Who Will the Bruins Draft with the No. 7 Pick? | Bruins Beat

Who Will the Bruins Draft with the No. 7 Pick? | Bruins Beat

Bruins Beat is brought to you by Prize Pick and welcome into the Bruins Beat presented by Prize Picks. Go use that promo code CLNS to get $50 back when you play just $5. I’m Evan Marinowski. That is Chris Peters. Chris, what is up? Evan, uh, well, everything is up. It’s draft season. It’s, uh, it’s the busiest time of year for me. So, I’m just, uh, you know, trying to keep my head above water at this point. and uh and get get going. But thanks for having me. It’s good to be with you. Of course. I’m glad you could fit some time in. I know you’re out in Iowa, correct? Yeah. Yeah. So, I’ve I’ve been living in Iowa for like 15 years now. So, uh yeah, people are like, “Is that a is that a hockey market?” I was like, “Well, you know, I got like three USHL teams right right nearby.” And uh AHL, ECHL, I mean, it’s it’s been a pretty pretty good hockey hotbed. Maybe not the most well-known, but uh yeah, it’s actually worked out well. My wife’s from here originally, so yeah, we’ve been here for for a while. It’s been great. Nice. And for people who don’t know, the first time you and I spoke, this was a couple years ago now, uh with our New England Hockey Journal magazine, we have a prospect watch uh page and it’s just a prospect and it’s sort of a scouting report breakdown. And it was the first one we’d ever done. We used to do something different and we switched and it was uh September of 2023 and it was Mlin Celabbrini. This kid coming in to be you from Vancouver. Who is this guy? Tore up the USHL. And I said well Chris is an expert on this. I’ll reach out to him. And I remember you really hyped him up. You were like this kid’s going to be real freaking good. And I remember thinking all right yeah let’s see like college hockey is a big step. You know that. Like we’ll see what happens. You’re right. Yeah. Right on the money with Mlin Celbrini. God, that kid could freaking play and now he’s tearing it up in the in the show. Yeah, I I almost feel like we underhyped him too much. Uh because, you know, obviously he came right in on the heels of Conor Baddard and everyone’s like, “How could it possibly be like that?” And then really, you know, I think if you look between the two players, if you were to ask a lot of people which of the those two players you would prefer to have long term, I think a lot of people would tell you Mlin Civrini. Yeah. I think and we talk about this uh Connor Ryan and I talk about this quite a bit. Now, Conor’s a BU guy, so, you know, little bias. Um, but, uh, I absolutely think so. I mean, you see the the well-roundedness of the player, definite center, longterm, all those different things. Um, but we’re here talking draft. Haven’t talked draft for the Bruins in a long time, or at least in a long bunch of years where the draft has mattered around here. Bruins picking seventh. And, you know, we’ve rifted on this show about who they should pick, different guys. And it’s mainly us, I’ll be honest, Chris, reading your work, others’ work, watching videos, things like that, and trying to deduce because I’m not watching these players all year, and you are. And so, I wanted to kind of pick your brain on different prospects and who you think they might pick and different things like that. And I want to go over your initial mock draft you had um after the lottery. To start though, I’m curious because this is something that gets asked every year. Do you draft for need or do you draft best available? And I’m curious, like at number seven, do you see the Bruins uh do you believe in the top 10 you should be drafting for need or should you always go best player available or is it somewhere in the middle? Well, I I think there’s it’s an interesting dynamic because I think that in hockey it’s, you know, best player available according to who, right? Like is it according to is it according to the public list? Is it according to central scouting? Um, the thing is is that best player available, the way that it’s it works out and the reason that we say it so much is that by and large NHL teams are going to pick from their list in order, which is to say player X is is uh is is number seven on our list. Players one through six are already gone, so we’re taking player number seven. Um, and I think in a lot of cases, that’s what NHL teams do. Um, I do think that you allow need to help you build your list. I think that you say, “Well, hey, you know, we we we could really use this in our system.” Um, so that that’s the thing is like it’s kind of in hockey it’s kind of different. It’s not really like, you know, I think in football you draft for need, you know, full stop. You know, in football you draft for we don’t have a wide receiver, so we’re going to draft a wide receiver. um a guy that we think is going to be our number one in hockey because the vast majority of players aren’t immediately available. You are the drafting for need specifically um especially with your first pick is typically not the best path forward. So the the it’s a hard way to answer you know it’s it’s a hard thing to answer but I think in in by and large teams are going to say best player available to them but they’ve also built their list based on fit. So that’s the the other thing. It’s not just about where, you know, where does this player fit in our system. And if you have, you know, too many left shot centers, you might say, “Okay, well, we could we could maybe deemphasize that a little bit in our list building.” Um, but yeah, it’s it’s it’s it’s never quite as black and white as as you would hope um in that situation would be, and I think it’s why, you know, fans will kind of get sucked into the public list. So, when they see