News Article: Fluto: Poor drafting has been holding Bruins back

[Mpasta]

They've had great draft picks... Kessel, Seguin and Hamilton.

The no-brainer picks are gone.

And the picks that take some research have sucked. (early picks)

 

[Baddkarma]

The comments were better than the article. Any true Bruins fan knows that the Bruins have been a train wreck in terms of trades, drafting, and development over the last two-three years.

There is no real news here. It will all come at the draft with trades and other moves the Bruins make.

 

[DKH]

One thing I got was the Sweeney-Claude dynamic. They seem to be a team here

 

[b in vancouver]

I always find this subject a bit confusing. Boston was a top team for a lot of those years and was able to add more young talent than nearly all the other top teams. Go look at Pittsburg, Vancouver, San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, NYR, LA, Anaheim, etc. and see who they drafted while being amongst the top of the league. Especially when the top teams tend to trade away first rounders and picks at the deadline.

And then you have two of the best college free agent signings in Wheeler and Krug.

Of course their drafting/development could've been better for a few years and it's been awhile since they hit a home-run with a 2nd rounder or later but they've brought in a lot of young talent.

 

[chizzler]

Now Haggs has his Mock draft up. No way he knows enough about these kids. I'm trying to see who's article he stole.

 

[LouJersey]

Every team has their misses but imagine how different things would be if they didn't miss on the following really bad picks?

2008 - 1st Round - Selected Colborne -- could have selected Eberle

2008 - 2nd Round - Selected Sauve -- could have selected Stepan, Hamonic or Scandella

2009 - 1st Round - Selected Caron -- could have selected Palmieri, Despres, or R. O'Reilly

2010 - 2nd Round - Selected Knight -- could have selected J. Faulk

I think the biggest one off the top of my head was Hamill over Couture. Lots of people also had a huge issue of Koko over Saad I remember at the time, but what do they know.

 

[b in vancouver]

The no-brainer picks are gone.

And the picks that take some research have sucked. (early picks)

Few teams hit anything out of the 'no-brainer' picks repeatedly.

In comparison - since Pittsburg climbed out of the basement - the only players they've drafted who've played more than a 100 games are - Muzzin, D. Jeffrey, Bortuzzo, Despres, Bennett, Maata
Or Vancouver since '04 - Raymond, Grabner, Hodgson (missed the playoffs that year), Schroeder, Connauton, Horvat (missed the playoffs)

Not exactly murders row. That's what happens when teams are successful for awhile.

 

[DKH]

I always find this subject a bit confusing. Boston was a top team for a lot of those years and was able to add more young talent than nearly all the other top teams. Go look at Pittsburg, Vancouver, San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, NYR, LA, Anaheim, etc. and see who they drafted while being amongst the top of the league. Especially when the top teams tend to trade away first rounders and picks at the deadline.

And then you have two of the best college free agent signings in Wheeler and Krug.

Of course their drafting/development could've been better for a few years and it's been awhile since they hit a home-run with a 2nd rounder or later but they've brought in a lot of young talent.

The Sharks are still standing while gone are West powers
Chicago
Dallas
LA
Ducks

are Blues next ?

Two of their top four forwards were drafted in 1996

There 4-6 defenseman probably couldn't make Boston's

Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last year

They looked lethargic for half the season half their D sounds like the credits on a porn movie

You don't have to be great

 

[b in vancouver]

The Sharks are still standing while gone are West powers
Chicago
Dallas
LA
Ducks

are Blues next ?

Two of their top four forwards were drafted in 1996

There 4-6 defenseman probably couldn't make Boston's

Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last year

They looked lethargic for half the season half their D sounds like the credits on a porn movie

You don't have to be great

I just think expectations need to be tempered when you're talking about perennial contenders and drafting. Looking at the top 10 or 12 teams over the past decade, very few of them can consistently get that diamond in the rough on a yearly basis. Boston traded away three first round picks in '10, '11 and '13. Of course that's going to affect. And that they should be compared with good teams and what they accomplished at the draft - not with bottom feeders.

 

[BruinDust]

Every team has their misses but imagine how different things would be if they didn't miss on the following really bad picks?

