Growing up in New England in the 21st Century brought about much success as a fan. 6 Super Bowls, 4 World Series, 2 NBA Championships and a Stanley Cup. Not to mention the several championship appearances littered throughout the last 26 years. All the success came at the hands of legendary athletes that will be remembered in Boston for generations. Ortiz, Pedroia, Pierce, Garnett, Allen, Bergeron, Chara, Gronkowski, Edelman and of course, Brady. Times are a changing around Boston and new blood has arrived to inherit the keys to city of champions, here is my power ranking of the next generation of generational athletes in Boston.

1. Drake Maye, Quarterback, New England Patriots
   • An MVP caliber season in just his second year in the league, Maye has lead the Patriots back to the top of the AFC East for the first time since the end of the Brady-Belichick era in 2019. The Patriots have struck gold once again at the quarterback position, and Maye is poised to lead this team for several years to come. His wife Ann Michael’s wholesome “Bakemas” holiday content on TikTok has led to a deeper fan appreciation for the Maye family. The King and Queen of New England here to stay and deliver baked goods and Super Bowls for years to come.

2. Roman Anthony, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox

• After years of mediocracy the Red Sox finally had an exciting season in 2025, led by the hype surrounding the No. 1 prospect in baseball Roman Anthony’s major league debut. Anthony lived up to the hype and would have challenged for AL Rookie of the Year had his season not been cut short by an oblique injury. Already signed to an 8-year, $130 million contract this past season, the Roman Empire is locked into the Sox outfield until 2033. The key piece in the Sox efforts to build towards yet another World Series this century.

3. Jayson Tatum, Forward, Boston Celtics

• Though my late grandfather might disagree, I feel it’s incredibly hard to argue that Tatum won’t go down as a Celtic great when he career is set and done. Tatum is an older member of this list, yet still just 27 years old. Already 2 trips to the NBA Finals, winning 1, an Olympic gold, and what I believe is his best basketball ahead of him, Tatum has grown up in the city of Boston and has been a fan favorite since being selected 3rd overall out of Duke in 2017. Recovering from an Achilles injury this season, he is poised to potentially return for a Celtics postseason run this Spring, or ready to start the 2026-27 campaign at full health, ready to lead his Celtics back to the Finals once again.

4. David Pastrnak, Right Wing, Boston Bruins

• It only feels fair to start the list with one athlete from each of the major four sports. Pasta is the most senior veteran on this list at 29 years old and now playing his 12th season as a member of the Black and Gold. Pasta is the bridge from the previous Bruins era to the next. Growing up as a player under the wing of Bruin’s greats like Bergeron, Krecji, Chara, and Marchand, it is now Pastrnak’s turn to lead the organization moving into the future. A perennial 40+ goal scorer, having reached over 100 points in each of the last 3 seasons, there is no doubt Pasta is amongst the world’s best. I hope his talent is not wasted in a long rebuilding process.

5. Jaylen Brown, Forward, Boston Celtics

• Tied for oldest on the list with Pastrnak, Jaylen Brown entered the league full of raw athleticism and talent and has transformed into an incredible All-NBA caliber player. Finals MVP a couple years ago, Brown has kept the Celtics relevant in a season without Tatum. A leader on and off the court, Brown is destined to be a career long Celtic.

6. Garret Crochet, SP, Boston Red Sox

• Crochet came to town as a highly touted starting pitcher, the Red Sox first true ace since the one healthy Chris Sale season in 2018. Crochet’s first season with the Red Sox healed the wounds of Sale’s final years, and gave the Sox a dominant lefty once again. Year to year consistency remains to be seen, but it appears the Red Sox will have a perennial Cy Young contender to go along with a talented young trio of fielders creating a solid core to compete for the World Series in the near future.

7. Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, New England Patriots

• Defensive players often don’t get the love they deserve, but Gonzo might be the exception. New England fans have fallen in love with the 3rd year cornerback out of Oregon. Not many NFL teams have a standalone shutdown corner quite like Gonzalez, making him a true luxury. He can go one on one against the NFL’s best receivers and come out victorious consistently, opening up the playbook for the rest of his team. Quite literally the cornerstone to this defense, Gonzo has the potential to be a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame by the time his career is set and done.

8. Charlie McAvoy, Defense, Boston Bruins

• McAvoy is another more seasoned member of this list, but has proven himself amongst the very best in the world. A few years paired with Chara on the backend to begin his career did him wonders of how to be a professional in the NHL. Now in his 10th season as a member of the Bruins, his play leads the Bruins defensively. Though I still wish to see him take over games, and produce more on the offensive side of the puck, there is no doubt McAvoy is amongst Boston’s best pro athletes.