a player go way off the board relative to those, they freak out. Um, and then sometimes the team ends up being right. It seems like a lot of times they don’t. Um, but you know that that’s just kind of the way that it goes. And part of that’s because you don’t like these guys aren’t coming in a lot of times for two or three years. So it’s like the best then it’s projecting. And I think one thing that maybe the public doesn’t do as much of is projecting and sometimes they do. Um, but a lot of it’s sort of in the here and now and you’re not getting that player then. And then like overall on this draft, it seems to me as not a draft expert that there isn’t a generational player at the top, but there are a lot of guys in the top 10, top 15 who should be guys that make an impact at the NHL level um consistently. And there seem to be a lot of centers, which for the Bruins probably bodess well. Am I right in that assessment? Yeah, that yeah, it’s a definitely a center forwardheavy draft. I think that, you know, in most cases when you look at the top 10, you’re going to see mostly centers and defenseman go unless it’s a truly exceptional wing. Um, I think the thing is part of the reason is is that you draft guys to be centers, but that doesn’t always mean that they will be centers and it’s easier to move a center to a wing than it is to move a wing to a center. Um but yeah, I mean in this year’s draft in particular really you’ve got Matthew Schaefer as the number one defenseman and then it’s a whole bunch of centers after him outside of Porter Martone who’s a wing. Um you know so that’s that’s kind of where we see a lot of of that. So it is a good year to be picking in the top 10. It’s a good year to be needing you know wanting to pick a center. Um, you know, I think that there there could be some options for Boston among the defenseman that, you know, in their range makes sense, but I mean, there’s a lot of different things that you, you know, depending on how they built their list. Um, odds are there’s going to be one of the centers that they really like at that range. So, I want to talk uh about your mock draft that came out because I remember reading it right after the lottery and I was before I even got to the Bruins, I was struck by your first overall pick. So, you have Hagens going to the Islanders at one. Um, and it’s in the minority a little bit, but it’s interesting because pre-season Hagens looked like the guy. Hagens looked like the gonna be the number one pick. Um, what do you think the Islanders actually do that or do you think they more should do that? And are you convinced that Schaefer is a a number one guy or are you not convinced that Schaefer is a number one guy? Um, I I mean I would say that like you know the general consensus is that Schaefer is number one. And I think part of making that list, which came out like literally an hour after the the the draft was there, I think you were ready to go. You were ready to go. Yeah. Every every single like the curveball of all curve balls was the Islanders getting the number one pick. And um you know the that’s the interesting thing about James Hagens is that he could go within the top three, he could go outside of the top eight. Like like you just don’t know based on teams. There’s a wide range of opinions on him. Um, the reason that I did that one is that mainly there’s a couple reasons. The Islanders still don’t have a general manager, so it’s kind of difficult to predict what that philosophy is going to be about the draft. The second thing is is that there could be immense business pressure to draft a James Hagens who grew up on Long Island, who was, you know, a a diehard Islanders fan who would do anything to be on that team. And I think a lot of Islanders fans initially were thinking, well, you know, especially with where they were going to pick, well, we’re never going to get James Hagens, but, you know, that’s all right. And now all of a sudden, you’re in a you’re in a range where you could potentially make this pick. And is he uh you know, is he that talent? Um I think it’s unlikely that that would happen. Um, but we still don’t know who the Islanders have as a general manager, how much the influence of ownership would play a role. How much of a it’s beyond, you know, when we talk about best player available versus need, I mean, the biggest conversation that teams have is fit. And fit for for Islanders need everything. Like there’s not a single position that they’re strong in uh in their prospect system and probably not even at the NHL level. Um, you know, they have Noah Dobson, they have some guys that are like long-term pieces for their blue line. You know, that’s great, but you know, Matthew Schaefer adding that guy to the mix would probably be better. But I do think that there is at least the discussion to be had about the local kid who I don’t think is very far away from the rest. And and this is another reminder that mock drafts are not ranking. So, it’s not, you know, I if Matthew Schaefer is going to be number one on my list that comes out soon, you know, but, you know, that doesn’t necessarily mean there there are a lot of decisions that go into a draft pick. So, um, my my post lottery mock draft is always the spiciest that I’ll put out and then I’ll start kind of going. That’s why I like it. Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, it gets a little conversation going and then what what what struck me was how Islanders fans really quickly started forming camps into the James Hagen camps, James Hagen’s camp, and then everybody else, whereas, you know, the only prospect most of those people knew about for months on end was James Hagens because he was the local boy done good. So, there’s a lot of it’s going to be interesting to see the decision that ultimately gets made. I also think there’s a really strong possibility that the Islanders could trade back with one of the teams that desperately wants Schaefer or Misa. Um, and then that way, you know, you get an additional asset or two out of it and could get the local kids. So, there’s a lot of different dynamics to that. I would think that like the Sharks need a a top D. I think that’s the very clear like I could see the Sharks jumping up and I know even like when the Bruins fell to seven my initial reaction was like you know my opinion was you need one of Fredel Hagens or Denoier and if you could you’re not trading up to one but if you can get into the three four range uh which you really couldn’t in the lottery anyway but if you can get into that area you probably have a good chance at them. Um so I I could pro I could see uh a team jumping up into one but not I don’t think it’s the Bruins. I don’t think the Bruins Yeah. Yeah. I I would I would be surprised if it was. And I think it’s really hard. And then I think like if you’re like the Sharks, you’re like you you almost call their bluff at that point and say, “All right, if you’re not going to take Schaefer, then we’ll roll the dice and see, you know, if he’s there when we want him.” So yeah, I mean I it’s never easy to trade in the draft either. So that’s another facet. So lots lots to figure out yet. But yeah, but yeah, but I mean I I think the way the thing is is like wherever you’re picking within that top 10, you know, the consensus is is is very wide in terms of where there there is it’s not very specific in that, you know, I don’t think that there’s a set top five or top six or seven or whatever. I think there’s, you know, still the great chance that somebody you really value is going to be there when you’re picking. I Let’s talk Bruins for a while. Um, so we’ll get to who you have them taking at seven. We’ll get to that in a second. But I’m curious like one thing Bruins fans have have kind of asked me and Bruins people have been talking about is like, you know, um, is there any way someone could fall out of potentially that top six ranking to them at seven? Feels like to me Jake O’Brien, Roger McQueen, um, Brady Martin seem like the guys around number seven who will likely be there. Um, guys like Frenell, Hagens, NYA, even Martone probably gone before them. Misa, Schaefer, no, no, no question. Um, is there any way or do you see any path in which one of those guys I just mentioned somehow falls in past the top six? I I think it’s absolutely possible. Um, you know, I think that, you know, you look at this and there’s there’s not a lot of consensus once you say, “Okay, well, Schaefer most by most accounts number one. Misa by some accounts number one, others two. Some teams don’t love him as much as as some of the other players, but he, you know, he probably doesn’t slip any further than five.” Um, and then, you know, you look at some of the others, and I think, you know, Marton has questions about skating. You’ve got uh you got and and more more compete level things. You know, O’Brien has this this flash and dash. I think there’s some kind of view maybe, you know, how much of his production was, you know, really that impressive. Um you know, and then others like Hagens, you know, Hagens had a point per game in college hockey, which normally is a great thing. You know, it’s better than like Brady Kachchuck did in his freshman year. um it’s better than uh Mattie Beneers, you know, like so there there are players where, you know, he he just didn’t rise to the level of Fantelli and Celabbrini and and Eel, who were, you know, the the Hobie Baker winners as freshman. Um which I don’t know is necessarily the fairest comparison to make. Anyway, so I think there’s a chance that that any one of those guys you mentioned, Evan, is is available. One of could it be Martone? Could it be DOE? Could it be Hagens? Could it be? Um, you know, I I I think there’s this distinct possibility like if Hagens doesn’t go early and if say the Islanders aren’t in there, I think there’s a chance he slips out of the top five and then all of a sudden you’re like maybe he gets to seven. Um, and that would be a great value play. Like I think to me he’s the, you know, third at worst fourth best player in this draft. Um, but that’s not a widely held opinion. He’s all over the map in terms of where teams see him because of, you know, his size and just the fact that he didn’t have as dominant a freshman season as most top prospects, uh, guys that you’re considering as a top three pick would have had. Well, there are people who think he could be a wing. There people who think he’s undersized, like, you know, defensive game, all these different things. And I I agree with you on the point about college like he’s someone uh it’s almost it was the worst case scenario and that he followed Will Smith and Ryan Leonard’s freshman year and Mlin Cabbrini and people kind of compare those guys and think oh he’s got to come in and I always think like when Hagens was uh gun like when Hagens was going through his college hockey recruiting uh process about like a year and a half ago the London Knights were hot on him and like really wanted him and I always think like if he just went to London and lit it up. He’s probably the consensus number one guy, I would think. Right. Well, I mean, if he if he would have outproduced Misa and but Misa would have had a three-year head start on, you know, a two-year head start on him in in experience and different things and Misa had one of the best most productive draft seasons of the of recent memory in the OHL. So, but yeah, I mean, I think that there’s a real a real possibility of him having a more dominant season at the OHL level. And but you