Mocking The Draft: Can The Bruins Do Nothing And Still Make An Impact?

by Ryan Durling on Jun 23, 2011 1:30 PM EDT

Ryan Murphy. Nathan Beaulieu. Sven Baertschi. Jamie (or, if you're NHL.com, Jamieson) Oleksiak.

By now, the names are familiar. And only one of them is ever spelled correctly.

The Bruins don't need to do much in this draft to remain competitive. not immediately, anyway. But the question on this morning of the eve of the NHL draft is less "who" than it is "what"; not who do the Bruins want? but rather what do the Bruins need?

They have depth out the ears at forward. Jamie Arniel and Jordan Caron both spent time with the parent team this year. Ryan Spooner, Jared Knight, Max Sauve, Lane MacDermid and Carter Camper are all close.

The defense isn't far behind. Everybody knows Steven Kampfer, but look also at Matt Bartkowski, Yury Alexandrov, David Warsofsky and Colby Cohen, any of whom could play a part next year.

Goaltending depth behind Tuukka Rask was in question (Nolan Schaefer, really?), but trading Jeff Penner - who would've made the defense list right behind Bartkowski - to get Anton Khudobin fixed that. The Bruins are pretty set in net until Zane Gothberg decides to quit tooling around at NoDak and get to the East Coast.

So what do the Bruins need? They don't need a draft anyone who'll be expected to make a difference immediately, or even necessarily in the next couple of seasons. They want a power play quarterback, but neither Marc Savard nor his on-ice clone is walking through that door anytime soon. It's why Murphy would be a great addition.

Beaulieu is no Murphy, but he's a talented skater with a strong shot who could learn a lot from Zdeno Chara and Tomas Kaberle (if he's still around). Drafting Baertschi would be a red flag for Max Sauve, the French speedster with a wicked wrister that can't stay healthy on North American Ice.

Oleksiak could also learn a lot from Chara. Or he could stay in school and improve his offensive skills. Or he could head back north of the border to Sarnia and make a little bit of money while playing arguable more competitive hockey for a couple of years.

They're the names we'll hear a lot about the next 36 hours. They're definitely names that won't be around after the Bruins make their second pick, at number 40.

But there may well be other names, or other needs. The question lingers.

What do the Bruins need? And which player(s) in this draft can give it to them?

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Comments

Zane Gothberg is going to take a while to get to Boston.

by Eric B on Jun 23, 2011 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

yeah. but he’s got such an awesome name.

by Ryan Durling on Jun 23, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think you look at this draft in terms of Need

Actually, I don’t think you approach any draft in terms of need. BPA should always be the right attitude. Most of these guys are going to take a few years to get to the bigs. Our needs might be totally different then.

by CelticPride on Jun 23, 2011 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

You know it's super sweet seeing our name at the bottom of each round :)

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=566673

by CelticPride on Jun 23, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

30

Like Tim Thomas

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins: YES!!! (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 23, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Murphy, but if he’s not there, the Bruins have a lot of young talent, so, I think you simply draft the most talented player on the board. Plain and simple.

All this buttoning and unbuttoning

by Marttisdad on Jun 23, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Any team that doesn’t take best player available at every point is foolish.

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins: YES!!! (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 23, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

This.

Its not like the NFL where any pick will make the roster right away. Outside of the top few, almost anyone is 2-4 years away from contributing.

Happily, PC is a big believer in best (North American) player available.

by Phunwin on Jun 23, 2011 7:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yep. Considering the B’s sent arguably their best offensive prospect to Toronto, I don’t think PC would have a problem drafting a forward in the first round.

For #18

by MattS on Jun 23, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

New Bruins

With no immediate needs we could also move back and add more picks. These picks could be used to draft players or trade up/down or playoff run help. (Kelly comes to mind) If we move back one of those Dmen may be there or guys like Siemens, Brodin or Musil might be there at the bottom. If we stay at 9 Murphy is my choice.

by perry o on Jun 23, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

Actually 9 is a very good spot.

There are anywhere between 9-14 upper tier prospects on the board (depending on who you ask) Being at 9 means you’re guaranteed a shot at one.

It’s like last year being at 2. It meant we were guaranteed a shot at either Hall or Seguin. (those guys were both uber-elite tier – but the same theory holds)

by CelticPride on Jun 24, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

toronto fans have been bitching that basically the scouting reports say “you want someone in the top [number]” where [number] is the draft pick we have from them…and prior to last year, they said that number was toronto’s pick position minus one.

Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins: YES!!! (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 24, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks Toronto!

See, I can say nice things about Canada.

(Completely tongue in cheek – the wife and I went to Quebec City last year – lots of fun)

by CelticPride on Jun 24, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

BPA

is the way to go with this draft and if luck plays any part the BPA will be a defenceman. Its true we have some capable prospects on the blueline but I dont think we have any top tier prospects (I hope they prove me wrong), they all seem to have a major deficiency in some area as of right now. Granted having Chara, and Seids for a few more years and letting McAuaid grow up the future still looks good. Adding another top prospect on the blueline would give us a luxury that a lot of teams are looking for. I said it somewhere else, that our forward depth is pretty solid when you think our top 6 forwards are all 26 or younger right now. Granted it means contracts will be higher and we might not be able to keep everyone but at this point I hope one of the bluneline prospects is available at #9.

They did it for Savy, they did it for Horton, they did it for each other, they did it for us. I give you the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions....The Boston Bruins!!

by beachguy113 on Jun 23, 2011 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Murphy

On the top of my wish list is Murphy, To picture him lasering passes through the middle to a streaking foward my lord is that just a beautiful sight

by Bruin for a win on Jun 23, 2011 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

Holy Crap

Anyone seeing what the Flyers just did?

by bruinlorr on Jun 23, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

Just posted it in the schedule post seeing as we play them opening night!! WTF are they thinking??

They did it for Savy, they did it for Horton, they did it for each other, they did it for us. I give you the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions....The Boston Bruins!!

by beachguy113 on Jun 23, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I think puck mover would be good-hence Murphy but honestly I think I agree with whoever is the best available player at #9. Either way you would expect there to be trade value in the player chosen if there just doesn’t seem to be a hole developing on the roster.

But I can’t see drafting a specific position over talent. Sure drafts are crap shoots at times, but better to take the best available with the top ten pick. I could almost see the B’s looking to trade the pick either for a player(s) or future picks.

by TCL40 on Jun 23, 2011 7:02 PM EDT reply actions