Following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, the Boston Bruins are enjoying a resurgent 2025-26 season. As of this moment, their standing is 26-19-2, placing them squarely within contention for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.
A significant factor contributing to the Bruins’ impressive performance this season is the emergence of several players experiencing career-best years. We will now highlight three such individuals.
Marat Khusnutdinov’s Rise
This season, Khusnutdinov has established himself as a valuable component of the Bruins’ offensive unit. Through 42 appearances, the 23-year-old attacker has already achieved personal bests, netting nine goals, distributing 11 assists, and accumulating 20 points. This marks a significant improvement from his previous season, where he tallied five goals and 12 points across 75 contests while playing for both the Minnesota Wild and the Bruins.
Furthermore, Khusnutdinov recently delivered a standout performance for Boston, registering four goals and one assist during the Bruins’ dominant 10-2 victory against the New York Rangers. His recent play undeniably underscores the promising potential of the youthful forward.
Fraser Minten’s Impact
Boston’s decision to obtain Minten from the Toronto Maple Leafs via the Brandon Carlo transaction has proven to be a shrewd move. The youthful attacker continues to develop and has seamlessly integrated into the role of their third-line center.
Across 47 matchups for the Boston squad this season, the 21-year-old has compiled a stat line of 11 goals, 10 assists, for a total of 21 points.
Alex Steeves’ Breakthrough
Having spent several seasons predominantly in the AHL within the Maple Leafs’ system, Steeves is experiencing a significant emergence with the Bruins this current season. In 30 contests for Boston this year, the 26-year-old attacker has accumulated eight goals, six assists, and 14 points. Consequently, he has provided the Bruins with valuable secondary offensive production and emerged as a pleasant revelation.