Ty Anderson: Bruins continue vicious cycle of grit over skill

Those 3 picks the took in a row were serious head scratchers

Senyshyn may work out in the end, but truthfully, for me, the only pick in the last two drafts that excites me is Brando Carlo, possibly McAvoy.

I've seen Zboril play, a lot, he's ok, but I don't think he was worth a first round pick.

Wasn't the Zboril pick the only one that was not off the board? If I remember correctly, he was the highest ranked d available. And I believe debrusk was slotted low 20s. 22nd or something.

I don't consider those reaches, but with senyshen looking better than both of them, although debrusk did have that injury, it kind of justifies the off the board pick for now anyways.

But last year was last year.

This Frederick pick has no justifiable reason for it. It's not like senyshen where they knew he was only getting 4th line minutes and going to explode and blah blah blah.

And frankly, if they were so keen on Frederick, at least trade down your pick! Why did they not trade the 29th to Carolina for two of their 2nds or trade the 29th for a 40th pick and a defensive prospect somewhere. There's no way teams refuse that deal at the chance of drafting debrindecat or whoever..

Senyshyn may work out in the end, but truthfully, for me, the only pick in the last two drafts that excites me is Brando Carlo, possibly McAvoy.

I've seen Zboril play, a lot, he's ok, but I don't think he was worth a first round pick.
- DCurnew

I liked Senyshyn , but not there .They could of traded up in the first and grabbed him if they wanted him that bad .The Debrusk pick over Connor and Barzal is inexcusable though

Wasn't the Zboril pick the only one that was not off the board? If I remember correctly, he was the highest ranked d available. And I believe debrusk was slotted low 20s. 22nd or something.

I don't consider those reaches, but with senyshen looking better than both of them, although debrusk did have that injury, it kind of justifies the off the board pick for now anyways.

But last year was last year.

This Frederick pick has no justifiable reason for it. It's not like senyshen where they knew he was only getting 4th line minutes and going to explode and blah blah blah.

And frankly, if they were so keen on Frederick, at least trade down your pick! Why did they not trade the 29th to Carolina for two of their 2nds or trade the 29th for a 40th pick and a defensive prospect somewhere. There's no way teams refuse that deal at the chance of drafting debrindecat or whoever..
- Videoj

Last June Zboril was projected to go in the early 20's and was ranked behind thomas Chabot (ranked 16). DeBrusk was ranked 27th, and senyshyn was a mid-to-early second rounder.


It is clear that Boston does not use the traditional BPA format for drafting, they just draft by organization need and hope their development will carry them the rest of the way.

Every single player Sweeney drafted last year went on to be a go to, impact player for their respective teams(except maybe Zboril, the one "consensus" pick. You can argue there were better players available, but none of those picks were bad.

People are only upset this time because they got hard ons for the mighty midget. Seriously, other than Debrincat nobody could come up with a sexier name without looking it up, not a particularly deep draft. Let's wait and see what this kid does.

Last June Zboril was projected to go in the early 20's and was ranked behind thomas Chabot (ranked 16). DeBrusk was ranked 27th, and senyshyn was a mid-to-early second rounder.


It is clear that Boston does not use the traditional BPA format for drafting, they just draft by organization need and hope their development will carry them the rest of the way.
- dothedougie

Is that such a bad thing? The draft is suck a crap shoot every year, why do we take the "experts" lists as gospel when they are almost never close to being accurate in hindsight?

Is that such a bad thing? The draft is suck a crap shoot every year, why do we take the "experts" lists as gospel when they are almost never close to being accurate in hindsight?
- Shaundre93

I take their word with a grain of salt, always. However I do watch games and highlights of top prospects before the draft in order to generate my own opinions of the prospects. Generally speaking, the top 30 isnt too bad when it comes to international scouting services. I always have a few deviations of course, but usually the top 20 are pretty solid some ambiguity coming after that.


Last year, we did not take the three best players available. Zboril is the only pick I agreed with, and we were lucky to land Carlo in the 2nd round. This year was much the same. McAvoy is a good pick, and will likely play for the bruins in a few years, but he was not the best player available. And obviously Frederic....as much as I hate to knock prospects out of the gate, should never have been selected in anyone's first round. Frederic would have probably been there at the beginning of the third round.

