NHL Draft lottery race - Bruins currently have 4th Pick

[ODAAT]

Bear will be something between Marchand and Seth Jarvis.

doesn`t move the needle enough for me, this team needs help up the middle, needs to hit on a kid who, within two years is contributing to the NHL lineup

 

[DiggityDog]

It's simple alright, take the best player available regardless of position.

And who determines who the best player available is?

The reality is we don’t know, and we probably won’t know for a few years minimum, probably even longer.

For me under the situation as this: Ever since Bergeron retired, even a little beforehand, we have all lamented the lack of a true number one center in the pipeline. I think we can all agree that it is the organization’s biggest need.

Now here we are, with the potential to fill that role for years to come, for free, and we are second guessing it because there’s a player available who plays a position that is arguably our greatest strength (when healthy).

Maybe they do get Schaefer and they trade Lohrei or Lindholm for a center. Who knows? Personally I would put center (Misa, Hagens, and Frondell) over drafting a defenseman.
I respect your opinion, there isn’t a wrong approach to this and it obviously hinders on potentially winning the lottery. I just can’t see them passing up this opportunity.

 

[DiggityDog]

Why is a team trading up to take the defenseman when the world knows you’d be taking Misa? Trading out of 1 to go to 3 is absolutely a no go as I think this draft’s tier 1 is 2 guys. Trading out of the lottery win basically burns your 1 of 2 for 5 years and you get a worse player. Hypothetically, what you’re proposing sounds great, but in practice idk if it would ever happen. If we win and anyone would be trading up it would be to take Misa.

Just sit and draft at 1.

With that said, there’s never any movement in the top 5 picks. Its so rare I’m not even sure it’s worth discussing as much as this thread is. If they stick at 4 they’re most likely moving back a spot from the lottery. It’d be a gift to stay at 4.

Because the Bruins could take Schaefer and now they have a piece to flip to the rest of the league. Now the Sharks or Hawks have the rest of the league to bid against, when they could simply work a deal to move up a slot for an asset or two.

They could also keep him and move another guy out like Lohrei or Lindholm.

Personally I want them to take a center, but you would be a fool to not try and leverage the pick into more assets and still get your guy.

 

[Terrier]

Boston Bruins avoided potential major disaster with loss to Buffalo Sabres

That loud sigh you heard Sunday night came from the offices inside of Warrior Ice Arena in Boston. No. there was no game inside the Boston Bruins practice facil

causewaycrowd.com

 

[ODAAT]

And who determines who the best player available is?

The reality is we don’t know, and we probably won’t know for a few years minimum, probably even longer.

For me under the situation as this: Ever since Bergeron retired, even a little beforehand, we have all lamented the lack of a true number one center in the pipeline. I think we can all agree that it is the organization’s biggest need.

Now here we are, with the potential to fill that role for years to come, for free, and we are second guessing it because there’s a player available who plays a position that is arguably our greatest strength (when healthy).

Maybe they do get Schaefer and they trade Lohrei or Lindholm for a center. Who knows? Personally I would put center (Misa, Hagens, and Frondell) over drafting a defenseman.
I respect your opinion, there isn’t a wrong approach to this and it obviously hinders on potentially winning the lottery. I just can’t see them passing up this opportunity.

Sinden

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

I just want to get in the top 3

Gonna need lottery to help there. I don't see Nashville going on a win streak the rest of the way.

It has been a while since I cared what the lottery would produce. It will be our playoffs, lol.

 

[McBrom7]

Because the Bruins could take Schaefer and now they have a piece to flip to the rest of the league. Now the Sharks or Hawks have the rest of the league to bid against, when they could simply work a deal to move up a slot for an asset or two.

They could also keep him and move another guy out like Lohrei or Lindholm.

Personally I want them to take a center, but you would be a fool to not try and leverage the pick into more assets and still get your guy.

You’d be a fool to not try, but I don’t think anyone would buy it… meaning other GMs in this league.

The Bruins are basically composed of centers playing wing, but this team is desperate for productive centers and the whole league knows it.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

wo

You’d be a fool to not try, but I don’t think anyone would buy it… meaning other GMs in this league.

The Bruins are basically composed of centers playing wing, but this team is desperate for productive centers and the whole league knows it.

the scenario would have to be Boston at 1, with SJ and Chi at 2 and 3. Both want Schaefer, both make offers to move up. You’d need a lot more from Chicago. Are you comfortable losing Misa to get Hagens/Frondell? That would depend on the offer - would need to be a bidding war. I’m not sure Schaefer is the level of prospect to elicit that.

