The Boston Bruins are heading into Friday’s 2025 NHL Draft with a rare opportunity, and possibly a big decision to make.
Boston holds the No. 7 overall pick, its highest draft slot in more than a decade, after a difficult season that left the team tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. While that spot should yield a strong talent, there’s growing buzz the Bruins might not stay put.
The Bruins are reportedly exploring ways to move up in the first round, according to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler.
“Sounds like Bruins also have interest in moving up,” Wheeler wrote, “My sense is the (Philadelphia) Flyers and Bruins at 6-7 like the same three players: (Brady) Martin, (Jake) O’Brien and (James) Hagens. Everyone keeps telling me those three won’t get past 6-7. And yet, there appear to be eight players for seven picks.”
That intel tracks with Boston’s biggest organizational need: Center. This year’s class is especially rich in top-tier talent at the position, and some projections show as many as seven centers coming off the board in the top 10.
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The Bruins are hardly the only team shopping for help down the middle, though, meaning the race to land someone like Martin, O’Brien or McQueen could get competitive fast.
Hagens, who was once seen as a potential No. 1 pick, remains in the mix as well. While his freshman season at Boston College did not quite match the hype, he still was ranked No. 7 on TSN’s final pre-draft rankings, right in the Bruins’ current range.
If general manager Don Sweeney wants to jump the line, he has the draft capital to do it. The Bruins hold five first-rounders and four second-rounders across the next three drafts.
Round 1 is Friday night, with Rounds 2-7 set for Saturday afternoon.
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