Top Ten Boston Bruins Prospect Profiles: No. 7 Nils Bartholdsson
Boston Bruins On SI is starting a new series which will take a look at the Top 10 prospects in the organization.
The second player and first skater selected by the Bruins in the 2026 draft by the Bruins, Nils Bartholdsson, has one of the highest ceilings in the organization and if he develops could be a key goalscoring piece for years to come.
Quick Facts:
Position: Right Wing
2025-26 Team: Rögle BK U20 (Sweden U20)
2026-27 Team: Rögle BK (Sweden)
Draft: 2026 Round 3, #88 overall
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 179 lbs.
Nationality: Swedish
NHL ETA: 2029-2030
Age: 18
After trading their first-round pick to Utah for JJ Peterka and selecting a goaltender in the second round, the Bruins entered the third round in search of a skater with upside and found just that at pick 88 with Nils Bartholdsson. An undersized winger that has been one of the best scorers in his age group in Europe brings offensive upside to Boston’s prospect pool.
The forward will make his living on the offensive end, especially with both a quality shot and ability to outskate opponents. Bartholdsson’s shot features both a quick release and velocity that can beat goaltenders both from a variety of angles both near the crease and from range. He was effective on the top powerplay unit for Rögle BK U20, being the primary goal scoring option and setting up for one-timers from the left face-off dot. Outside his shot, a rare combination of speed, puck skills, and hockey IQ make him a dangerous threat on odd man rushes and zone entries where he can generate high-quality goal scoring opportunities for himself and linemates. At the youth level in 2025-26, he posted 72 points, including 40 goals, in just 49 games.
Size is the biggest concern in the winger’s game, weighing in at just 179 pounds, and could hold Bartholdsson back as he moves from youth leagues to playing in Sweden’s topflight and eventually a move to North America. At the youth levels, his lack of size has not caught up to him yet, but it may only be a matter of time before it does. He got a taste of senior level hockey, appearing in eight SHL games last season but failed to record a point and was ineffective in limited minutes.
Bartholdsson is a high ceiling prospect who has the upside to be a key offensive piece that could light up the scoresheet. If his offensive instincts and shot translates and he can bulk up slightly, Bartholdsson could slot into a middle-six wing spot down the road and be a consistent 20-plus goal scorer with the upside to eclipse the 30-goal mark on occasion. He is still years away from making an impact in Boston, and it’s no guarantee that the Swede sticks in North America and instead carves out a career in his home country. If Bartholdsson does eventually reach the NHL, don’t expect it to be before the 2029-2030 season at the earliest.
Boston Bruins Prospect Profiles:
No. 7 Nils Bartholdsson
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Chris Vogel contributes to both Boston College and Boston Bruins On SI, and is also play-by-play broadcaster for ACC Network Extra and Hockey East on ESPN. He’s a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and got his master's degree at Boston College, where he served as the radio voice of Boston College Women’s Hockey on WZBC 90.3; the flagship radio network of Boston College Women’s Athletics. He’s the host of the “All Things Hockey” podcast, and covers women’s college hockey for College Hockey On SI.