 

[DiggityDog]

You’d be a fool to not try, but I don’t think anyone would buy it… meaning other GMs in this league.

The Bruins are basically composed of centers playing wing, but this team is desperate for productive centers and the whole league knows it.

This is true as well, like I’ve been saying, no wrong answers.

It all hinges on winning the lottery. That’s why it’s so exciting. So many potential options. Personally I’m hoping no one wins the lottery (if the Bruins don’t of course) and everyone picks as they are currently slotted. One of Hagens/Frondell would be great IMO.

They need to stay at 4 though, crucial.

 

[McBrom7]

This is true as well, like I’ve been saying, no wrong answers.

It all hinges on winning the lottery. That’s why it’s so exciting. So many potential options. Personally I’m hoping no one wins the lottery (if the Bruins don’t of course) and everyone picks as they are currently slotted. One of Hagens/Frondell would be great IMO.

They need to stay at 4 though, crucial.

I know it, it’s super fun and different to talk about.

I have currently talked myself into the entire top 7 and it’s at the point where if we’re picking outside of the top 7 I’m going to be sad. They’re all fun players in their own way.

I think Don reads the room and takes consensus player here. He’s a huge optics guy and I think he understands what’s at stake here. Everyone jokes about his Harvard degree, but he is a smart guy and loves the Bruins IMO.

Wish the season would just end today.

 

[Bruin4]

You’d be a fool to not try, but I don’t think anyone would buy it… meaning other GMs in this league.

The Bruins are basically composed of centers playing wing, but this team is desperate for productive centers and the whole league knows it.

Impactful Centers are hard to acquire via a trade. In recent memory, there's been Oshie, Suzuki, Eichel, Orielly, Kadri and JT Miller this year who are impactful maybe there's more, but thats off the top of my head. So their attainable through trade, but teams aren't eager to give them up.

Maybe Sweeney could go after Pettersson depending the cost, who knows what Rutherford willing to do, but its more than apparent this team needs a top center, tough to win it all without a dominant center down the middle.

This years draft alone isn't going to fix that until a few years down the road if at all, Sweeney needless to say has his work cut out for him, and this off season from the draft on should be pretty eventful, and more consequential, and significant for the future of the Bruins than any other year during Sweeney tenure.

 

[McBrom7]

Impactful Centers are hard to acquire via a trade. In recent memory, there's been Oshie, Suzuki, Eichel, Orielly, Kadri and JT Miller this year who are impactful maybe there's more, but thats off the top of my head. So their attainable through trade, but teams aren't eager to give them up.

Maybe Sweeney could go after Pettersson depending the cost, who knows what Rutherford willing to do, but its more than apparent this team needs a top center, tough to win it all without a dominant center down the middle.

This years draft alone isn't going to fix that until a few years down the road if at all, Sweeney needless to say has his work cut out for him, and this off season from the draft on should be pretty eventful, and more consequential, and significant for the future of the Bruins than any other year during Sweeney tenure.

Can’t agree more that Sweeney has his work cut out for him.

I think this center they’re looking at getting at the 4th slot is probably the 2C of the future with the hope that they can be the 1C. Outside of winning the lottery, I think Misa, Schaefer, and Hagens are all gone. Hagens is a locked in Nashville Predator to me as they need centers as well and he’ll likely be linemates with (also Nashville predator prospect that I wish was a Bruin) Teddy Stiga at BC.

The weird fortunate thing for the Bruins is that they kind of need everything. So they can just sit and pick what comes to them then look to the 2026 draft with 2 picks.
Personally, I’m staying away from Elias Peterson as I don’t think he’s the answer either, Canucks want a do over with that trade big time.

 

[Lobster58]

wo

the scenario would have to be Boston at 1, with SJ and Chi at 2 and 3. Both want Schaefer, both make offers to move up. You’d need a lot more from Chicago. Are you comfortable losing Misa to get Hagens/Frondell? That would depend on the offer - would need to be a bidding war. I’m not sure Schaefer is the level of prospect to elicit that.

if he's not good enough to get a worthwhile asset then you're not missing much by taking the guy at bigger positional need anyway no?

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

if he's not good enough to get a worthwhile asset then you're not missing much by taking the guy at bigger positional need anyway no?

I mean it all depends. You’re assessing the difference in value from Misa to Hagens/Frondell. Is the extra asset more than that perceived difference? How close do you have those two yo Misa?

 

[kdog82]

wo

the scenario would have to be Boston at 1, with SJ and Chi at 2 and 3. Both want Schaefer, both make offers to move up. You’d need a lot more from Chicago. Are you comfortable losing Misa to get Hagens/Frondell? That would depend on the offer - would need to be a bidding war. I’m not sure Schaefer is the level of prospect to elicit that.

