Boston Bruins NHL Draft 2022

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins Need Success in 2022 Draft More Than Ever

June 10, 2022 by Hannah Garfield

 

Everyone knows that drafting well is essential to any professional sports league. Young talent is cheap and can infuse a new energy and excitement into any franchise in sports. 

In recent years, more and more young players are having tremendous impacts on their teams. Look at Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, who is only 23 and having himself quite the postseason. A couple of years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs finished last in the Atlantic Division for the 2015-16 season and then went on to select Auston Matthew first overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Level Draft and they made the playoffs the next year. 

 

It is no secret, that the Boston Bruins have not drafted well under Don Sweeney’s tenure as general manager (GM). In light of

the firing of Bruce Cassidy this week, many in the media have pointed out the fact that he is essentially taking the fall for the failures of the front office. While coaching is never perfect, the biggest issue with this team is and has been for the last several years, personnel and depth issues.

 

The firing of Cassidy has put an increased spotlight and pressure on Sweeney going into this year’s 2022 NHL Entry Level Draft. While he is still not under contract for next season, the assumption is that he will be receiving an extension sometime soon. If the next guy is to have any hope of success in Boston, then it is especially essential that the Bruins draft well this year to get some guys in the pipeline to be NHL-ready in the next few years.

Sweeney’s Draft Misses

The draft that will forever haunt Sweeney’s tenure as GM and the Bruins’ franchise as a whole is the 2015 Entry Level Draft. The Bruins and three picks in the first round (13, 14 & 15) and used them on Jake DeBrusk, Jakub Zboril, and Zachary Senyshyn in that order.

 

While DeBrusk found his footing again this season after a very rough 2020-21 season, he has an outstanding trade request and there’s a good chance he’ll be in a different uniform this season. Zboril was beginning to find his footing in the NHL this season before an ACL tear ended his season prematurely in December. Senyshyn never found his footing with the Bruins and ended up requesting a trade this year, and was sent to the Ottawa Senators. 

 

Not every draft pick is going to pan out, but the worst part of the 2015 Draft is the amount of talent that they passed on. Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Thomas Chabot were taken with picks 16, 17, and 18.

 

The Bruins have very limited center prospects at the moment. Imagine how nice having Barzal on the roster would be right about now? 

Other guys taken later in the first round of the 2015 Draft include Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Boeser, and Travis Konecny. Also, another fun fact, the Bruins traded their fifth-round pick in this draft to the Minnesota Wild and that pick turned out to be Kirill Kaprizov. 

Bruins general manager, Don Sweeney watches a scrimmage from the stands. (Boston Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki)

Some leeway can be given to Sweeney has he had only been in the job for a month leading up to the 2015 NHL Entry Level Draft, but the drafting issues have continued. In 2016, they had two first-round picks again. One of them turned into Charlie McAvoy, who is a franchise cornerstone and Sweeney’s most successful pick, the other was Trent Frederic at 29th overall: a guy who has struggled to maintain a roster spot and has mostly been used in bottom-six roles. Alex Debrincat and Jordan Kyrou were both selected at the beginning of the second round. 

 

Their 2017 first-round selection, Urho Vaakanainen, was just traded at the 2022 Trade Deadline as part of the Hampus Lindholm deal.

 

Their 2018 first round pick was traded as part of the deal for Rick Nash with the New York Rangers and their 2020 first round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as part of a deal that saw the Bruins gain Ondrej Kase and trade away David Backes’ contract that desperately needed off of the books. Neither of those deals really worked out. 

 

Every GM is going to miss a player, and scouting can only go so far in determining a player’s growth. There will always be players like Brad Marchand who get picked in the fifth round, work hard, and find their way into the league. Every GM and scouting department misses talent. 

 

The problem with the Bruins is that the front office has consistently missed. Now, they haven’t had a ton of picks in recent years as they’ve been consistent contenders and have used those picks in attempts to get players to help bolster the roster (to varying degrees of success), but that’s why it is important for them to draft well with the picks they have. Looking at the state of the team’s prospect pool, it’s hard to say they’ve done a good job.  

Most Important Target: Center

Given that the Bruins do not have a first round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Level Draft, it is highly unlikely that they find anyone who is ready to make the jump to the NHL next season. The goal of this year’s draft for the team is to find legitimate talent for the future. 

 

Most importantly, they really desperately need a center. Their two biggest prospects with “star potential” are Fabian Lysell, their 2021 first-round pick, a right wing who had a fantastic season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), and Mason Lohrei, a defenseman currently playing in the NCAA for Ohio State. The Bruins have struggled with consistent top-six talent at the wings and the blue line depth has taken a hit this past year, so both players address a need, but not the top need.

