Boston Bruins UPDATED 12/6 - Looking back at the 2015 Entry Draft and the aftermath

[The don godfather]

Dung happens move on. Plus it's not as bad as many think here. Debrusk turned out to be a solid player and potentially a super asset to trade and bring talent back. Carlo is a stud pillar back there and he should have been drafted in 1st round. Zboril was just turning around the corner and becoming a major piece back there until he got hurt and hopefully a quick recovery and growing into a top 4 role. Seny is a bust looks like. Yes we could have got barzal Conner etc. Well we got pasta in 25 th spot in 2014 draft. Why don't we ask the other 20 plus teams how foolish they were in passing a generational star winger . I think all this 2015 draft crap is overblown and hindsight is 20 20. Many drafts show many misses and hits . Heck future hall of Famer lundquist was picked in the 7th round last pick. We can go on and on.

 

[McGarnagle]

Said it many times, the 2015 draft was harder to take than a playoff elimination loss because with the latter you can get back on the horse and try again next year, but blowing a draft like that when it fell in your lap is an error that's going to hurt you for 8 years. And the effect only gets worse as time goes by. 2018, 2019, 2020, damage was minimal, you could work around it. 2021, heading into 2022, and looking ahead to 2023, you can't avoid that gaping hole eating away at you.

That said, something that's been on my mind a lot lately around the subject of the Bruins being unable to produce young talent, how much is it just drafting the wrong guys and how much of it is development? I'm starting to think the latter may be a bigger problem than we've given it credit for. They've drafted guys who looked like promising talents (JFK, Khokhlachev, Vaak, Studnicka) whose NHL careers either stalled or appear to be in danger of stalling out. You've got guys like Lindgren who went elsewhere and hit. I feel like the players aren't always the problem, they're not developing the talent they do have.

 

[Fenway]

Said it many times, the 2015 draft was harder to take than a playoff elimination loss because with the latter you can get back on the horse and try again next year, but blowing a draft like that when it fell in your lap is an error that's going to hurt you for 8 years. And the effect only gets worse as time goes by. 2018, 2019, 2020, damage was minimal, you could work around it. 2021, heading into 2022, and looking ahead to 2023, you can't avoid that gaping hole eating away at you.

That said, something that's been on my mind a lot lately around the subject of the Bruins being unable to produce young talent, how much is it just drafting the wrong guys and how much of it is development? I'm starting to think the latter may be a bigger problem than we've given it credit for. They've drafted guys who looked like promising talents (JFK, Khokhlachev, Vaak, Studnicka) whose NHL careers either stalled or appear to be in danger of stalling out. You've got guys like Lindgren who went elsewhere and hit. I feel like the players aren't always the problem, they're not developing the talent they do have.

Can someone tell me what does Cam Neely bring to the table today?

He was hired to be the spokesperson for ownership on hockey matters but after some ugly on-air shows with Feger and Mazz, we don't hear from him anymore.



Sweeney avoids the media and Cassidy is left holding the fort. Obviously, they have figured out that Charlie is weak in public speaking.

The Bruins relationship with Providence is 'odd'. They don't want to own the AHL team but made it clear the affiliation depends on Delaware North having the concessions. Things have improved but issues have existed over practice rinks - a few years ago the Baby B's had practice days at Adalard Arena in Woonsocket.

I firmly believe the B's need to bring in an outsider as they did with Chia 15 years ago.

 

[DominicT]

That said, something that's been on my mind a lot lately around the subject of the Bruins being unable to produce young talent, how much is it just drafting the wrong guys and how much of it is development? I'm starting to think the latter may be a bigger problem than we've given it credit for. They've drafted guys who looked like promising talents (JFK, Khokhlachev, Vaak, Studnicka) whose NHL careers either stalled or appear to be in danger of stalling out. You've got guys like Lindgren who went elsewhere and hit. I feel like the players aren't always the problem, they're not developing the talent they do have.

Something I wrote about weeks ago.

 

[Over the volcano]

Dung happens move on. Plus it's not as bad as many think here. Debrusk turned out to be a solid player and potentially a super asset to trade and bring talent back. Carlo is a stud pillar back there and he should have been drafted in 1st round. Zboril was just turning around the corner and becoming a major piece back there until he got hurt and hopefully a quick recovery and growing into a top 4 role. Seny is a bust looks like. Yes we could have got barzal Conner etc. Well we got pasta in 25 th spot in 2014 draft. Why don't we ask the other 20 plus teams how foolish they were in passing a generational star winger . I think all this 2015 draft crap is overblown and hindsight is 20 20. Many drafts show many misses and hits . Heck future hall of Famer lundquist was picked in the 7th round last pick. We can go on and on.

