Former GM Mike O'Connell paved the way for the Bruins for many years

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Dorin Canaday
September 4, 2022 (0:22)

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Successful drafting might be the most crucial part of running an NHL team, especially outside of the first round.

And former Boston Bruins general manager, Michael O'Connell, might have been the best to do just that.

A recent report by �Hockey Prospecting' creator, Byron Bader, takes a look at star players drafted outside the first round from 2000 to 2016, and the results are surprising.

As per Bader:

''Drafted from 2000 to 2016, only 18 forwards drafted outside the 1st round have turned into stars in the NHL (200+ games, 0.7+ points-per-game). 18 out of roughly 1,800 players drafted in those rounds (1%).''

Bader continues:

''Drafting a star outside of the 1st round is akin to winning a small lottery. If your team has done so recently, cherish it. It might not happen again for decades.''

Then Bruins GM O'Connell and his staff were responsible for drafting Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Brad Marchand as NHL stars outside of the first round.

Making them the only team to have three players make the list.

This just adds to the proof the Don Sweeney and those since O'Connell have been blessed with an impressive roster since he took over, along with those same three players still on extremely team friendly contracts.

As per Bader, he expects some current NHLers to make the list soon as well:

''Kaprizov, Robertson (no brainers to join that list), Kyrou, and Bunting may join that list in the next 1-2 years as they cross over 200 games.''

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