Every single player Sweeney drafted last year went on to be a go to, impact player for their respective teams(except maybe Zboril, the one "consensus" pick. You can argue there were better players available, but none of those picks were bad.

People are only upset this time because they got hard ons for the mighty midget. Seriously, other than Debrincat nobody could come up with a sexier name without looking it up, not a particularly deep draft. Let's wait and see what this kid does.
- Shaundre93

I actually wasnt upset by not getting Debrincat. I was upset because its obvious we dont take the BPA. There were at least 15 other prospects better than Frederic. I would have been ok with them taking Frederic with their 2nd rounder.

I was also upset on the Bruins copying every other team and passing on Chychrun. He got knocked for his defensive play. Ok fine, but what better system for him to come into develop that part of his game. I got to see Chychrun a lot this year, and he wasn't nearly as bad as everyone made him out to be. One bad IIHF and another sub-par tournament was what cost him his ranking. The kid was tired, you could see it. That does not mean he is a bad enough to pass on. Phoenix got gift. i am actually relieved it was phoenix, and not detoit who drafted him. He will be a stud.


I liked Chychrun over McAvoy because of the time factor and how bad the bruins need a top 4 D man. McAvoy is a minimum of 2-3 years away if not longer from my perspective, Chychrun could be ready as soon as next year, but more likely one more year junior development. They will both (likely) be top 4 D men, but one will get there much sooner than the other.

Don't get the Frederich pick?
It's embarrassing to take a guy ranked something like 47th in North American rankings with a 29th pick! Don has taken a lot of flack as a GM, but this selection is just too much. If he wants to jump off the board and take a flyer on a guy projected to go in the 3rd round why not trade his pick down and collect a secondary asset?
I just don't get it, it seems like mismanagement. Is Don just incapable of negotiating any deals with other clubs? Lots of questions!! I'm scared Don is flying by the seat of his pants. Seems to beat to his own drum. I'm just praying he knows what he is doing.
Anaheim grabbed a pretty good player in Sam Steel right after Frederich as well many other good players. It will be interesting to see how these players progress over the next several years.

So same as last year. The Bruins may be good again in 3-5 years if 1 or 2 of these guys actually pans out.

What is this team doing for the now? Nothing. That's what. Staying in mediocrity just like Calgary was doing until they finally let go of Iginla. Blow it up. There has been too many grave mistakes between 2 different GMs now. Start From Neely on down. Move everyone you can. Start over.

Don't get the Frederich pick?
It's embarrassing to take a guy ranked something like 47th in North American rankings with a 29th pick! Don has taken a lot of flack as a GM, but this selection is just too much. If he wants to jump off the board and take a flyer on a guy projected to go in the 3rd round why not trade his pick down and collect a secondary asset?
I just don't get it, it seems like mismanagement. Is Don just incapable of negotiating any deals with other clubs? Lots of questions!! I'm scared Don is flying by the seat of his pants. Seems to beat to his own drum. I'm just praying he knows what he is doing.
Anaheim grabbed a pretty good player in Sam Steel right after Frederich as well many other good players. It will be interesting to see how these players progress over the next several years.
- Tachmo

Trading with Don Sweeney is like having sex with someone you know has herpes. You will do it if you have to, but no one really wants to.

Is Sweeney working with a different draft list than every other GM?

Is Sweeney working with a different draft list than every other GM?
- mlindsay

Instead of sorting by draft rank, he just randomly points to one guy on buttons list.

So same as last year. The Bruins may be good again in 3-5 years if 1 or 2 of these guys actually pans out.

What is this team doing for the now? Nothing. That's what. Staying in mediocrity just like Calgary was doing until they finally let go of Iginla. Blow it up. There has been too many grave mistakes between 2 different GMs now. Start From Neely on down. Move everyone you can. Start over.
- glove_was_stuck

agreed

So who does Sweeney target in free agency? Russel? Demers? Campbell? Doesnt seem like there is a trade to be had.


