Boston Bruins: Potential 2018 First-Round Draft Selections

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24th Overall- Mattias Samuelsson

The Bruins potential first selection of the 2018 NHL Entry Level Draft could be the Voorhees, New Jersey native.

At just 17 years of age, this left-handed defenseman stands at 6’4″ and 216lbs. A frightening prospect in terms of size. His career progression to date has been through the US National Team Development Program.

He has certainly inherited some of his father’s size, Kjell Samuelsson (6’6″, 235lbs). The difference here is that many scouts are convinced Mattias has a serious offensive upside.

In terms of this season, Samuelsson has 15 points in 31 games, 6 goals and 9 assists. It’s interesting to note here that Samuelsson withdrew his commitment to sign for the Michigan hockey team and has opted to team up with his brother at Western Michigan.

I personally think that Samuelsson won’t fall this far in the draft, teams need blue-chip defenseman, and he is in the top-six available in this draft class. If he is still on the board by the time the Bruins are on the clock, don’t be surprised to see the B’s announcing his name.

25th Overall- Dominik Bokk

Next up we have German prospect, Dominik Bokk. The 6’1″ right-handed winger has been playing for the Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL. At 17 years of age playing in the Swedish Elite League, is certainly something.

Described as a skilled puck mover, smooth hands, good offensive instincts and a good shot. NHL.com writers have Bokk as the B’s first selection.

Whilst Bokk’s numbers don’t infuse any excitement within currently (15 games, 2 points) you have to look at the future. There’s a reason he is playing in the SHL at his young age, and he’s not getting huge minutes. If drafted it would be prevalent to send him back to Sweden to continue that development against men in a top league.

26th Overall- Jack McBain

Coming in at 26th overall on Bob Mckenzie’s mid-season rankings, is Toronto native Jack McBain. The last name will be familiar to seasoned hockey fans. Jack’s father Andrew was selected 8th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

Jack McBain possesses all the attributes of being a successful pivot for the Boston Bruins. Standing at 6’3″, 196lbs, McBain could be the heir to Bergeron and Krejci. The Hockey News were raving about him a full year ago.

Currently plying his trade in OJHL with the Toronto Junior Candiens, McBain has 49 points in 41 games. That’s the only interesting point is that he didn’t push to play in either the CHL or USHL this year.

Whilst Boston Possess ample depth at centre, it is a relatively ageing core with a cup window on the horizon. McBain will need three years to crack the lineup, by that time Bergeron and Krejci may well be on the decline with the B’s.

27th Overall- Jett Woo

Rounding out the first four potential selections by the Boston Bruins in the 2018 NHL Entry Level Draft. Another defensive prospect, who is beginning to show an incredible offensive upside. Jett Woo is a Winnipeg, Manitoba native who stands at 6’0″, 205lbs.

Currently embarking on second full season in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Woo finished with 22 points in 65 games. This season however, Woo has 23 points in 30 games, a big increase in just a year of development.

Offensive blue-chip defenseman can transform a teams offensive output. Just look at Charlie McAvoy‘s impact on the Bruins.

28th Overall- Benoit-Olivier Giroulx

In his 2018 NHL Draft player rankings, Bob McKenzie ranks Benoit-Olivier Giroulx the 28^th best player. Giroulx is a French-Canadian center who currently plays for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Benoit-Olivier’s father, Benoit Giroulx, also played in the CHL as well as some of the European hockey leagues and now coaches the Syracuse Crunch, AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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This season, Giroulx has 35 points through 48 games played, with 19 of those being goals. Giroulx is 6’1’’ and weighs 190 lbs., which puts him at about the same size as Boston Bruins’ center Patrice Bergeron. The parallels with Bergeron don’t stop there. In 2017, ISS Hockey called Giroulx a “highly skilled, intelligent and determined 2-way forward”.

If selected by Boston, Giroulx would find himself in a bit of a log jam at the center position in the Bruins organization. Obviously, he would be behind Bergeron and David Krejci, but also guys like Danton Heinen and Ryan Spooner. Of the 13 forwards on the Boston Bruins’ roster, 9 of them are listed as natural centers, even if they aren’t currently playing there.

Benoit-Olivier Giroulx is a talented hockey player who will most likely be selected in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. However, I don’t see the Bruins selecting him because of the depth the organization has at the center position.

29th Overall- Akil Thomas

Akil Thomas comes in at number 29 on Bob McKenzie’s 2018 NHL Draft player rankings. Thomas was born in the United States but chooses to play for the Canadian national team. His father and uncle both had lengthy minor league hockey careers.

Thomas plays right wing and is an assistant captain for the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. With 55 points, Thomas is currently 14^th in scoring in the OHL and 6^th in assists with 42. At 5’11’’, 170 lbs, Thomas is on the smaller side of forwards, but his production in juniors can’t be overlooked.

Akil Thomas could fit in well for the Boston Bruins. The Bruins organization is lacking depth at the right wing position with only two natural right wings on the current B’s roster, Pastrnak and Backes. Thomas is someone I can see the Bruins taking at the draft. Every team needs a wing that can generate scoring chances like Akil Thomas can.

30th Overall- Martin Kaut

At 30th, Martin Kaut is the next player in Bob McKenzie’s NHL Draft player rankings. Kaut is from the Czech Republic and plays in the Czech Extraliga for HC Dynamo Pardubice. Like Akil Thomas, Kaut plays right wing.

Kaut represented the Czech Republic in the World Junior Championships this year. In seven games, Kaut scored two goals and tallied five assists. That point total was good enough to be tied for 12^th at the WJC. Kaut is 6’1’’, 174 lbs., which puts him around the size of B’s rookie Danton Heinen.

Martin Kaut would be good for the Bruins for the same reason that Akil Thomas is, right wing depth. I really only see the Bruins taking Kaut if they’re heart was really set on taking a right wing and Akil Thomas has already been selected. Thomas seems to be more proven in a tougher league than Kaut. Even then, I’d be tempted to pass on Kaut for the next guy in Bob McKenzie’s rankings, Alexander Alexeyev.

31st Overall- Alexander Alexeyev

At number 31, Alexander Alexeyev rounds out the first round in Bob McKenzie’s NHL Draft player rankings. Alexeyev is a Russian defenseman who plays for the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL. In 2016, Alexeyev was drafted 3^rd overall in the KHL entry draft.

Alexeyev is off to a very productive season for Red Deer. Through 37 games, Alexeyev has 31 points, with 25 of those coming off assists. Alexeyev has some size to him at 6’3’’, 190 lbs., which is comparable to the size of Boston Bruins’ defenseman Paul Postma, who, coincidently, was born in Red Deer.

Although the Bruins seem to be in good shape in defensive depth with eight defenseman on the active roster, Alexeyev wouldn’t be a bad draft selection. Of the Boston defenseman 26 or younger, only one of them, Brandon Carlo, is taller than six feet. Alexeyev could add more size to a young defense core, which is important because Zdeno Chara isn’t going to play forever. Because of that size, I could see Boston using a late first round selection on Alexander Alexeyev.

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Bob McKenzie of TSN released his mid-season rankings for the 2018 NHL Entry-Level Draft. Given the Boston Bruins triumphant season, it’s fair to envisage a late-round black and gold selection. Sean Torney and I take you through eight potential selections.