DeBrusk
Carlo
Lauzon
Zboril
Vladar

Half a defense, a decent scoring wing and a goalie all out of one draft is A+ in a vacuum

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Can someone tell me what does Cam Neely bring to the table today?

He was hired to be the spokesperson for ownership on hockey matters but after some ugly on-air shows with Feger and Mazz, we don't hear from him anymore.



Sweeney avoids the media and Cassidy is left holding the fort. Obviously, they have figured out that Charlie is weak in public speaking.

The Bruins relationship with Providence is 'odd'. They don't want to own the AHL team but made it clear the affiliation depends on Delaware North having the concessions. Things have improved but issues have existed over practice rinks - a few years ago the Baby B's had practice days at Adalard Arena in Woonsocket.

I firmly believe the B's need to bring in an outsider as they did with Chia 15 years ago.

Whenever Sweeney does actually talk to the media 90% of the time he says absolutely nothing of any substance, just lots of PR speak, waffle and prevaricating. Having an outside guy who can come in and take a firm hand, make bold impartial decisions and bring some fresh vision is absolutely what the Bruins need, but it will require the Jacobs' ceding a good deal of control and trusting the new appointee to just get on with doing what they think is best. And I just can't see that happening, especially if some of those decisions will probably hurt the team's revenues in the short term. The Bruins as an organization feels staid, but I suspect we're stuck with it being that way for awhile yet.

 

[chizzler]

Can someone tell me what does Cam Neely bring to the table today?

He was hired to be the spokesperson for ownership on hockey matters but after some ugly on-air shows with Feger and Mazz, we don't hear from him anymore.



Sweeney avoids the media and Cassidy is left holding the fort. Obviously, they have figured out that Charlie is weak in public speaking.

The Bruins relationship with Providence is 'odd'. They don't want to own the AHL team but made it clear the affiliation depends on Delaware North having the concessions. Things have improved but issues have existed over practice rinks - a few years ago the Baby B's had practice days at Adalard Arena in Woonsocket.

I firmly believe the B's need to bring in an outsider as they did with Chia 15 years ago.

They are run like small market team. Disgraceful. The Providence owner is just like Burns. They don’t know how to make money. Boston has no balls to make them more like everyone else. They just care about the concessions.

 

[BB88]

DeBrusk
Carlo
Lauzon
Zboril
Vladar

Half a defense, a decent scoring wing and a goalie all out of one draft is A+ in a vacuum

Such a good draft…….

Because of 2015 Boston right now is where Detroit was 3-4 years ago.

They as they were as just desperately trying to get in the playoffs for few home games and in few years the wheels are going to fall out completely

 

[JAD]

All drafts are a gamble and picks are hit or miss. Even teams picking #1 overall have had picks not pan out. Having 3 picks back to back to back in the middle of the first round with higher ranked players falling is not the time to reach. Take the BPA even if just to use a trade chip later. But 2015 is what it is at this point.

Yet looking back over the last 7 - 8 years there are easily 3 areas of concern...
1 - as others have stated is player development, especially with the forwards. There is no guarantee that if they did draft the BPA in '15 that they would have developed the same here as they have elsewhere or even if they would be still a part of the organization because every year we've been chasing a cup, trying to prolong the window of the established core; and as always it's about 'making the playoffs' (adding revenue to ownership). Look at this year's roster - try to be good enough to make the playoffs then add at the deadline by trading prospects and or picks. So much for player development - what forward in the system is ready to take someone's spot on the roster, never mind a top six role. Additionally, young (forwards) player's regression or stagnation is very concerning, they end up being blocked, lacking ice time, or traded because they can't make it here.

#2 which ties in with player development is - management has done almost nothing to address what happens when Bergeron, (Krejci), and Marchand finally hang up their skates or move on. Who is in the pipeline talent wise to replace them, especially Bergeron/Krejci? Management has had years to prepare, yet it is very concerning. If they truly believed you would think they would force feed Studnicka full time ice time at the NHL level so that he would gain experience and hopefully be ready to step in. Which makes me wonder about my third point ...

#3 I really wonder just how 'hands off' ownership really is in the operations of management decisions. Yeah, they spend to the cap, that is called cost certainty, which is why Jacobs pushed so hard for a cap to begin with. And we all know some teams have internal cap restraints placed on their team payrolls. I have to wonder if Jacobs has placed mandates upon those running the team that also affect drafting and roster moves/trades. Playoff revenue each year must be a mandate, the more playoff revenue the better. The 2020 draft in the middle of covid had us at the time scratching our heads with what appeared to be reaches yet again. Or? Or was there a mandate to only draft players that were/are years away? ... because of uncertainty with covid and lack of revenue. People seem to think Jacobs is hands off, but is he really?