Edit: or does he just say (frank) it and resign Chaz Michael Michaels to a 4 year deal?

So same as last year. The Bruins may be good again in 3-5 years if 1 or 2 of these guys actually pans out.

What is this team doing for the now? Nothing. That's what. Staying in mediocrity just like Calgary was doing until they finally let go of Iginla. Blow it up. There has been too many grave mistakes between 2 different GMs now. Start From Neely on down. Move everyone you can. Start over.
- glove_was_stuck

Sadly, I totally agree. I took a wait-and-see approach on Sweeney after he inherited a challenging cap situation, but from what I've seen so far it is beyond clear that a total house cleaning is essential. The "Bruins" mentality clouds everything the organization does.

The previous regime gave away one of the league's most dynamic players because he wasn't a "Bruins" type player. And none of the brass realized how insane/embarrassing it is to say a player is too good to play for your team. A 21 year old player. Then you replace this non-gritty, too-skilled player with a Lady Byng candidate.

Under Sweeney nothing has changed. He did get a good return for Lucic, should have done better in the Dougie trade, but the issue is asset management. Trade a good pick for Zac friggin' Rinaldo. Trade multiple 2nd rounders for: Brett Connolly, JM Liles, and Lee Stempniak (who could have been had for free before the season and wanted to be a Bruin).

Now in this draft talking about how an organizational need is to be tougher to play against. Reaching 20+ spots to take a guy because he fits that mold. You know what kind of teams are tough to play against? Ones that skate fast, have the puck all the time, and score goals. The team is drowning in its own outdated identity. And as long as they continue to employ ex-Big Bad Bruins it is painfully clear that nothing is going to change.

Sadly, I totally agree. I took a wait-and-see approach on Sweeney after he inherited a challenging cap situation, but from what I've seen so far it is beyond clear that a total house cleaning is essential. The "Bruins" mentality clouds everything the organization does.

The previous regime gave away one of the league's most dynamic players because he wasn't a "Bruins" type player. And none of the brass realized how insane/embarrassing it is to say a player is too good to play for your team. A 21 year old player. Then you replace this non-gritty, too-skilled player with a Lady Byng candidate.

Under Sweeney nothing has changed. He did get a good return for Lucic, should have done better in the Dougie trade, but the issue is asset management. Trade a good pick for Zac friggin' Rinaldo. Trade multiple 2nd rounders for: Brett Connolly, JM Liles, and Lee Stempniak (who could have been had for free before the season and wanted to be a Bruin).

Now in this draft talking about how an organizational need is to be tougher to play against. Reaching 20+ spots to take a guy because he fits that mold. You know what kind of teams are tough to play against? Ones that skate fast, have the puck all the time, and score goals. The team is drowning in its own outdated identity. And as long as they continue to employ ex-Big Bad Bruins it is painfully clear that nothing is going to change.
- Dano819

yep. The Sweeney Neely thing isn't working. i know they mean well and both were great Bruins players but they are not good NHL executives. this style of play thing is killing me. (frank) that and just win games.

Instead of sorting by draft rank, he just randomly points to one guy on buttons list.
- dothedougie

#prayforsweeney

Instead of sorting by draft rank, he just randomly points to one guy on buttons list.
- dothedougie

It seems that way at times!
Last years first round selections (the 3 in a row) I think I remember 2 of them being way off the board picks.
Maybe he has a strategy nobody else thinks of.. or B fans should hope that's the case.

It seems that way at times!
Last years first round selections (the 3 in a row) I think I remember 2 of them being way off the board picks.
Maybe he has a strategy nobody else thinks of.. or B fans should hope that's the case.
- mlindsay

Maybe......Just maybe its this.

Instead of sorting by draft rank, he just randomly points to one guy on buttons list.
- dothedougie

He's probably using the Nick Kypreos or Mike Milbury list of prospect rankings

Maybe......Just maybe its this.


- dothedougie

He's probably using the Nick Kypreos or Mike Milbury list of prospect rankings
- DeflatedPucks

Those are officially listed as his "Advisors" I believe.