2008 - 1st Round - Selected Colborne -- could have selected Eberle

2008 - 2nd Round - Selected Sauve -- could have selected Stepan, Hamonic or Scandella

2009 - 1st Round - Selected Caron -- could have selected Palmieri, Despres, or R. O'Reilly

2010 - 2nd Round - Selected Knight -- could have selected J. Faulk

Even if they had nailed ONE of those FOUR picks, it would of been a big help.

 

[Baddkarma]

I think the biggest one off the top of my head was Hamill over Couture. Lots of people also had a huge issue of Koko over Saad I remember at the time, but what do they know.

I remember that as well. I knew little about either but the pro Saad crowd was way pissed after Koko got the nod...

 

[nmbr_24]

I always find this subject a bit confusing. Boston was a top team for a lot of those years and was able to add more young talent than nearly all the other top teams. Go look at Pittsburg, Vancouver, San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, NYR, LA, Anaheim, etc. and see who they drafted while being amongst the top of the league. Especially when the top teams tend to trade away first rounders and picks at the deadline.

And then you have two of the best college free agent signings in Wheeler and Krug.

Of course their drafting/development could've been better for a few years and it's been awhile since they hit a home-run with a 2nd rounder or later but they've brought in a lot of young talent.

It isn't really hitting home runs that is the problem as far as what I see. It is having the upcoming young players who can put in time in the bottom half of the lineup and make an impact while having little impact on the salary cap enabling the team to keep players like Johnny Boychuk for instance.

 

[Mpasta]

Few teams hit anything out of the 'no-brainer' picks repeatedly.

In comparison - since Pittsburg climbed out of the basement - the only players they've drafted who've played more than a 100 games are - Muzzin, D. Jeffrey, Bortuzzo, Despres, Bennett, Maata
Or Vancouver since '04 - Raymond, Grabner, Hodgson (missed the playoffs that year), Schroeder, Connauton, Horvat (missed the playoffs)

Not exactly murders row. That's what happens when teams are successful for awhile.

Why would you include Vancouver in your comparison? They might be the worst run team in the league in the past few years.

 

[b in vancouver]

Why would you include Vancouver in your comparison? They might be the worst run team in the league in the past few years.

Because they're an example of another team that was amongst the head of the class during the same time period and illustrate how difficult it is to draft well when you're doing well. Pick any of the good teams and go through their drafts while they're succeeding. Most of them aren't much more impressive.

 

[b in vancouver]

It isn't really hitting home runs that is the problem as far as what I see. It is having the upcoming young players who can put in time in the bottom half of the lineup and make an impact while having little impact on the salary cap enabling the team to keep players like Johnny Boychuk for instance.

Boston's had a lot over the past decade. Even this year they had Pastrnak, Spooner, Connolly, Vatrano, Ferraro, Acciari, Randell, C. Miller, K. Miller, Morrow, Trotman - making peanuts. Not a great group but ...

They went a year or so without being able to plug holes with young impact talent but we were spoiled beforehand... as they had Krejci, Marchand, Lucic, Kessel, Seguin, R. Smith, Soderbergh, Boychuk, McQuaid, Krug, Thomas, Rask, etc. on ELCs but became victims of their own success and earning (or going to earn) more money.

The Bruins are more a victim of the drop in oil prices = Canadian dollar = salary cap stagnating than a lack of affordable young talent. Look at some of the line-ups they've had over the past decade. It's a lot more surprising they could fit them under the cap in the first place.

 

[LSCII]

The Sharks are still standing while gone are West powers
Chicago
Dallas
LA
Ducks

are Blues next ?

Two of their top four forwards were drafted in 1996

There 4-6 defenseman probably couldn't make Boston's

Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last year

They looked lethargic for half the season half their D sounds like the credits on a porn movie

You don't have to be great

No, but you do need elite offensive talent, yet every time Boston gets lucky to find one they ship them out for a bag of used pucks, and smear them on the way out the door.

It's going to be really funny watching your reaction when they dump Senyshyn after he has a breakout season...

 

[LSCII]

I remember that as well. I knew little about either but the pro Saad crowd was way pissed after Koko got the nod...

I'm sure Koko is pissed about that too. Imagine if they'd have flip flopped? Koko would be a cup winner multiple times, and Saad's agent would be complaining about Claude not giving him a fair shot...

