Boston Bruins: Ranking Don Sweeney’s First Round Draft Picks

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.

6. Zach Senyshyn

Selected 15th and the third and final of three straight picks in the 2015 first-round, things have not worked out as well as the Bruins and Zach Senyshyn have hoped. He has played in just six NHL games with a goal and two assists.

In the American Hockey League, he has 33 goals and 35 assists with the Providence Bruins. When Sweeney drafted the 6-foot-1, 192-pound Senyshyn, he was hoping by now the Bruins would have got the player from his time with the Soo Greyhounds in Ontario Hockey League.

In three seasons with the Greyhounds, he had 113 goals and 62 assists. In October, the Bruins re-signed Senyshyn to a one-year, $700,000 deal. You would have to think that this could be his last chance to impress Sweeney and the front office as the 23-year old right wing needs to make an impact this season in Boston to stay beyond 2020-21.

5. Trent Frederic

Draft 29th overall in 2016, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Trent Frederic is a physical forward that is on the final year of his three-year entry-level contract. In two years at the University of Wisconsin, he averaged 16 goals and 17 assists for the Badgers before signing with Boston following his sophomore year.

Frederic has played in 17 games with the Bruins the last two years, but he is being blocked by the depth the Black and Gold have up the middle. His fastest path to the NHL might be at left wing with the veterans the Bruins have in Boston at center and Jack Studnicka waiting in the wings to grab the first opening that becomes available.

Frederic was seen as a late second to early third-round selection in most mock drafts, which makes it a reach for Sweeney to draft him at end of the opening round. It will be interesting to see what happens contract wise following this season with Frederic.

4. Jakub Zboril

One of the top-rated prospects of the 2015 draft, Jakub Zubroil was Sweeney’s first selection at No. 13. A physical defensemen at 6-foot-0 and 203 pounds, he’s not afraid to stand up for a teammate or drop the gloves.

A left-handed shot, he likes to jump into the offensive rush. He has 46 assists in three seasons with the P-Bruins. Currently, he is on loan from the Bruins to Czech Extraliga Club HC Kometa Brno until the NHL is ready to begin training camp.

He re-signed with the Bruins for two years at $1.45 million in October. If the Bruins don’t make a major move to add a defenseman from outside the organization prior to beginning the season, he has a chance to make decisions difficult for coach Bruce Cassidy when it comes time to cuts in camp.

3. Urho Vaakanainen

The second defensemen on this list, he is regarded as the Bruins’ top defensive prospect and like Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen will be competing in training camp for a bottom-six spot on defense.

Selected 18th in the 2017 draft, Vaakanainen played in five games with Boston last season when the Bruins defense was hit with injuries in the middle of the year. In those five games, he was a steady presence on defense and showed he belonged.

For the second straight season, he had 14 points in 56 AHL games in Providence, but he is not known to be an offensive producer. A 21-year old Finnish left-handed shot, his development continues and sooner or later he will call Boston home full-time. Sweeney would be wise to hold on to him and not trade him.