The Boston Bruins‘ prospect pool has been closely criticized as being one of many weaker crops of prospects within the league, and lots of are fast to level the finger at normal supervisor Don Sweeney for his selections made on the NHL Entry Draft all through his time on the helm. Though he has missed the mark with a few of his choices, he has additionally discovered some viable NHL gamers by the draft over time. Gamers akin to Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, Jeremy Swayman and Brandon Carlo have grown into vital roles since being drafted by the franchise. At this time, we have a look at the gamers drafted by the Bruins since Sweeney was employed and the way his draft choices evaluate to different contending groups over the identical time-frame.
Sweeney’s Draft Historical past
In fact, the largest dagger in Sweeney’s draft fame is his inaugural draft whereas serving because the Bruins’ GM. The 2015 NHL Entry Draft is ceaselessly mentioned as a monumental missed alternative for the membership. After buying and selling Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings and Dougie Hamilton to the Calgary Flames, the Bruins grew to become the primary crew in NHL historical past to personal three consecutive picks within the first spherical at an NHL Draft.
Of these picks — thirteenth, 14th and fifteenth — solely DeBrusk has developed right into a full-time NHL participant. Jakub Zboril stays on the Bruins’ roster; nonetheless, with the depth the membership has on the left aspect of their defensive corps, he has but to interrupt by as a full-time NHL participant. Zach Senyshyn was the participant drafted with the remaining first-round choice and performed solely 14 video games with the Bruins earlier than getting dealt to the Ottawa Senators, the place he solely appeared in two extra NHL video games.
Within the following rounds of the 2015 draft, Sweeney chosen Carlo (second spherical, thirty seventh general), Jeremy Lauzon (second spherical, 52nd general) and goaltender Daniel Vladar (third spherical, seventy fifth general) for gamers who’re at the moment nonetheless enjoying within the NHL.
Sweeney and the Bruins fared a lot better within the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the place he chosen McAvoy with their first-round decide, 14th general. Different gamers with NHL expertise from the draft are Trent Frederic (twenty ninth general), Ryan Lindgren (second spherical, forty ninth general), Joona Koppanen (fifth spherical, one hundred and thirty fifth general) and Oskar Steen (sixth spherical, 165 general).
Associated: Bruins’ Don Sweeney Nonetheless Has A lot Work to Do
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The 2017 draft noticed the Bruins choose defenceman Urho Vaakanainen with their first decide, 18th general. The left-handed taking pictures Finland native was a part of the commerce with the Anaheim Geese when the Bruins acquired Hampus Lindholm. Middle, Jack Studnicka, was chosen within the second spherical and have become a extremely touted prospect for the Bruins. Nevertheless, he by no means bought the ice time in Boston and was subsequently dealt to the Vancouver Canucks final season. The true gem of the 2017 draft for Sweeney was the number of Swayman within the fourth spherical, 111th general. He’s gone on to kind the NHL’s finest goaltending tandem, enjoying alongside Linus Ullmark.
With the Bruins turning into perennial contenders, Sweeney traded lots of his high draft picks whereas including numerous items in hopes of capturing that elusive Stanley Cup championship. With 5 draft picks in 2018, Jakub Lauko stays the one participant chosen to have performed within the NHL. None of Sweeney’s draft choices from 2019 and past have but to make their NHL debuts, though Mason Lohrei and Fabian Lysell will make a powerful push towards incomes a roster spot at this coming coaching camp.
