Ranking Don Sweeney’s seven first-round picks as general manager since 2015.
In his tenure as Boston Bruins general manager, Don Sweeney has overseen six National Hockey League Entry Drafts. In that time, he has had seven first-round selections, including three consecutive picks in his very first draft in 2015.
Some of those seven picks have already made a major impact in Boston, while some are on the doorstep of finding themselves on Causeway Street. There were two drafts in 2018 and 2020 where the Bruins did not have a first-round pick due to trades that were made at the trade deadline to bring in players to help fuel what Sweeney hoped were deep playoff runs.
Two years ago, Sweeney traded Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, and their 2018 first-round pick, and their 2019 seventh-round pick to the New York Rangers for Rick Nash. This past February, Sweeney sent David Backes, prospect Axel Andersson, and Boston’s first-round pick in October’s draft for Ondrej Kase.
With that said, let’s rank Sweeney’s seven first-round picks.
7. John Beecher
Selected 30th overall in 2019, John Beecher is in his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. In eight games for the 5-3 Wolverines, he has a goal and an assist centering the first-line.
As a freshman last season, he was tied for second on the team with nine goals in 31 games and he finished with seven assists. Beecher is in Plymouth, Mich. through Dec. 13 with Team USA’s World Junior Championship team looking to earn a second consecutive spot on Team USA for the upcoming WJC tournament beginning Dec. 25.