Bruins Pick 5-Foot-11 Swede 'Sniper' With 2nd Selection In NHL Draft
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With the 88th overall selection in the third round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Boston Bruins selected Swedish native Nils Bartholdsson.
Bartholdsson is an 18-year-old forward who has been playing in high-level Swedish junior leagues since he was 14.
The consensus from multiple scouting reports indicates that the Swede, while possessing a small frame, has real offensive upside.
"Bartholdsson has NHL potential after some continued development. A team that is willing to invest time and resources into him could find itself with a valuable middle-six forward in a few seasons," reads TheHockeyWriters.com's write-up. "He is high-shooting and high-scoring, which is a coveted skill at any level of hockey. After being given some time and space to grow and develop his skills, the Swedish winger could fit in well in two different NHL scenarios: a team full of veterans that can mentor and improve his game, or a young, up-and-coming team of which he can grow alongside."
General manager Don Sweeney has been very clear all offseason that the focus now within the Bruins farm system is on getting more talent and skill in the building. They aren't drafting for size or for fit; they are focused on getting skilled prospects.
The Hockey News believes that was the driving force in selecting a player they view as "intriguing."
"With the Bruins needing more skilled prospects, there is no harm in them taking a chance on an interesting prospect like Bartholdsson. The young winger has certainly shown promise with his goal scoring at the junior level in Sweden," The Hockey News' report read.
"It will be interesting to see how Bartholdsson continues to develop from here. Perhaps he could become an impactful scorer for the Bruins later down the road."
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