2015-16 Boston Bruins Top 10 Prospects
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Rookie GM Don Sweeney has inherited a team that fell well short of Championship aspirations and a salary cap situation that demanded roster moves.

At the draft Sweeney made some controversial trades, in particular the trade of Dougie Hamilton, but out of the trades he made the Bruins ended up with three consecutive first round picks in a highly touted draft class that will help restock the prospect pool.

1. Malcolm Subban: Goaltender -6’2” / 200 lbs
Drafted: 2012, first round 24th overall in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Bruins

Subban has completed two seasons of pro in Providence, sharing time last season with Jeremy Smith, who out performed Subban slightly. Subban made his NHL debut in St. Louis and was woefully pulled after three goals on six shots. With the departure of Svedberg to the KHL, and Sweeny flipping goalie Martin Jones, the backup position likely will fall to Smith unless something else changes. Subban would benefit from another season in the AHL, but the Bruins have other impressive goalie prospects coming down the pipe including McIntyre (more on him below) and 2015 third round pick (75 overall) Daniel Vlader. There has been some speculation that Subban may be traded to diversify their positional assets.

2. Joe Morrow: Defense – 6’1” / 208 lbs
Drafted: 23rd overall of the first round of the 2011 draft by the Penguins.
Acquired: Boston acquires Morrow, Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser from the Stars for Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button.


Made his NHL debut playing in 15 games seeing 16:41 of ice time on average and scored his first NHL goal. In 227 career junior games, Morrow scored 151 points and has 60 points in 155 career AHL games, proving his offensive ability is significant. Morrow has good size, skating ability and offensive instincts making him a good all-around player. With the departure of Hamilton, Morrow takes a big step up the depth chart and is poised to earn a regular roster spot out of training camp.

3. Alexander Khokhlachev: Center – 5’11” / 184 lbs
Drafted: 56th overall in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Bruins.

In his second AHL season Khokhlachev earned All-Star status as the Bruins top scorer. His offensive skills are not in question, but like many young small offensive forwards, his defensive game needs to improve before Coach Julien will allow him onto the Bruins roster. The top two centre positions are filled long term by Bergeron and Krejci with Ryan Spooner, Chris Kelly and Joonas Kamppainen possibly competing for the last two positions. Unless he can steal a top six position out of camp, Khokhlachev will likely return for another season in the AHL.

4. Jake Debrusk: Left Wing – 6’0” 174 lbs
Drafted: 14th overall in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Bruins.

Selected slightly higher than projected, the Bruins obviously were enamored with DeBrusk who projects as a solid two-way winger. While his ceiling may not be as high as some of the players the Bruins passed on, he is a more reliable player to play in the NHL. While his offence was significant last season in the WHL, scoring 81 points in 72 games, his calling card is his hustle and work ethic.

5. Jakub Zboril: Defense – 6’2” 185 lbs
Drafted: 13th overall in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Bruins.


Zboril is a two-way defenceman with a physical edge that requires the other team to keep their head up. Zboril was a cut from the Czech world junior roster that had everything to do with politics and nothing to do with skill. In 44 games in the Q, he scored 33 points and had 73 penalty minutes.

6. Danton Heinen: Center – 6’0” / 161 lbs
Drafted: 116th overall in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Bruins.


Heinen finished third in rookie scoring behind Jack Eichel and Dylan Larkin and led Denver in points and assists overall.  He has decent size, but is several years away in all likelihood as he continues his college career.

7. Colin Miller: Defense – 6’1” / 201 lbs
Drafted: 151st overall in the fifth round of the 2012 draft by the Kings.
Acquired: The Bruins acquired Miller, Martin Jones and the 13th overall pick in the 2015 draft for Milan Lucic.


A key part of the trade that sent fan favorite Milan Lucic to Los Angeles. Miller had a breakout season in the AHL, scoring 52 points in 70 games and another ten points in 19 post season games in a Championship season with the Monarchs.  His shot is one of the hardest in the AHL and he is a good skater. He will contend for playing time out of training camp.

8. Zane McIntyre: Goaltender – 6’2” / 204 lbs
Drafted: 165th overall in the sixth round of the 2010 draft by the Bruins.


McIntyre was a Hobey Baker Award runner up who has put up solid stats in three seasons consistently in college hockey. A under the radar prospect who’s upside is perhaps in the same stratosphere as Subban.

9. Zach Senyshyn: Right Wing – 6’2” / 194 lbs
Drafted: 15th overall in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Bruins.

Senyshyn was one of the best kept secrets and fastest rising prospects in his draft year. Perhaps because he was well insulated on a deep Greyhounds roster, or perhaps because scouts were being tight lipped about the smooth skating scoring winger. Whatever the reason, Boston took no chances on him falling to the second round where he was projected and where they owned several picks. That’s commitment.

10. Ryan Donato: Center – 6’1” / 184 lbs
Drafted: 56th overall in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Bruins.

Son of former NHLer and Bruin Ted Donato, Ryan remained in prep school last season to maintain College eligibility and has committed to play for Harvard where his Father Coaches. He could be a long wait to the NHL.

Recent Roster Graduates: Ryan Spooner, David Pastrnak, Seth Griffith, Zach Trotman

Players under 25 years old and with less than 25 career NHL games played qualify as a prospect for purpose of this list.

Written by Peter Harling, who can be found on twitter @pharling

Previously written Top 10 Prospects lists can be found here.

Malcolm Subban

Joe Morrow

Alexander Khokhlachev

Jake Debrusk

Jakub Zboril

Danton Heinen

Colin Miller

Zane McIntyre

Zach Senyshyn

Ryan Donato