Recent Reports Reveal Sweeney's Fate In Boston Has Been Decided
Don Sweeney's fate in Boston is now clear, and it's thanks to his drafting prowess, which has secured his position as the Bruins' General Manager. For some time, the Boston Bruins had been consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of their prospect pool. General Manager Don Sweeney's drafting history, particularly the infamous 2015 draft class, played a significant role in this low ranking.
However, a change seems to be afoot in the strength of the Bruins' prospects. Notably, the team now boasts three impactful rookies on their roster: Matthew Poitras, Johnny Beecher, and Mason Lohrei. These young players are shining, thanks to Sweeney's drafting choices.
It's worth noting that during Sweeney's tenure, the Bruins never had a draft pick within the top ten and only had one top-20 pick in 2016. The team consistently made the playoffs, trading away first-round picks in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023. This situation required Sweeney to select players with a more long-term perspective in mind, rather than immediate roster contributors. This season, it's paying off, with two rookies making the team out of training camp and another making an impressive NHL debut.
Sweeney's selections from 2015 to 2017, such as Jake DeBrusk, Brandon Carlo, Charlie McAvoy, and Trent Frederic, are proving their worth in the 2023-24 season. Carlo has excelled as a defenseman, while McAvoy continues to be a superstar. Frederic's development is noteworthy, as he transforms into a solid middle-six forward. Sweeney's 2017 draft pick, Jeremy Swayman, is now a standout player with remarkable statistics.
In the 2018-2020 drafts, Sweeney picked promising players like Jakub Lauko, Johnny Beecher, and Mason Lohrei. Lauko's physical presence benefits the team, while Beecher is carving a niche for himself in the bottom-six and excelling on the penalty kill. Lohrei made an impressive early-season debut, leaving a positive impression.
The star of the young group is 19-year-old Matthew Poitras, a second-round selection in the 2022 draft. His rapid transition to the NHL has been remarkable, with seven points in 11 games, making him one of the league's standout rookies. Poitras, along with other 2022 draft picks like Dans Locmelis and Jackson Edward, hints at a promising draft class for Sweeney.
Sweeney's ability to spot and nurture talent in the draft is reshaping the Bruins' future, securing his place as the architect of their success.
As seen on thehockeywriters
| POLL | ||
Do you think Sweeney has done a good job for the Bruins? | ||
| Yes | 304 | 79.2 % |
| No | 80 | 20.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