know I think that some of the the interesting thing is is that when you talk to people it’s not just about like how Hagens played this year was just the fact that in a lot of the biggest games that BEu or BC played this season um he didn’t have much of a offensive impact in those games and that also was true at the under 18 world championship gold medal game a year ago and then at the World Juniors he kind of ebbed and flowed a little bit but had he did score in the gold medal game Um, you know, so there’s a lot of different things. It’s just that consistency. And I think that’s something what we’ve seen across the board with a lot of these players is that not many of them have had tremendously consistent seasons. I think that’s why you have Nissa so high is that he was consistently productive. You kind of knew what you were going to get from him on a game by-game basis. Uh, but you couldn’t say the same about Porter Martone. You cannot say the same about Antonell. You couldn’t say the same about James Hagens. And so, you know, those are the things that that kind of hang in the balance of when you’re making these decisions. And so I think there’s a lot of uh a lot of intrigue left in in terms of of what how this is all going to shake out. But I I do think that you know Hagens in the end will not be docked for for you know playing college hockey and it being a tougher level. Um, but I but I do think it, you know, there’s always that what if he he did go to London and he had 140 points, you know, like which there’s no guarantee that he would have, but on a team that good, you know, certainly would have been possible because that team was way better than the team that Misa was playing on um in Sagenov. So, a lot of lot of, you know, whatifs there, but I think ultimately, you know, he got a chance to play alongside Ryan Leonard and and Gabe Perau and, you know, had a chance to learn from some high highly offensive players. I I really think that James Hagens is gonna return to BC and could be a 50point college player as soon as next season, which would be a significant uptick, but I I really do believe he’s gonna be one of the best players in the country next year. I completely agree. I completely agree and that’s why I think it’d be smart. It’s the right thing to go back to BC, which it looks like that’s probably what he’s he’s end up doing. I’m really I’m wondering how many of these guys have a legitimate shot to stick in the NHL. Um that’s that’s my thing. Yeah. So, like to go and make it out of camp, I just don’t think there are many this year that that’ll be the case. Who do you There is there anyone in the top 10 you think that could step right in? No, not really. I mean, like could I think Misa could hold his own. I think Schaefer could hold his own. I just don’t think that like they’re going to be I don’t think they’re going to leave doubt you leave no doubt that they should be in the NHL. like I think there will be doubts and I think that you know those guys it probably would make sense for them to especially with Schaffer coming off of an injury you know making a decision about where ultimately are you going to play um you know does it make sense for some of these guys to do college for a year there have been rumors about Marton and Misa and others about you know will they play college hockey um the thing is is that there’s more options than there’s ever been before so I I I think that there will be a lot of discussions around those players and ultimately where they end up. But I I think based on what I’ve seen this year, there’s not one guy that I say he’s absolutely NHL ready. That makes sense. Uh we’ll talk I want to talk uh who the Bruins who you think the Bruins pick at seven, who they should pick at seven. But first, our friends over at prize picks. Cash in on the basketball or hockey playoffs with prize picks. Don’t miss your last chance to add your favorite players from the court or the ice to your prize picks lineup. Whether it’s points, rebounds, assists, goals, saves, shots on goal. Pick more or less fair for a shot to win up to 2,000 times your cash today. Turn your playoff hot takes into tickets to basketball’s championship series. Starting with the playing round, every lineup you make on prize picks will enter you in the takes to ticket sweep stakes which could get you and a plus one VIP a trip to the ship. Prize Pix is the best place to win cash while watching sports. Join millions of users and sign up today. No Boston teams in the hockey playoffs, no Boston teams in the basketball playoffs. So, if you want to make it a little spicy, make these games a little bit more fun and interesting if they aren’t already, which they are, but you want to make it a little more fun, sit on the edge of your seat, make sure to go to our friends over at Prize Pix, download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. Again, that’s code CLNS to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks run your game. So, you have the one prospect at number seven that’s like I think most Bruins fans look at and from what they read and what they hear and what they see and go, “Oh, really?” You have Roger McQueen at seven. And at first, I remember when I saw your mock draft, I said, “That’s interesting.” And most a lot of other mock drafts had Jake O’Brien. Um, but The Athletic came out with a mock draft on Tuesday. So, recording this Wednesday, May 21st, so day before yesterday or yesterday, excuse me. And uh the Athletic has Roger McQueen going seven to the Bruins. Um why do you think that makes sense? And um what makes you not nervous, I guess, about the the back injury? Oh, not I’m very nervous about the back injury. I mean, I I’m also not, you know, like I I think the thing is is that I’m not being I’m