The Boston Bruins entered the 2025 NHL Draft with a clear goal: to inject talent and depth into their prospect pool, particularly at the center position. After two busy days in Los Angeles, General Manager Don Sweeney and his staff appear to have done just that, making seven selections and executing a couple of trades to maneuver the draft board.
The Bruins' draft began on a high note, with Boston College star James Hagens falling to them at No. 7 overall. Considered by many to be the top prospect in the class before the season, Hagens brings a dynamic offensive skillset to the Bruins organization. Last season with the Eagles, he tallied 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games and is projected to be a top-six center at the NHL level. "I wanted to be at a spot that wanted me the most, and I wanted to be at a good spot," Hagens said in a Zoom call. "I'm so lucky I ended up being a Boston Bruin. It's the best spot in the world and a dream come true for me. I'm just so excited right now".
On day two, the Bruins continued to address their need for centers by selecting William Moore with the 51st overall pick in the second round. Moore, who played for the U.S. U18 National Team, recorded 27 goals and 32 assists for 59 points in 64 games during the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-3, 181-pound forward ranked second in scoring and tied for second in goals for the U.S. U18 National Team. According to Elite Prospects, Moore "Does a bit of everything, from high-end plays right down to the finest details...In his best games, he manipulates defenders with driving crossover rushes, lands look-off passes, crashes the net, and puts on a down-low clinic with possession". Moore is committed to Boston College, meaning Bruins fans will get a good look at their new prospect.
With their second pick in the second round (61st overall), the Bruins selected Swedish defenseman Liam Pettersson. Pettersson is known for his offensive abilities and puck-moving skills, but will need to improve defensively. In the third round, Boston acquired the 79th overall pick (Cooper Simpson) from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 69th overall pick. With the newly acquired pick, the Bruins drafted left wing Cooper Simpson, who led all Minnesota high school players with 49 goals in 31 games last season. Simpson is committed to the University of North Dakota.
In the later rounds, the Bruins continued to add depth to their prospect pool. They selected defenseman Vashek Blanar (fourth round, 100th overall), forward Cole Chandler (fifth round, 133rd overall), and forward Kirill Yemelyanov (sixth round, 165th overall). Blanar is a big-bodied defenseman at 6-foot-4 and 183 pounds. Chandler tallied 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 64 games for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL last season. Yemelyanov recorded 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 35 games with Loko Yaroslavl of the Russian Molodyozhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga (MHL) during the 2024-25 season.
To summarize, the Bruins' 2025 draft class includes:
It will take several years to fully evaluate the success of this draft class. However, on paper, the Bruins appear to have addressed their organizational needs by selecting a number of talented players with high potential. The development of these prospects will be crucial as the Bruins aim to build a team that can compete for Stanley Cups in the future.
