3 Players the Bruins Need to Target in the 2026 NHL Draft

With an eye to the future, the Boston Bruins need to hit on all available draft picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Bruins will be selecting 23rd, 56th, 88th, 111th, 120th, 122nd, and 206th overall in 2026.

The 2026 prospect class is stacked, and with the NHL Draft coming up on June 26 and 27, the Bruins have seven selections and only one pick in the first round. This will leave slim pickings when it comes to potential superstars, as they’ll have to put on their thinking caps in order to find diamonds in the rough.

What type of players would be available to the Bruins in the first three rounds? We’ll cover the first three picks (23rd, 56th, and 88th) and get a good idea of who general manager Don Sweeney could pick at the beginning of the draft.

23rd Overall: Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants

Mathis Preston made waves amongst scouts as one of the top players to watch in the U18 World Championship. Suiting up for Canada, Preston made an impact for the U18 squad, recording five points in four games and showcasing his playmaking abilities.

Preston was originally projected to be a top-ten pick in this year’s draft. But after suffering a lower-body injury, which impacted his 2025-26 season, it cost him eight weeks of regular-season play.

His stock cratered before the trade to the Western Hockey League (WHL) Vancouver Giants, as scouts had been disappointed with his play. His inconsistency has helped paint a picture of someone whose play could improve through further development.

Despite the lack of hype surrounding Preston, he has a remarkable shot from the slot, which he finds the back of the net with ease, and has skating abilities that create space and generate opportunities for his team.

However, he could benefit from making simpler decisions on the ice, which could affect outcomes in high-stakes games.

“Preston sets the pace of play as well as anyone (in the WHL),” said one scout. “And then he makes plays on the fly, with a great shot and great hands; it pays off frequently.”

Preston’s a great player in one-on-three scenarios; he exudes confidence and exploits his opponents’ weaknesses to find a linemate to connect with.

The cons surrounding his lack of two-way skills cannot be ignored, which could hamper a team that’s looking for a player with more depth. He has a tendency to go hot and cold often, which could be detrimental unless the right coach can improve the situation.

Preston played 46 games split between the Spokane Chiefs and Vancouver Giants, recording 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) with a minus-7.

The Penticton, BC-born forward has a frame of 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, and could be considered “undersized” compared to a lot of modern forwards nowadays. But we’ve seen players of this stature find success in the NHL and shouldn’t be discounted as a part of any team’s offense.

56th Overall: Chase Harrington, LW/RW, Spokane Chiefs

Utilizing Tankathon for this selection, the Bruins select Chase Harrington of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. He is a physical, bruising forward who has fleshed out his game after recording 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) in 2024-25. His evolution of play saw his production increase by seven points in 2025-26 after adding an edge to his playstyle. In 2025-26, he recorded 57 points and an astounding 105 penalty minutes.

His player profile this season suggests he would be a great prospect for the Bruins, since he’s unafraid to stand up for his teammates and can agitate his opponents.

The best example of Harrington being an agitator is during a game against Prince George when fellow 2026 draft prospect Carson Carels took a rough hit in front of the Spokane bench, and Harrington leaned over the boards to taunt Carels while he laid on the ice in pain.

According to Dobber Prospects, his projection is a complementary middle-six forward who gets in the dirty areas of the ice, including the boards, corners, and front of the net.

88th Overall: Patriks Plumins, Goaltender, Zemgale

Patriks Plumins had an excellent showing at the U18 World Championship with Latvia. He led Latvia to the semifinal with 43 saves on 45 shots against Team USA. He’s currently ranked 18th by NHL Central Scouting in EU goalie rankings.

Plumins played 16 games in the HL Latvia for Zemgale, finishing the regular season with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.

His combination of size, coordination, lateral explosiveness and overall battle stood out for me. He’s the 18^th-ranked goalie in Europe according to Central Scouting.

His performance at the U18s has put him on the radar for NHL teams looking for a great goaltending prospect in later rounds. Could Sweeney find use for him in Providence?

Bruins Need to Draft With Skill in 2026

After years living at the bottom of these rankings, the Bruins’ pool is in a much healthier position now than it has been in a long time.

From ‘Boston Bruins are No. 19 in Scott Wheeler’s 2026 NHL prospect pool rankings’ 04/22/26, The Athletic, Scott Wheeler

The Bruins’ prospect pipeline was ranked 19th in the NHL by The Athletic‘s Scott Wheeler, and Sweeney and company will have to find a way to restock a pipeline diminished through trades and attrition.