Boston Bruins: Recapping the 2004 NHL Draft

Continuing Causeway Crowd’s journey back through time, we reach the 2004 NHL Draft. This draft would yield one particular gem for the Boston Bruins.

Second Round- 63rd Overall, David Krejci

The San Jose Sharks’ second-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Boston’s third and ninth-round picks and Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick all in 2004 (94th, 129th and 288th overall) to San Jose in exchange for this pick.

Therefore with their acquired pick they snapped up Czech centre David Krejci. With hindsight fully equipped it is fair to say that he was an absolute steal at 63rd overall. The Šternberk native has been a stalwart in the Bruins lineup for the best part of ten years. Amassing 545 points in 729 regular season games, all for the Bruins.

Where Krejci has overwhelmingly shown his value and skillset is in the playoffs. Krejci has put up 77 points in 96 playoff games.

Most notable about Krejci’s game his is Hockey IQ, two-way game, passing and playmaking. While paying your second line centre $7.25m a season is a lot he is absolutely worth that figure. Combining with Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins have such depth at centre and both play a 200 foot game.

With three years remaining on his contract following the conclusion of the current campaign, it’s not to bold a statement to say that he should witness another Bruins cup run (or two).

Second Round- 64th Overall, Martins Karsums

Acquiring another draft pick in the buildup to the draft, the Bruins acquired the Detroit Red Wings second-round pick in a rather convoluted way. This was the result of a trade on June 20,2003 that sent Jozef Stumpel and Boston’s seventh-round pick in 2003 to LA in exchange for Philadelphia’s fourth-round pick in 2003 and this pick.

Are you still with me?

Fantastic. Following the recent trend of later Bruins picks in 2003, the Bruins started earlier in 2004. Picking Martins Karsums, a right-handed winger with a good work-ethic and hard-nosed play.

Karsums would be remembered more so for his play down in Providence where he put up decent numbers in the AHL. It would lead to Martins Karsums playing in the 2008-09 AHL All-Star Game. Finishing his career down in the AHL with 212 games and 155 points.

Playing just six games with the Bruins, Karsums was traded along with Matt Lashoff in exchange for Mark Recci.

Fifth Round- 134th Overall, Kris Versteeg

The Bruins would acquire this pick in exchange for Darren McLachlan back in 2003. Kris Versteeg, Lethbridge, Alberta native was selected 134th overall in 2004.

Similar to Karsums in that Versteeg would only feature for the Providence Bruins, playing 56 games and scoring 55 points.

Versteeg’s career would takeoff not with the Bruins but Original Six rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks. Boston would trade Versteeg for a conditional draft pick and Brandon Bochenski.

Kris Versteeg went on to win two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and 2015. To date he has scored 358 points in 641 regular season games. In addition to 48 points in 93 playoff games.

Furthermore, Versteeg spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, and currently plays for the Calgary Flames.

Fifth Round- 160th Overall, Ben Walter

Ben Walter was born in Beaconsfield, Quebec but played his Junior Hockey in British Columbia. From there he attended UMass Lowell, where he would become a Hobey Baker finalist.

Walter would start his life as a Boston Bruin in Providence. In his first season putting up 41 points in 62 games. His impressive start with Providence would earn him a call up to The Show. Unfortunately, with zero goals in six games, he was sent down again.

Walter wouldn’t play for the Bruins again and was traded to the New York Islanders alongside a conditional second-round pick for Petteri Nokelainen.

Ben Walter would have an illustrious career in the AHL to an extent. Scoring 66 points in 68 games in his first season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Later in his career, Walter would help the Lowell Devils to their first and only post-season berth. Furthermore once at Colorado, Walter aided their Lake Erie Monsters affiliate to their first post-season voyage. In total, Ben Walter amassed 460 points in 566 AHL games.