age of 22. Although he has some noise during the preseason to make some noise, he inevitably fades into the background and disappears for Providence.
Last season Harrison had six goals and 17 points in 46 games in the AHL. The season before that he had five goals and 14 points in 47 games. He is someone you would like to see to at least double that. He will be one to keep an eye on to see if he can finally translate a strong training camp and pre-season performances into a good season, and maybe an NHL call-up this season.
In Locmelis
Everything has looked for Dans Locmelis in recent months. He switched from a strong NCAA career at Umass Amherst to make his North -American professional debut in the AHL at the end of last season. He appeared in six games and set three goals and 12 points. He then succeeded that with an impressive performance for Latvia in the 2025 world championship, where he had four goals and six points in seven games.
All his success last season generated Buzz in the summer around Locmelis as a candidate for a dark horses for a selection place. Just like Minten, he committed himself as a leader among the Rookies with strong versions in Rookie Camp and the Prospects Challenge. He continues to impress Coaches and management, and will certainly make the decision to send him a difficult one.
Locmelis is someone where many will pay attention to during the preseason matchups. Chances are that in 2023-24 he will go a similar route as Mason Lohrei. The defender compiled a strong training camp and preseason and was one of the last cuts. He was then one of the first call-ups and put together a strong performance in Boston, earned himself 41 games and then a full-time role in 2024-25. I think we could see a similar situation with Locmelis this season.
Opening night schedule
The opening night schedule of the Bruins is currently in Flux than several seasons. There are a number of very interesting moving pieces and various boys who can be real candidates in the dark horses for places in the opening night schedule.
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Rookie Camp, The Prospects Challenge, Training Camp, Prester season matches, these are all opportunities for boys to make a name for themselves and themselves to earn a selection for the opening evening on 8 October against the capitals. With a few weeks to go, it will be fascinating to see who comes forward as the real contenders for the latter places for grabbing.
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