Don Sweeney Has Jeopardized The Bruins Future: But How Was His Last Draft?
As the Boston Bruins reflect on a historic regular season followed by a disappointing playoff run, fans are already looking ahead to the draft. It's an opportune moment to revisit last year's draft class and examine the choices made by General Manager Don Sweeney, who has put the team's future in jeopardy with questionable trades and poor drafting in recent years.
The Bruins **DO NOT** have a first round pick for the next two years...
The 2022 NHL Entry Level Draft held significant importance for Sweeney, whose drafting record has been a weak point during his tenure as GM, leaving the Bruins with a relatively thin prospect pool. As the conversation surrounding his drafting abilities intensified, all eyes were on the 2022 Draft.
Despite not having a first-round selection, finding a future center was the team's top priority at the draft, given the aging of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. While immediate impact was unlikely from their picks, it's worth checking in on the progress of the six players selected in the 2022-23 season.
Matthew Poitras, a center chosen 54th overall from the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), had an impressive season. The 19-year-old showed significant improvement, recording 16 goals and 95 points in 63 games compared to his 50 points the previous season.
In an unexpected move, the Bruins used their second pick to select another center, Cole Spicer, in the fourth round (117th overall). Spicer played at the University of Minnesota Duluth, contributing three goals and six points in 32 games.
Two picks later, Dan Locmelis, a 19-year-old from Jelgava, Latvia, was selected at 119th overall. He showcased his skills playing in Sweden for the Lule� team, demonstrating growth with 25 goals and 59 points in 44 games in the J20 Nationell league, an improvement from his performance the previous season.
The Bruins also chose young goaltender Reid Dyck in the sixth round. Although Jeremy Swayman is considered the team's goaltender of the future, having promising goaltenders in the system is always beneficial. Dyck's development will require time, as goalies typically mature at a slower pace.
With their recent deadline deals, the Bruins find themselves without a first-round pick for this year and the next, meaning they won't select before the third round unless trades occur. Consequently, their 2023 Draft picks will likely be riskier and require longer development periods. However, the focus should remain on adding center depth for the future.
While the Bruins have a solid core locked in with contract extensions for David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Pavel Zacha, Sweeney needs to achieve success on draft day to bolster his reputation as a competent drafter.
| POLL | ||
Should the Bruins fire Don Sweeney? | ||
| Yes | 22 | 40 % |
| No | 33 | 60 % |
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