The thing I have learned through over 50 years of following the Bruins is that Jacobs doesn't care about championships, the team is just another business venture for him, he only cares about the bottom line and how much money is coming in verse what is going out. He owns the team as a novelty stroking his ego.

 

[finchster]

DeBrusk
Carlo
Lauzon
Zboril
Vladar

Half a defense, a decent scoring wing and a goalie all out of one draft is A+ in a vacuum

Most things in life don't exist in a vaccum. So this draft, much like this take, sucks.

 

[BruinDust]

DeBrusk
Carlo
Lauzon
Zboril
Vladar

Half a defense, a decent scoring wing and a goalie all out of one draft is A+ in a vacuum

I see at least two guys who their coach decided to healthy scratch this season (Debrusk and Zboril) meanwhile both guys are 24 and 25 years old. A 3rd pairing D in Lauzon. A rookie back-up goaltender and a No.4 D-man (Carlo).

I don't think that's anything to be proud about.

 

[Babajingo]

I want the FO gone yesterday, but nothing is really going to change until ownership changes. When/if it happens, you might get an owner like Jones or Steinbrenner but its worth the gamble, IMO.

 

[Kalus]

I see at least two guys who their coach decided to healthy scratch this season (Debrusk and Zboril) meanwhile both guys are 24 and 25 years old. A 3rd pairing D in Lauzon. A rookie back-up goaltender and a No.4 D-man (Carlo).

I don't think that's anything to be proud about.

Also, they got high picks back from trading a stud dman about to enter his prime and one of the best power forwards in the game. I understand WHY they traded those players, but it is important context to consider when evaluating the draft performance.

If they got DeBrusk, Carlo, Zboril, Vladar etc with their natural picks at slot 15 per round, you could call it a pretty good draft. But in the context of having other teams' picks 13, 14, 37 etc., very poor draft result considering the consensus picks available.

 

[BruinDust]

Also, they got high picks back from trading a stud dman about to enter his prime and one of the best power forwards in the game. I understand WHY they traded those players, but it is important context to consider when evaluating the draft performance.

If they got DeBrusk, Carlo, Zboril, Vladar etc with their natural picks at slot 15 per round, you could call it a pretty good draft. But in the context of having other teams' picks 13, 14, 37 etc., very poor draft result considering the consensus picks available.

I didn't get the Lucic deal. This whole theory about him breaking down because he's a "power forward" is and was stupid. (not directed at you but management).

I mean of the 5 guys, there is only one guy (Carlo) you can guarantee will be touching the ice every night for their team. One legitimate current full-timer player. Yet here we are 6 years and counting.

 

[MattFromFranklin]

I would love to know if they actually received better draft picks in that draft for Hamilton. James Mirtle of the Athletic said Sweeney was offered “much higher” 1sts than 15th Overall and Friedman said that things were close with Colorado, who had the 10th pick. Of course, it’s possible the Bruins were discussing a Hamilton for ROR package.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

DeBrusk
Carlo
Lauzon
Zboril
Vladar

Half a defense, a decent scoring wing and a goalie all out of one draft is A+ in a vacuum

Historic draft and the quantity of picks in the top two rounds. This is it?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

TSN brought it up tonight yet again.


​

This column by Shaughnessy unnerved Charlie who had just taken over from his father a few months earlier and Neely fired Chiarelli 2 days later. The problem is they had NO plan in place. Sweeney wasn't who Cam wanted as he left him twisting for a full month before he was given the job.

Personally, I think Chiarelli knew he was gone as he sold his Cambridge home in 2014.

I see things today that boggle my mind. The Bruins haven't even put out a media guide this year as the woman who did it for decades retired and it's not a priority for management. The Bruins haven't made a stink about NESN not sending people on the road while most teams have.

BUT they made sure ABC knew the Black Friday game was the 500th consecutive sold-out game ( currently the longest streak in the NHL )

Sweeney is not the core problem - it is Cameron and Charlie. They have lost many good people in the trenches to other teams as they lowball these people.

I don't obsess about 2015 anymore but I am very fearful about the future.

View attachment 487783
View attachment 487794​

I would be absolutely overjoyed if this were an article published today.

 

[BMC]

All drafts are a gamble and picks are hit or miss. Even teams picking #1 overall have had picks not pan out. Having 3 picks back to back to back in the middle of the first round with higher ranked players falling is not the time to reach. Take the BPA even if just to use a trade chip later. But 2015 is what it is at this point.