 

[81ragnaH]

No, but you do need elite offensive talent, yet every time Boston gets lucky to find one they ship them out for a bag of used pucks, and smear them on the way out the door.

It's going to be really funny watching your reaction when they dump Senyshyn after he has a breakout season...

Do you? Who was it when they won the cup? Certainly not Seguin, with his one dominant period that post season. He played his part, sure, but he was far, FAR from elite.

I'd say Bergeron, but he's more elite defensive talent who plays an offensive position. I wouldn't peg Krejci or Horton as elite. Very good in 2011 yes, but not elite. Same with Lucic.

You need elite defensive talent. It sure helps to have elite offense talent, but if you have elite D you can surround with very good O you will do very well for yourself. I'm not so sure you can win with the other way...unless the elite is like, generationally elite (Pens in 2009, find me a better 1-2-3 C punch).

 

[DKH]

I think the biggest one off the top of my head was Hamill over Couture. Lots of people also had a huge issue of Koko over Saad I remember at the time, but what do they know.

I think Couture got mono and missed time and affected draft position?

 

[DKH]

No, but you do need elite offensive talent, yet every time Boston gets lucky to find one they ship them out for a bag of used pucks, and smear them on the way out the door.

It's going to be really funny watching your reaction when they dump Senyshyn after he has a breakout season...

You're funny Lonnie - if your here all week so you recommend the veal

 

[member 96824]

Do you? Who was it when they won the cup? Certainly not Seguin, with his one dominant period that post season. He played his part, sure, but he was far, FAR from elite.

I'd say Bergeron, but he's more elite defensive talent who plays an offensive position. I wouldn't peg Krejci or Horton as elite. Very good in 2011 yes, but not elite. Same with Lucic.

Maybe not overall, but they definitely played to an elite level during that run. When you look at the 82 game pace for that playoff run...Krejci scored at a 39 goal pace, Marchand scored at a 36 goal pace, Horton at a 31.

That group as a whole played an extremely high end offensive game for 25 games and that's something that really gets lost in the shuffle of recollection.

 

[DKH]

No, but you do need elite offensive talent, yet every time Boston gets lucky to find one they ship them out for a bag of used pucks, and smear them on the way out the door.

It's going to be really funny watching your reaction when they dump Senyshyn after he has a breakout season...

Lonnie because I like you so much I'm going to give you free advice. Whatever my opinion is claim it as your own and you'll look like a genius (I won't say anything)

I will so proud when people post 'wow Lonnie got smart finally'

 

[reffree]

Bruins draft were golden from 2003 to 2006. That gave them a Cup. Since 2007 it's been really bad. Seguin and Hamilton don't really coutn beause those pick were so obvious anyone here would have made them.

2003 to 2006:
Bergeron
Stuart (doesn't look good but still had a good career)
Thompson
Krejci
Versteeg
Hunwick
Sobotka
Kessel (ok, obvious too)
Lucic
Marchand

4 drafts 10 guys who have real NHL career. 8 of those 10 guys selected after the 1st round ...

 

[LSCII]

Lonnie because I like you so much I'm going to give you free advice. Whatever my opinion is claim it as your own and you'll look like a genius (I won't say anything)

I will so proud when people post 'wow Lonnie got smart finally'

Why would I want to be constantly wrong and look woefully misguided though???

 

[LSCII]

Do you? Who was it when they won the cup? Certainly not Seguin, with his one dominant period that post season. He played his part, sure, but he was far, FAR from elite.

I'd say Bergeron, but he's more elite defensive talent who plays an offensive position. I wouldn't peg Krejci or Horton as elite. Very good in 2011 yes, but not elite. Same with Lucic.

You need elite defensive talent. It sure helps to have elite offense talent, but if you have elite D you can surround with very good O you will do very well for yourself. I'm not so sure you can win with the other way...unless the elite is like, generationally elite (Pens in 2009, find me a better 1-2-3 C punch).

Defense doesn't win championships. That's nothing more than a long standing myth. It really takes a mix of defense and offense. Besides, anomalies can happen from time to time, but if you go back through recent cup winners, they all had elite offensive players.