Bruins Sign Minten to 7 Year Extension – The Hockey Writers – Bruins Transactions

Minten joined the Bruins at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, along with a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick, in a deal that saw Brandon Carlo shipped to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Minten played six games with the Bruins following the deal and scored one goal. Last season, in his age-21 season, Minten stepped into a full-time NHL role for the first time in his career and didn’t look out of place. Playing in all 82 games, the 6-foot-2, 204-pound center impressed in all three zones and showed impressive two-way abilities.

“We are excited to have signed Fraser to a long-term extension,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. “Since joining our organization, Fraser has continued to grow and earn the accelerated trust of his teammates and coaching staff. His hockey sense, competitiveness, responsible two-way game, and offensive growth make him a valuable player for our group. This is a mutual long-term commitment that reflects our confidence in Fraser and the important role he will play, as well as Fraser’s belief in our team moving forward.”

Bruins Betting on Minten

It’s tough to project exactly where players will end up in their career after just one season, but this contract looks like the Bruins have high expectations for Minten after a good rookie campaign. It’s also important to note that, though $7.2 million was top-six money in the NHL in the not-so-distant past, the salary landscape in the NHL has shifted drastically over the past few seasons. Players are now earning deals worth over $10 million regularly, with the upper echelon of players signing deals worth up to $20.4 million as recently as this offseason.

In theory, it’s a lot of money to spend on a player who looks like a long-term middle-six center with top-six upside and has just one season to pull data from in any evaluation. In reality, though, the Bruins are getting ahead of what could ultimately be a very expensive contract for Minten if he takes another step forward next season.

If Minten can be a third-line center for all seven years of this contract, he’ll be paid right around where projections think he should be in the long run. Anything better than that and the Bruins may have signed one of the better contracts in the NHL if Minten can continue to take steps forward and grow as a player, and his rookie season provided plenty of reason for the Bruins to believe another step forward is coming.