Bruins’ Don Sweeney drafting resume takes another hit with absurd waivers fact

All the jokes have been made about Don Sweeney's drafting resume, and Boston Bruins fans really don't need to be reminded or be given more ammunition for the polarizing general manager. However, when someone presents something so absurd that it creates major discussion on social media, you have no choice but to acknowledge it. This is exactly what happened on Sunday when @GNPBruins shared a brutal fact about this season's waiver wire via X, formerly Twitter.

The Fabian Lysell failure has been covered ad nauseam, and to be fair, that might be more of a development issue than a drafting one. Lysell looked like a savvy pick when he came to North America after his draft year and torched the WHL, but was never able to make the jump from an AHL player to the NHL. Obviously, the Colorado Avalanche feel the same way.

John Beecher was a player who managed to become a full-time NHLer, but the writing was on the wall last season when he started to lose his place in the lineup. Eventually, the Bruins had no choice but to take the chance of putting him on waivers, and the Calgary Flames claimed him. Some were upset that the Bruins had given up on him, but the Florida Panthers are now the second team to let Beecher go.

Urho Vaakanainen was part of the return for Hampus Lindholm, which turned out to be a good trade for the Bruins, but the former first-round pick didn't have much value for Boston in that deal. They had to add a first-round pick and two second-rounders to get that deal done. After the Anaheim Ducks traded Vaakanainen to the New York Rangers in the Jacob Trouba deal, the Rangers have now already given up on him and passed him through waivers.

Making the case for Don Sweeney

The number of former Bruins first-round picks who cannot crack an opening-night roster is a bit discouraging, but there are reasons to cut Sweeney some slack in this instance. The Bruins were a contender for nearly the last two decades, and when that happens, you don't have too many first-round picks to use, and you certainly don't draft high in the order.

If Sweeney had top-10 picks who failed to make NHL rosters, then that would be a bit of a different story, but there are plenty of late first-round selections who struggle to get secure footing in the league. It is a bit disappointing that Sweeney's only draft win from that era is Charlie McAvoy, but it is important to remember that the chance of hitting on a pick in that range is much lower.

Boston does have a lack of depth through the lineup that could be aided by a couple more draft hits, but it is a testament to Sweeney's other strengths that the team continues to contend for the playoffs with not a whole lot of homegrown talent in the organization.

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