Fabian Lysell, Boston Bruins (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

It is a little shortsighted of Bruins management that they haven’t found an exciting center prospect in the last few drafts. The ages of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, along with the expiration dates of their contracts, have never been a secret. Last year, we saw how woefully unprepared the team was to replace them as they had no one really ready to take on Krejci’s role when he departed to play in the Czech Republic. 

 

If Bergeron does not return, there is no one ready to step into that role. The Bruins better be praying he will return, and in the meantime, they need to get serious about finding his future replacement. An aging veteran will not take his place, hardly anyone will be able to match his elite talent, but they need a legitimate option for a player they can draft and develop into a first line center.

 

That guy can be found in the second round of this year’s draft. Let’s not forget, Bergeron was a second round selection himself. The talent is there. The Bruins just need to find it. 

 

Barring any trades, the Bruins will have their first pick of the draft somewhere in the middle of the second round. The Hockey Writers have extensive draft coverage, including mock draft orders.

 

Some centers that should be floating around still when they pick are Jack Hughes (not that Jack Hughes) out of Northeastern University, Jordan Gustafson out of the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), and Filip Bystedt from Linkoping HC in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Keep an eye out for those guys this year.

Move the Pipeline Along

The Bruins are in a tough spot. They may not be ready for a complete rebuild yet, but they have got to get some young guys into the rotation and more comfortable. Maybe Cassidy was part of the problem and that is why he needed to go, or maybe it was the fact that Sweeney signed five veterans at the start of free agency, essentially taking up all the spots that could have been filled by guys in the system like Jack Studnicka or Oskar Steen. 

 

This draft is more important than ever before because all eyes are on Sweeney right now. There has been tremendous pushback on both him and President Cam Neely in the wake of the firing of Cassidy this week. The majority of the media and fans are pointing the fingers at them for making him the fall guy for their inability to draft and provide the necessary personnel for a Stanley Cup-winning team. 

 

It’ll be a challenge, especially since most draft picks will take a few years to develop and be ready. They need to pick the right guys who will continue to grow and have exciting seasons next year wherever they are playing. There needs to be a sense of hope for the future because right now, most are already calling next season a complete wash. 

 

But, the blow of watching this team most likely take a step back in 2022-23 can definitely be softened by exciting guys in the pipeline and finally getting more young players on the roster in Boston. 

[Brewin Flames]

www.hockeydb.com

 

*Subject to change

 

https://www.nhl.com/nhl-draft/tracker

 

Here's the complete list of Bruins picks from the 2022 NHL Draft (players will be added as selections are made).

 

First round: N/A

 

Second round, 54th overall: Matthew Poitras, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)

 

Fourth round, 117th overall (via Kraken Cole Spicer, C, Minnesota-Duluth

 

Fourth round, 119th overall: Dans Locmelis, C, Lulea HF (Swedish Hockey League)

 

Fifth round, 132nd overall (via Kraken): Frederic Brunet, D, Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

 

Sixth round, 183rd overall: Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

 

Seventh round, 200th overall (via Senators): Jackson Edward, D, London Knights (OHL)

 

Edited July 8, 2022 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins Path to a Successful 2022 NHL Draft

July 5, 2022 by Scott Roche

The 2022 NHL Entry Draft kicks off Thursday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal with the first round. The Boston Bruins are currently not scheduled to select on opening night after they traded their first-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline in March to acquire Hampus Lindholm. General manager(GM) Don Sweeney was able to lock up Lindholm, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 13, to an eight-year extension to keep him with the Black and Gold as a partner of Charlie McAvoy.

 

Boston will be sitting and watching the first night unfold as 32 picks are made before having six picks on Friday in rounds two-though-seven. They have picks 54, 91, 119, 183, 200, and 215. Sweeney was brought back as GM on June 27 after agreeing to a multi-year contract extension and will oversee his eighth draft for the Bruins. Drafting has not done a strong suit of Sweeney’s, with no need to look further than the 2015 Draft, his first in charge on Causeway Street.

 

As the Bruins enter the 2022 offseason with so many questions, one thing is almost certain, either this upcoming season or one in the not-too-distant future, there is going to be a need for a rebuild with Boston’s aging core almost ready to hang it up. Not blessed with a deep prospect pool, to begin with, the 2022 Draft is one that needs to be about as successful as it can be for both Sweeney and the Bruins. Here are three keys to a successful draft in Montreal.

Draft Best Available Center at No. 54

There is no doubt whatsoever that the number one need at the draft is a center or even two. Not piking until No. 54, the Bruins will have a little more time to watch and see which centers come off the board in the previous picks. Currently, the Bruins’ top center prospect Jack Studnicka is a restricted free agent (RFA), but it’s extremely difficult to watch Boston let him leave this summer.

