Hockey Wilderness Community 2011 Mock Draft: Boston Bruins

by BReynolds on May 27, 2011 9:00 AM CDT in Features

The Columbus Blue Jackets have course corrected our draft a bit, and have selected a defenseman. The problem? Not the highest rated defenseman, which judging by their defensive prospects, is probably a good thing. Rather than taking the highly touted offensive defenseman Ryan Murphy, they went with the big, defensively sound Dougie Hamilton. Dougie should add some toughness, and some physicality to the blue line in Columbus.

Let's just hope he starts going by Doug.

Next up are the Boston Bruins, in a pick they flat out stole from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Phil Kessel deal. Look, I like Phil Kessel. Wish he were a member of the Minnesota Wild. Would I have wanted the Wild to give up what the Leafs gave up to get him? Not in a million years.

The picks thus far:

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
3. Florida Panthers: Adam Larsson
4. New Jersey Devils: Sean Couturier
5. New York Islanders: Jonathan Huberdeau
6. Ottawa Senators: Ryan Strome
7. Atlanta Thrashers: Mika Zibanejad
8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Dougie Hamilton

Still, the Bruins get to pick. Make the jump and help them out. Who should the B's take? Make your case.

Unfortunately for our friend Ryan Murphy, the Bruins have little need for a defenseman who may have defensive issues. That means that Murphy gets to sit in the stands for bit longer and sweat for awhile longer. Looking at Boston's depth at the blueline, they may need some love, but they don't need Ryan Murphy.

More likely, yet again, is that the Bruins go for one of the top rated forwards still available, such as Sven "Steven" Bartschi. While Bartschi is a bit on the small side, the Bruins have never had an issue drafting small forwards. Whomever the Bruins pick is going to have a tough time cracking the lineup, with some amazing depth in the forward ranks for an organization that consistently makes the playoffs.

The leanings I have here would be toward someone like Bartschi, Zach Phillips, or if they are feeling particularly giddy that day, a big defenseman like Duncan Siemens. However, as explained ad neaseum, the talent level of anyone in the first round is so difficult to distinguish, the B's could take anyone. To pick is to go all Hockey Buzz and just throw darts at the wall.

Unfortunately for you, the task falls on your shoulders.

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Comments

In Boston's position

They can take a gamble and go for a guy who is a sure thing for the future… not necessarily one expected to be ready right away… but yeah, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. They have the privilege of drafting for need and not necessarily for talent, unlike most of the other clubs before them.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Author, watchdog, enforcer and french-canadian connection for Hockey Wilderness.

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on May 27, 2011 9:41 AM CDT reply actions

hypotemoose avatar? nice

by TomServo42 on May 27, 2011 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

Credit goes to HW, specifically Bryan, for thinking up the nickname and finding the avatar. Moose is because I’m Canadian, hypotamoose because I study in teaching math.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Author, watchdog, enforcer and french-canadian connection for Hockey Wilderness.

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on May 27, 2011 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I disagree, Boston will undoubtedly draft D. They’ve done a good job of picking up college prospects who are just now entering the baby B’s, but they still have very thin depth at the position. Bartkowski and Cohen are in the pipeline, but they’ll be a bit, leaving only Kampfer as a sorta-legit puck mover next year (that’s assuming, hopefully, Kaberle walks when the season is over). They’ll want Murphy if all goes according to this draft, but Hamilton’s a likely target as well.

Thanks for the nudge over at SCoC, neat feature.

by TomServo42 on May 27, 2011 10:00 AM CDT reply actions

I’m with you. We know that the Bruins aren’t as deep on the blueline as everyone thinks they are. They will absolutely take Murphy if he is available.

Any of you Wild folks know anything more about public tickets to the Draft? I’ll be in the area for most of the summer and it would be cool to check that out.

by MattS on May 27, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions