Boston Bruins: Don Sweeney's Top 3 Draft Picks as GM

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Don Sweeney has had some misses in his six drafts, but the Boston Bruins general manager nailed it with these three picks.

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is not afraid to take chances. In the 2016 Entry Draft, he chose forward Trent Frederic with the 29th pick in the first round. Frederic was expected to go lower than when he was drafted, but there was something there that was good enough for Sweeney to take a chance in drafting him.

Make no mistake, Sweeney like every GM has hit on some of his draft picks, made some picks that have not panned out and he has even missed on some. There have been picks that he has made that have been used in trades to address needs for the Bruins at the trade deadlines prior to the playoffs. It’s the nature of the job. It happens.

Sweeney has had some picks already make a significant impact in Boston and some of his picks are close to being full-time NHL players. With that said, let’s take a look at the three best draft picks made by Sweeney in tenure as GM of the Bruins.

Two of the three picks have made a major impact with the Bruins already, while one has played a few games in the NHL, but is knocking on the door of earning a full-time slot in the Bruins forward groupings.

BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 29: Jack Studnicka #68 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers at the TD Garden on November 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Top prospect Jack Studnicka is NHL ready.

In the second round of the 2016 Entry Draft, the Bruins selected Jack Studnicka, a forward with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League. In four seasons with the Generals and one with the Niagara IceDogs, he scored 91 OHL goals.

After two separate stints with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League in 2017-18 and 2018-19, he played 60 games last season and scored 23 goals with 26 assists for a team-high 49 points. He had three power-play goals, but set an AHL record for shorthanded goals for a first-year player with seven. He was an AHL all-star and was named to the AHL all-rookie team. Not a bad start to his professional career.

Studnicka joined Boston in the Toronto playoff bubble and played in five games, but failed to register a point. Regardless, the 21-year old showed that he is ready to become a full-time NHL player.

A natural center, the Bruins are set up the middle with Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Charlie Coyle for next season. Studnicka played right-wing in the playoffs and will have to play there until a spot at center opens.

Playing center on the Bruins fourth line in Boston would do him no good next season. Look for him to fight for a roster spot in training camp, most likely at right-wing. Studnicka will see some time with the Black and Gold, but also expect him on the Providence/Boston shuttle to get time center in the AHL.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 12: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the third period of the game against the Montreal Canadiens at TD Garden on February 12, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Jake DeBrusk is the only first-round pick in 2015 to make an impact with the Bruins so far.

In his first draft as Bruins general manager in 2015, Sweeney had three consecutive selections in the first round. His middle pick at No. 14 was forward Jake DeBrusk, who has had the most impact of the three picks in Boston.

A restricted free agent that is still unsigned, DeBrusk has 62 goals and 58 assists in 203 regular-season games for the Bruins. He has been David Krejci’s left-wing on the Bruins second line and despite going through different right wings this past season, he still scored 19 goals in 65 games during the shortened regular season. He was on pace to score 20 goals, which included five game-winning goals, for a second straight season after scoring a career-high 27 in 2018-19.

In 49 playoff games in the last three seasons, he has 14 goals and nine assists. His game has improved each season in the league. This past season, coach Bruce Cassidy rewarded him for his play by moving up to the Bruins second-ranked power-play unit during the regular season. After scoring a career-high eight goals on the man advantage in 2018-19, he had seven this past season.

The Bruins would be wise to bring DeBrusk back for next season on a deal that would benefit everybody. He has shown that he is capable of being a 20-goal scorer and he has formed a nice chemistry with Krejci, despite the duo working almost a different right-wing on a nightly basis.

Sweeney found a good young defenseman in Charlie McAvoy.

Entering the 2016 Entry Draft, Sweeney was looking to add a defenseman in the first round that could be a future star with the Bruins.

Mission accomplished.

With the 14th pick, Sweeney selected Charlie McAvoy and the returns have been very good. In what looks like the heir apparent to captain Zdeno Chara, McAvoy has worked his way to the Bruins top defensive pairing.

He just completed his third full season in the NHL. He has 19 goals in 184 regular-season games, but his 73 assists, which included a career-high 27 in a shortened 2019-20 season, having Bruins fans thinking the Boston University product could be a future quarterback on the loaded power play.

At 6-foot-0 and 208 pounds, McAvoy has become a physical player that plays well over 20 minutes a night and has very good puck-moving ability for a defenseman. He was recently on the NHL Network list of top 25 for ranking the league’s top defensemen. No question he belongs in that conversation.

With the Bruins going through a changing of the guard on defense with Torey Krug leaving in free agency for the St. Louis Blues and Chara still unsure if he wants to return to the Bruins for a 15th season, one thing is for sure, McAvoy is arguably the Bruins best D-man.

Next. Bruins: 3 Keys to success for DeBrusk in 2020-21. dark

Sweeney has had some draft picks in recent years that will end up on the list in the not too distant future. Studnicka is on the verge of becoming an everyday player with Boston, while DeBrusk and McAvoy have had a hand in the Bruins’ success in the last few years. These three picks have been the most impactful picks under Sweeney to date.

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