Yet looking back over the last 7 - 8 years there are easily 3 areas of concern...
1 - as others have stated is player development, especially with the forwards. There is no guarantee that if they did draft the BPA in '15 that they would have developed the same here as they have elsewhere or even if they would be still a part of the organization because every year we've been chasing a cup, trying to prolong the window of the established core; and as always it's about 'making the playoffs' (adding revenue to ownership). Look at this year's roster - try to be good enough to make the playoffs then add at the deadline by trading prospects and or picks. So much for player development - what forward in the system is ready to take someone's spot on the roster, never mind a top six role. Additionally, young (forwards) player's regression or stagnation is very concerning, they end up being blocked, lacking ice time, or traded because they can't make it here.

#2 which ties in with player development is - management has done almost nothing to address what happens when Bergeron, (Krejci), and Marchand finally hang up their skates or move on. Who is in the pipeline talent wise to replace them, especially Bergeron/Krejci? Management has had years to prepare, yet it is very concerning. If they truly believed you would think they would force feed Studnicka full time ice time at the NHL level so that he would gain experience and hopefully be ready to step in. Which makes me wonder about my third point ...

#3 I really wonder just how 'hands off' ownership really is in the operations of management decisions. Yeah, they spend to the cap, that is called cost certainty, which is why Jacobs pushed so hard for a cap to begin with. And we all know some teams have internal cap restraints placed on their team payrolls. I have to wonder if Jacobs has placed mandates upon those running the team that also affect drafting and roster moves/trades. Playoff revenue each year must be a mandate, the more playoff revenue the better. The 2020 draft in the middle of covid had us at the time scratching our heads with what appeared to be reaches yet again. Or? Or was there a mandate to only draft players that were/are years away? ... because of uncertainty with covid and lack of revenue. People seem to think Jacobs is hands off, but is he really?

The thing I have learned through over 50 years of following the Bruins is that Jacobs doesn't care about championships, the team is just another business venture for him, he only cares about the bottom line and how much money is coming in verse what is going out. He owns the team as a novelty stroking his ego.

With respect to your last sentence- IMO if the Bruins were a novelty to stroke his ego he'd be demanding Stanley Cup wins in addition to maxed out revenue streams. Think George Steinbrenner- yeah he wanted to make tons of cash but he also demanded WS championships too. JJ is just in it for the $$

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

They are run like small market team. Disgraceful. The Providence owner is just like Burns. They don’t know how to make money. Boston has no balls to make them more like everyone else. They just care about the concessions.

There seems to be quite a bit of evidence to the contrary.

 

[Absurdity]

We can talk about how the Bruins missed in the 2015 draft, just like every team does, or we can talk about what has this management group done the past 6 years to get the Bruins in their current position.

 

[veganbruin]

I would love to know if they actually received better draft picks in that draft for Hamilton. James Mirtle of the Athletic said Sweeney was offered “much higher” 1sts than 15th Overall and Friedman said that things were close with Colorado, who had the 10th pick. Of course, it’s possible the Bruins we’re discussing a Hamilton for ROR package.

I remember hearing (here, so take it with a grain of salt) that Chia in EDM had Draisitil on the table.

 

[TCB]

Also, they got high picks back from trading a stud dman about to enter his prime and one of the best power forwards in the game. I understand WHY they traded those players, but it is important context to consider when evaluating the draft performance.

If they got DeBrusk, Carlo, Zboril, Vladar etc with their natural picks at slot 15 per round, you could call it a pretty good draft. But in the context of having other teams' picks 13, 14, 37 etc., very poor draft result considering the consensus picks available.

Bang On !

They made the play and acquired 3 consecutive first round picks in the most impactful draft in years and then botched the draft and Neely is on record as saying he probably didn't give Donny enough time to get ready for the draft. Its nice that your president doesn't throw you under the bus, but come on Cam. Good ole Donny boy had been the assistant GM for the previous 6 years and prior to that he was the director of player development.

He blew it, no other way around it and then he wasted the cap space he acquired as well, by signing Backes and Belesky and then proceeded to damaged future drafts by having to trade away first rounds pick to dump those bad signings.

They set themselves up nicely heading into the generational 2015 draft, which should of made this team a Dynasty with all those picks in the 1st and 2nd round and players like Krug, Chara, Krejci, Tuukka, Bergeron ,Pasta, and Marchand to build around, but the wrong man got promoted.

 

[LouJersey]

Cost the Bruins a cup, but it’s over, can’t even drum up the emotion to think about it anymore

 

[OldScool]

The worst part is that Bruins reached for players in that draft. EVERYONE had Barzel and Connors next up on the board. If they just did what all the evaluators had this franchise would be in a much different spot.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Cost the Bruins a cup, but it’s over, can’t even drum up the emotion to think about it anymore

Dallas drafted Julius Honka with the 14th pick in 2014. Dylan Larkin was the 15th pick.

Probably cost them a cup.