The Boston Bruins are looking to find some potentially NHL-ready players at the 2015 Entry Draft. The Bruins know that they’ll need to find the right players that could fit in the team on day one, and there are a few of them in this year’s draft class.
While the Bruins are tweaking their forward lines, they know they have to address the B’s weaknesses among their defensemen. Zdeno Chara only has a couple of years left in the tank. Dennis Seidenberg‘s injury took him out for longer than anticipated, and when he returned he wasn’t one hundred percent. The Bruins still haven’t signed Adam McQuaid or Dougie Hamilton to contracts yet. Finally, Matt Bartkowski‘s future in the Bruins is questionable after his dismal performance last season.
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So, who among the 2015 draft class might have what it takes to come in and give the Bruins a boost on the blue line?
Jeremy Roy looks like a likely contender for the Bruins first round draft pick. He’s what the Bruins are looking for in a defensemen. He’s 6’0″, 183 lbs and currently plays for the Sherbrooke Phoenix in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. (QMJHL) He brings a mixed skill set to the table, and he’s got a great head for playing all three zones.
He’s an intelligent player who plays two-way hockey. If Claude Julien‘s sticking around (and all signs point to ‘yes’ right now), he’ll have one foot in the door with the Julien system. The word that most people use about Roy is ‘aggressive’. He’s a solid puck carrier who wants the puck and wants to act as an additional forward at the right times. Take Torey Krug and add half a foot of height, and a certain surliness to his disposition.
Curtis Joe of EliteProspects: “Jeremy Roy is a gifted two-way defenceman that establishes his presence on the ice through playing authoritative hockey, with and without the puck. His absolute and total awareness of other players’ positions on the ice is a testament to his incredible knowledge of the game. Roy possesses the intangibles of maturity and character that can’t be taught, as well as the individual skill that turns heads every time he is on the ice. All-in-all, a highly intelligent defenceman that plays high-percentage hockey and is a catalyst for positive plays in all three zones.”
He’s got the speed and skill set that Don Sweeney is looking for. He’s got the fire and feistiness that Cam Neely is looking for. The Bruins could use another player with the aggression of Adam McQuaid, the skill set of Torey Krug, and the long term potential of Dougie Hamilton. He’d be a great addition to the team if the Bruins use their first round pick on him.