Schaeffer is a bigger version of Quinn Hughes. That is what I've read.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Schaeffer is a bigger version of Quinn Hughes. That is what I've read.

Sure, and Hagens is like Jack Hughes and Frondell is in the Barkov mode. Etc.

 

[Lobster58]

Schaeffer is a bigger version of Quinn Hughes. That is what I've read.

"plays like a bigger Quinn Hughes"? Sure that's a valid description.
"Will perform like a bigger Quinn Hughes in the NHL"? i'd be skeptical. Draft comps aren't predictions of *level* of play, they are used to describe *how* a guy plays

 

[BB88]

In response to the bolded, do you consider the Bruins core chopped liver?
Barkov - Pastrnak
Forsling - Hampus Lindholm
Ekblad - MacAvoy
Bobrovsky - Swayman

The Panthers made those trades they were NOT a power house team. You’re being disingenuous. The Panthers recent playoff history:
2017 DNQ
2018 DNQ
2019 DNQ
2020 (Covid playoffs) DNQ lost in qualifying round to the Islanders
**** Then in 2021 the Panthers trade for Reinhart & Bennett.*****
2021 Lose in 1st round
2022 Lose in semi finals
2023 Lose Cup Final
2024 Stanley Cup Champions

Hmmm, what do you attribute their playoff success to….?

They also signed Verhaghe in 2020 as a UFA. They didn’t trade top prospects to acquire any of the above. The Bruins need to keep their own 1sts. But even those players are most likely a few years away from helping this team. They need to acquire good players now. They have the assets, they don’t have to trade their own 1sts. They can both trade for quality players, AND draft in the 1st round building up their prospect pool.

Considering the age of their core (Pastrnak McAvoy Swayman) I don’t see the team relying on just the draft to build their team. I see them drafting a good forward in the top 6 (hopefully), making trades using the assets they acquired at the TDL, and signing a UFA or two.

It’s not simply Pasta vs Barkov because Barkov is a franchise C, something Boston is missing completely..
When you don’t have that you are deemed to fail

This draft isn’t like few years ago where you had 3 franchise C’s available at the top, these prospects aren’t quaranteed to be among the best C’s in the league, they carry more risk

+ again there’s nothing in the prospect pool

So if you are betting on figuring that mess out in 1 weaker draft you are most likely doomed to fail..

Florida has 3 legit elite forwards in their roster+ Bennett, Verhaeghe, Lundell

Boston right now has Pasta

Tampa has 3 legit elite forwards, + quality depth

Boston again has Pasta

You can build a good team with your plan, not an elite team. They are in a situation where they are forced to fix it by draft. You can’t afford to trade the amount they’d have to to add enough elite talent to make them a contender. That’s the issue, that’s the point which you are completely ignoring

They are 2-3 high end forwards away from being a Stanley Cup contender, they don’t have the assets for that right now. Draft, draft, draft

You have a last place team in the East and you are determined they are in a place to go for the win now moves.. and just ignore building the base. Sounds like a winner. Start building the house from the roof and not from the bottom

 

[KillerMillerTime]

No to Frondell because of what I perceive as skating deficiencies. Hagens > Desnoyers > Eklund > Mcqueen.

Hagens absolute ceiling is Phil Kessel and floor is Ryan Spooner. His peak will fall roughly between their highest production, so 65 point player.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

Hagens absolute ceiling is Phil Kessel and floor is Ryan Spooner. His peak will fall roughly between their highest production, so 65 point player.

I don't see a comparison with Kessel in any way. But ultimately you are saying he will be somewhere between a Hall of Fame player, and a bust. Jack Hughes seems the more apt comparison on the high side for Hagens, very similar player, similar numbers, etc.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

x

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Kessel played a decent amount if C before he came to Boston and they are very similar players.

Yeah Hagens IMO has a 10-15% chance of busting.

 

[mar2kbos]

I don't see a comparison with Kessel in any way. But ultimately you are saying he will be somewhere between a Hall of Fame player, and a bust. Jack Hughes seems the more apt comparison on the high side for Hagens, very similar player, similar numbers, etc.

Hagens 100% like Jack Hughes

 

[BMC]

Center is the Bruins biggest need. Draft a center. This isn't rocket science there is no need to complicate things.

 

[Bruin4]

Kessel played a decent amount if C before he came to Boston and they are very similar players.

Yeah Hagens IMO has a 10-15% chance of busting.

Your usually pretty right on with your views, but Kessel and Hagens game being similar, I think you fell off your rocker on this one.