 

After Studnicka, the pickings for prospects up the middle are thin. John Beecher signed his entry-level contract following his junior season at the University of Michigan and will benefit from a whole season with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) and Brett Harrison is a promising prospect after having a very strong season with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After that, it’s hard to find a name to get excited about looking toward the future at center in Boston.

Bruins prospect Brett Harrison with the Oshawa Generals (Josh Kim / The Hockey Writers)

Some names to keep an eye on as the draft unfolds and works its way down to the 54th pick for the Bruins are Jack Hughes of Northeastern University, Rieger Lorenz of the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL), Hunter Haight of the Barrie Colts (OHL), Logan Morrison of the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) and Jordan Gustafson of the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL).  There are other names that could be available, but picking the best available center when they’re on the clock would be a win for Sweeney.

Bruins Leave Montreal With a Left Wing or Two

If there is a position after center that could get some attention it’s left-wing. Brad Marchand is not getting any younger, Taylor Hall will not be around forever. Jake DeBrusk, however, reportedly rescinded his trade request and appears to be a big part of the Black and Gold going forward. Adding some depth to the prospect pool would be a wise decision by Sweeney. 

 

There are going to be some choices that will be available later in the draft for the Bruins, it’s just a matter of identifying which players could be worth picking. Right now, the left-wing prospects in the prospect pool for Boston includes Oskar Jellvik and Trevor Kuntar (Boston College), Cameron Hughes and Samuel Asselin (Providence Bruins), and Jake Schmaltz who will be a sophomore at the University of North Dakota in the fall. Schmaltz also played center as a freshman. There is a long way to go for some of these names to make an impact in Boston, however, you can never have too much prospect depth.

Sweeney Leaves Draft With a Deeper Prospect Pool

With six picks, Sweeney has his work cut out for him, but it’s almost imperative that when he makes his final selection at No. 215, he feels that it was a successful draft. Not having a first-round pick and having a late second-round one is going to make it tough, but hey, there has been success in the second through seventh rounds of the draft by Sweeney.

 

Goalie Jeremy Swayman was selected 111th overall in the fourth round of the 2017 Draft and Schmaltz was a seventh-round pick in 2019 at No. 192. Studnicka was picked 53rd in 2017 in the second round, Harrison was picked in the third round in 2021 at No. 85, and highly touted defensive prospect Mason Lohrei was picked 58th overall in the second round in 2020.

 

Finding success in this week’s draft is almost a must for Sweeney. Adding to a pool that is already not that deep will be beneficial when they enter rebuild mold and go with the kids. If there was ever a draft that Sweeney needs to feel like it was very successful, it’s the 2022 Draft.

[Brewin Flames]

100 % Center....they are so thin down the middle, and Bergy is gonna be gone sooner than later.

[Brewin Flames]

The 2022 NHL Draft resumes Friday with rounds two through seven at the Bell Centre in Montreal, where the Boston Bruins will make their first selections of the event.

 

Boston sat out the first round Thursday night because they traded their first-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the Hampus Lindholm deal in March.

 

The Bruins' first pick currently is at No. 54 overall in the second round. The positions the Bruins must upgrade in this draft include center, a scoring winger, an offensive defenseman and a goalie.

 

Here's the complete list of Bruins picks from the 2022 NHL Draft (players will be added as selections are made).

First round: N/A

 

Second round, 54th overall: Matthew Poitras, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)

 

Fourth round, 117th overall (via Kraken Cole Spicer, C, Minnesota-Duluth

 

Fourth round, 119th overall: Dans Locmelis, C, Lulea HF (Swedish Hockey League)

 

Fifth round, 132nd overall (via Kraken): Frederic Brunet, D, Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

 

 

Sixth round, 183rd overall: Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

 

Seventh round, 200th overall (via Senators): Jackson Edward, D, London Knights (OHL)

[Buffalo Rick]

Cheer for Calgary this year pal.  They will do better than Boston.

 

Hey Brewin Flames, just wondering, if Boston and Calgary ever met in Stanley Cup final, who would you cheer for?  I would cheer for Sabres over Blues of course. Blues are my second fav and then I think Vancouver. I like this Flames team too. Hate Boston.  Liked Orr's Bruins back in the day.  Hate these Bruins.

Edited July 25, 2022 by Hockey Junkie

[Brewin Flames]

39 minutes ago, Hockey Junkie said:

Cheer for Calgary this year pal.  They will do better than Boston.

 

Hey Brewin Flames, just wondering, if Boston and Calgary ever met in Stanley Cup final, who would you cheer for?  I would cheer for Sabres over Blues of course. Blues are my second fav and then I think Vancouver. I like this Flames team too. Hate Boston.  Liked Orr's Bruins back in the day.  Hate these Bruins.

 

 

When the flames come to town, that is always my "must go to" game...

 

I'm damned if do/don't....

 

If they met in a cup final...i'd probably cry myself to sleep after every game.