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
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.
4. Jake Debrusk: Left Wing – 6’0” 174 lbs
Drafted: 14th overall in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Bruins.
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.
10. Ryan Donato: Center – 6’1” / 184 lbs
Drafted: 56th overall in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Bruins.
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