Comparable Groups to the Bruins from 2015-Current
For this instance, we are going to have a look at the draft choices made by groups who’ve usually completed within the standings across the identical place because the Bruins since Sweeney took over. We are going to have a look at the picks made by the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
Colorado Avalanche
The 2015 NHL Entry Draft noticed the Avalanche nab star ahead Mikko Rantanen with the tenth general decide. In addition they chosen A.J. Greer (second spherical, thirty ninth general). In 2016, Tyson Jost was chosen by the Avalanche, adopted by a fourth general decide in 2017, with which they chose Cale Makar. Three gamers — Martin Kaut, Justus Annunen and Sampo Ranta — from the 2018 draft have gained some NHL expertise. Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook, drafted within the first spherical of the 2019 draft, have turn out to be NHL regulars.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning chosen Anthony Cirelli within the third spherical, 72nd general on the 2015 draft. In addition they lucked out by discovering Mathieu Joseph within the fourth spherical, a hundred and twentieth general the identical yr. Six gamers chosen within the 2016 draft have gone on to play within the NHL, together with Brett Howden (twenty seventh general), Libor Hajek (thirty seventh general), Boris Katchouk (forty fourth general), Taylor Raddysh (58th general), Connor Ingram (88th general) and Ross Colton (118th general). Cal Foote and Nick Perbix had been introduced into the fold by the 2017 draft, whereas Nolan Foote seems to be essentially the most promising draft decide from 2018 and on.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs landed a star within the 2015 draft by choosing Mitch Marner with the fourth general draft decide. In addition they chosen defenceman Travis Dermott within the second spherical, thirty fourth general, throughout the identical draft. The 2016 draft actually altered the Maple Leafs’ franchise as they gained the draft lottery and chosen Auston Matthews with the primary general decide. Timothy Liljegren is the lone participant from the 2017 draft to ever play in an NHL recreation, whereas Rasmus Sandin and Sean Durzi spotlight the Leafs’ 2018 draft class. Nicholas Robertson and Matthew Knies are the group’s two most promising draft picks since 2019.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins solely had three choices on the 2015 draft; nonetheless, two of these picks, Daniel Sprong and Dominik Simon, have gone on to turn out to be common NHL gamers. The 2016 Penguins’ draft class was highlighted by their number of goaltender Filip Gustavsson, fifty fifth general. Of all of the Penguins’ draft choices since then, solely Calen Addison has gained respectable NHL expertise.
Washington Capitals
Since that 2015 draft, the Capitals have had simply seven drafted gamers seem in over 50 NHL video games. Ilya Samsonov, Jonas Siegenthaler, Axel Jonson-Fjallby, Martin Fehervary, Connor McMichael, Brett Leason and Aliaksei Protas every have a minimum of 50 video games beneath their belts.
The place Sweeney’s Drafting Ranks Amongst Fellow Contenders
After wanting deeper on the draft picks of a number of the Bruins’ opponents, Sweeney has fared fairly effectively together with his choices. Opposite to many followers’ beliefs that he doesn’t draft very effectively, his draft selections have mixed to play the best variety of NHL video games amongst the latest Stanley Cup champions.
In whole, the Bruins’ draft picks have totaled 2304 NHL recreation expertise for the reason that 2015 draft. The Maple Leafs rank second amongst the comparable groups with 2083 video games performed. Nevertheless, additionally they had some decrease finishes within the standings and a primary general choice to spice up their numbers. The Lightning have drafted effectively, serving to them stay a perennial Stanley Cup contender. They’ve been in a position to inject their draft picks into their lineup, filling holes left as a result of wage cap casualties. Their choices have performed a mixed 1926 NHL video games.
The Avalanche’s draft choices have gathered 1859 NHL video games led by none aside from Rantanen and Makar. The success on the NHL Entry additionally helped construct the roster that finally gained the Stanley Cup in 2022.
The Penguins and Capitals haven’t fared as effectively with their draft picks since 2015, and it has begun to indicate with each groups lacking the playoffs final season. The Capitals choices have performed 943 NHL video games, whereas the Penguins have performed simply 683.
Regardless of utilizing their high-end draft picks in trades, the Bruins have drafted higher than most individuals imagine, having landed some beneficial items of their present roster by the draft.
Sweeney’s Latest Draftees Must Take the Subsequent Step
Sweeney has performed an excellent job discovering expertise on the draft, and he could not get the credit score he deserves for drafting NHL expertise. Nevertheless, now greater than ever, he wants a few of his newer draft picks to take the subsequent step by proving they belong within the NHL. Prospects akin to Lysell and Lohrei, as beforehand talked about, will make a powerful push within the close to future, however the Bruins do have another intriguing prospects looming as effectively. Gamers akin to Brett Harrison, Matthew Poitras, Dans Locmelis and Frederic Brunet have the potential to turn out to be regulars within the NHL in the future.
Solely time will inform how Sweeney’s drafting will impression the Bruins as they undergo a altering of the guard, however as the subsequent core takes the reigns from Patrice Bergeron and firm, persistently drafting gamers who go on to pile up NHL video games is one strategy to stay a aggressive group for the foreseeable future.
