Previous drafts: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
This post concludes the series examining the Boston Bruins’ draft record during General Manager Don Sweeney’s tenure and his restructured scouting team. Progress was made in the drafting unit when Sweeney expanded the team. However, the emphasis is not just on the number of staff members, but on their caliber and, most importantly, the equal representation of their opinions.
Getting a clear assessment of the last few drafts is challenging because only a small number of chosen players have reached the NHL. The prospects chosen seem to be developing well, especially for the Bruins. Let’s delve into the 2023 draft, share some insights, and highlight some promising players.
THIRD ROUND
The Bruins chose Chris Pelosi with the 92nd pick, sparking questions for me. Immediately following the draft, I commented that I would have swapped Pelosi with Beckett Hendrickson in the draft order. However, my focus was on Cole Knuble and then Denver Barkey when he was still on the board at the time of the selection. I view Hendrickson as having greater potential, a sentiment that remains unchanged.
FOURTH ROUND
The Bruins managed to pick Hendrickson with the 124th selection, despite my belief that he should have been chosen earlier. Initially, my focus was on Rodwin Dionicio and Eric Pohlkamp, until it became apparent that Hendrickson was still available.
SIXTH ROUND
The Bruins chose Ryan Walsh with the 188th pick, opting for an overage player. Initially, I heavily favored Angus MacDonell for his Bruins-like qualities. Now, a year later, I see why the Bruins went with Walsh instead. They already had players like MacDonell in their system, but were missing someone like Walsh. The outcomes of these choices will become clear in time.
SEVENTH ROUND
The Bruins picked Casper Nassen 214th and Kristian Kostadinski 220th in the draft. They would later become teammates in the following season. Nassen is following the path of Oskar Jellvik and Dans Locmelis, spending his draft plus-1 year in the J20 Nationell in Sweden before moving to North America and the NCAA. Kostadinski is set to go back to the J20 for another season. Both players have a lot of development time ahead and are seen as unlikely to reach the NHL. Despite limited options, the Bruins made strategic picks in these players with potential for success if their development goes well.
The Bruins did not have first and second-round picks in this draft, which can make it challenging to achieve success. However, the selections of Hendrickson, Pelosi, and Walsh appear promising, and if two of them reach the NHL, it will be a significant victory. Keep an eye on Nassen, who struggled at the beginning of the season but showed improvement in the latter half. He needs to get to the level he should be at and develop further from there.
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Dom - Hockey 