What could this Boston Bruins team look like?
One has to wonder how dominant this Boston Bruins team could look like if management had made the right selections. There would be more than a healthy mix of dominant veterans and young guys – consistent dominance for the next decade-plus guaranteed.
Of course, this Boston Bruins roster would be much different if these studs had been picked with different trade and free agent strategies along with the substantial contracts these young guys have signed. Let’s look at a fantasy roster though, imagining Don Sweeney had taken the top guys.
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Connor – Barzal – Krejci
Ritchie – Coyle – Smith
Frederic – Studnicka – Bjork
Chabot – McAvoy
Vaakanainen – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Lauzon
Rask
Halak
What could’ve been? Obviously, this is the most fantasy of fantasy rosters, but the Boston Bruins are known to get their players to buy in with more team-friendly deals.
The top six forwards are obviously lethal and would be a constant right hook and uppercut for defending teams. The defensive group is also so much stronger with the Chabot addition on the left side. Easily would be the top pairing in the NHL with McAvoy.
The Boston Bruins drafting has improved.
Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins front office have seemed to improve their drafting since the 2015 debacle.
In 2016, they grabbed both Charlie McAvoy and Trent Frederic in the first round. Both guys look to be future stalwarts of this Bruins team.
In 2017, they grabbed Urho Vaakanainen and Jack Studnicka in the first two rounds. Also, two guys who are starting to make their mark on the roster.
The future looks bright for the Boston Bruins with a growing young core who look like they’ll be ready to roll whenever the veteran guys decide to hang them up, but the 2015 draft will always be a tough one to swallow for Bruins fans.