Since Don Sweeney became the general manager of the Boston Bruins, his tenure has had its share of successes and failures. Unfortunately, one area where he has consistently struggled is in the NHL Entry Drafts. It’s no surprise that the Bruins’ prospect pool has often ranked among the league’s weakest, given the lack of standout talent they’ve acquired in recent years.
From his first draft in 2015, when he had three consecutive picks at 13, 14, and 15, the results have been underwhelming. One contributing factor to the lack of depth in their prospect pool is Sweeney’s tendency to trade away first and second-round picks at trade deadlines in an attempt to strengthen the team for postseason pushes.
Now, with the team in need of fresh, young talent, the lack of promising prospects is becoming more evident. Former Bruins coach and NBC analyst Mike Millbury believes that Boston needs to focus on improving their draft strategy this summer to fill the gap in their prospect pool.
Millbury emphasized that before the Bruins dive into free agency, they must prioritize the draft and ensure they hit on their selections. “Before they get to anything, they have to make sure that their drafting is as good as it’s been in a long time,” Millbury said. “They have a chance to start piling up a few prospects, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to improve things right away.”
At present, the Bruins’ defense prospect pool is severely lacking, and their forward prospects aren’t much better. Fabian Lysell, a first-round pick, has played just one game in the NHL and is currently with the team on their five-game road trip, though he is expected to make an appearance.
Aside from Lysell, there are a few other prospects like Georgii Merkulov, Matthew Poitras, and Fraser Minten, who was acquired in a trade for Brandon Carlo. However, beyond that, the depth is thin.
This summer’s draft is crucial for Sweeney and the Bruins, but given the challenges of past drafts, it’s much easier said than done. The team needs to make strides in rebuilding their prospect pool to ensure future success.
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