9. TreVeyon Henderson, Running Back, New England Patriots

• A slow played entrance into his rookie season, Henderson entered the season as RB3 behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. After a season ending injury to Gibson, and a few weeks of an injured Stevenson, TreVeyon showed out and gave fans something to be excited about. I quite enjoy the 1-2 punch currently set up in the Patriots backfield between Henderson and Stevenson, but if this season is any indication Henderson could develop into one of the league’s most electric backs.

10. Marcello Mayer, Infielder, Boston Red Sox

• Marcello is a highly touted infield prospect and the likely future shortstop of the Boston Red Sox. The team is not rushing the inevitable promotion to the left side of the middle infield, and would love to have seen more big league reps from Mayer this season. Instead it was cut short due to a lingering wrist issue that had to be surgically repaired. The best friend of fellow Sox young gun prospect Roman Anthony, Mayer is poised to lead the Sox infield soon

11. Jeremy Swayman, Goaltender, Boston Bruins

• It’s shocking Swayman is not higher on this list. The University of Maine product was apart of the NHL’s best goalie tandem and team in the 2022-23 season alongside Linus Ullmark. An inability to pay both left the Bruins with a choice between an older Ullmark, and a younger, drafted Swayman who played his way into the franchise lead role in the 2023-24 playoffs fully stealing a series win against the Maple Leafs, and gave the Bruins 6 games in the 2nd round. After some contract drama in the summer that followed, Swayman had a down year in 2024-25. So far he has bounced back to backstop the B’s so far this season and will likely make the US Olympic team for Milan.

12. Payton Pritchard, Guard, Boston Celtics

• I had to. My grandfather’s favorite player on the modern day Celtics, Pritchard has emerged not only as a fan favorite, but a serviceable point guard in the NBA. A tenacious, blue collar, workhorse player, Pritchard has an incredible shooting stroke and playmaking ability. A true Boston type player.

13. Will Campbell, Left Tackle, New England Patriots

• Drafted 4th overall in the most recent NFL Draft, this Louisiana boy was quickly embraced by Patriots fans after his famous press conference remarks, and post draft interview in which he said, “I will fight and die to protect him (Drake Maye) with everything I got.” Criticized for being undersized for a tackle, Big Country has impressed in his rookie season and is poised to protect Maye’s blindside for years to come.

14. Khristian Campbell, Infielder, Boston Red Sox

• Kristian Campbell was the first of the Red Sox top 3 prospects to take the field on a big league diamond, making the opening day roster in 2025. After what was a promising start to his rookie season, and a nice new 8-year, $60 million contract extension, Campbell struggled and was sent back down to AAA Worcester for the remainder of the season. I’m not giving up on a young player like Campbell after a slump led to a shortened first year in the bigs, but fans will be looking for development if he gets a chance at the big club for year 2.

T-15. James Hagens Forward, Boston College/Boston Bruins

• Take 7th overall in the 2025 draft, the Bruins may have received the best gift pick of th draft. Once thought to be taken 1st overall, Hagens is a highly skilled prospect currently playing his college hockey with Boston College. Hagens is currently 3rd on BC in points with 18 in 16 games (2 less games due to World Juniors tournament), and has 5 points in 4 games with Team USA at World Juniors. Not to put too much on the shoulders of a prospect not turned professional yet, but when you’re a high draft pick in Boston the expectations follow suit. Hagens has the potential to be a top line, star player in the NHL, a potential we dearly hope as fans comes to fruition.

T-15. Will Zellers, Forward, North Dakota/Boston Bruins

• Zellers was acquired via trade from Colorado alongside fellow Minnesota native Casey Mittlestadt for former Bruins center Charlie Coyle at last year’s deadline. Zellers is an intriguing goal scoring prospect currently playing his college hockey for the University of North Dakota. With 10 goals in 18 games for the Fighting Hawks, and 5 goals in 4 games so far with Team USA at the World Junior Championships, Zellers is quickly emerging as a potential NHL caliber player in the near future.

T-15. Fraser Minten, Center, Boston Bruins

• Maybe my hottest take on this list. Fraser Minten was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by Toronto, acquired by the Bruins in the Brandon Carlo trade last season Minten has played a solid bottom six center role for the Bruins this season. As of late head coach Marco Sturm is showing his confidence in the young Minten placing David Pastrnak on his right wing. Hopefully Pasta can help bring some point production and offensive upside to Minten in hopes of continuing his development to a solid 2 way center in the NHL.