
The Boston Bruins are heading into unfamiliar territory this offseason. After tying with the Philadelphia Flyers for the worst record in the Eastern Conference, they secured the seventh overall pick in Monday’s NHL Draft Lottery. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders beat the odds to snag the top pick, and Boston landed in the lowest possible position—fitting for how this season has gone. It seems the Bruins can’t catch a break, even off the ice.
Picking this high in the draft is rare for Boston, and the team’s draft history under the current front office has been shaky at best. But with a glaring need staring them in the face, they can’t afford to miss this opportunity. Next month’s draft could be a game-changer—if they get it right.
The Boston Bruins have a golden opportunity in the 2025 NHL Draft to finally address one of their biggest long-term needs: a top-tier center. Holding the seventh overall pick, the pressure is on the front office to change the narrative around their inconsistent draft history. This is their chance to secure a future cornerstone—ideally, someone who can contribute at the NHL level sooner rather than later.
Relying on free agency to plug this hole has backfired too often, and the current depth down the middle raises concerns. While Matthew Poitras has shown promise, injuries and lineup shuffles have kept him from fully breaking out. Beyond him, the pipeline is murky. John Beecher’s future is uncertain as he hits restricted free agency, adding another layer of complexity to Boston’s center situation.
It’s been four drafts since the Bruins selected Fabian Lysell 21st overall, and he’s yet to make a real impact in Boston—only debuting last December. Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston, taken just two picks later, is thriving in Dallas. It’s hard not to wonder what could’ve been.
But the Bruins now have a shot at redemption. With the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Don Sweeney and the scouting staff have a chance to get it right and finally land the franchise center the team desperately needs. There’s no excuse to draft for another position or entertain trade offers. The mission is clear: identify the right center available at No. 7 and make the pick. Anything short of that would be yet another swing and miss in a critical offseason for Boston.