not being skeptical of what you’re saying. I just want I’m very close on Roger McQueen. Yeah. There was a big caveat in that in that pick in that capsule that I wrote, which is that if there is significant asurances about the injury coming out of the combine and more than whatever Kaden Lindstöm proved last year because he ended up missing pretty much this entire season. He just returned to the to the WHL finals and will play in the Memorial Cup. But the that’s the thing is like there’s the the caveat is is that you would need to have so many assurances and I think that there’s a chance that Roger McQueen slips out. But this is a guy that that people believe based on a small body of work had he been healthy for most of this season he would have pushed to be the number one prospect in this draft. He’s 6’5. He is a a center. He is smart. He’s a good skater for his size. He still has I still think there are times where I I I have some concerns about about his overall skating ability, but he has tremendous hockey sense, super, you know, really solid touch around the net. Um, you know, power, strength, all the things. And, you know, obviously the Bruins drafted Dean Latero last year, big big forward, but, you know, so far limited return because we haven’t seen I still think that he’ll continue to develop. He’s always been a long-term project. That’s similar to what you would have with McQueen, which doesn’t make you feel super great if you’re a fan. But if you believe that his top end and his ceiling is that of a potential number one center, a guy that is going to be give you two-way minutes, he can play matchups, who can score goals, then that’s a player. If you get that player at seven, you’re doing cartwheels in the street. Um, you know, because they’re so it’s so hard to find a number one center in general. There’s only 32 of them in the league, you know, so there’s, you know, you that’s there there’s 32 guys in the world, you know, that are that are number one centers in the NHL. And so that’s a great way to put it. I’ve never thought of it like that. Yeah. I mean, like that’s that’s like and I think sometimes when especially like what we do in the prospect space, one of the biggest things that we that we do and it’s it’s garbage day here, so if you guys hear my dog, I’m really sorry about that. It’s just going bananas right now. Okay. But but if you if you you know if you think about it, the thresholds that these players have to meet to play in the roles that people talk about them being drafted in is so incredibly high. I can tell you a player is a number one center upside which to me is a significant you know I I am saying this player I believe is really one of the top players will be one of the top players in the league. Not every number one center is a superstar but they are a guy that plays significant minutes and is a an impactful player for their teams. If I’m going to put that tag on somebody I’m gonna have to really think about it. So, the thing about Roger McQueen is it’s all a projection because we miss so much of this year and it’s all if he hits, but like you talk to scouts, you talk to people, you know, kind of around the game, they say he’s such a rare commodity. If he hits, you have a chance to to hit a home run. But you are absolutely gambling because the the only time it’s bad to be big in the NHL is if you have back problems. And that’s basically the side like players that carry that height, extra weight, all those different things. They can be prone to longer recovery timelines, you know, longer development timelines, and then if you have an injury on top of that, it gives you some pause. So, what I’ll say is, like I said, huge caveat. He makes sense for kind of the direction the Bruins are going, but he would I I think that if if there’s any doubt, you skip right past him and you go on to a Jake O’Brien to whoever that next best player is available. But I do think that the Roger McQueen factor of this draft is going to be absolutely fascinating. Wide array of opinions on them. Definitely some teams that will stay. won’t even list him because of concerns about the back thing, but everyone believes that there’s a there’s a really good player in there if he’s able to reach that upside. It’s funny because I worry with the LNO pick and not I don’t worry about it. I respect them taking the swing for the fences. Like I watched him a lot when he was at St. Andrews cuz he was playing New England prep teams. Yeah. And 100% long-term project. I’ve said all year like do not he should have been in the USL this year. don’t base his uh you know what he’s going to be off of his first year at BC when he shouldn’t have been there in the first place. But it is a long-term project and you are swinging for the fences and for a franchise that badly needs a number one center. Do you do it again? And I I completely understand what you’re saying with McQueen of like if you if the back holds up and if he can reach his potential by God like that’s a number one center. That’s a guy who’s going to be dominant. You get worried though when you have two when those are your two top two prospects at center like that’s where I do wonder with McQueen like are they willing to take another huge chances here because if that you know this if that doesn’t work out that front office likely would be gone within five years. Yeah. I mean I I don’t know would they you fit right in on this podcast. Ah, I mean, hey, we’re just we’re just handing out contract extensions and everything. So, you know, but like I think there what what you’re talking about there, Evan, is important because the the idea of like that is that is the the kind of draft pick, if you get it wrong, that does get you fired. Typically, you can’t miss on a seventh overall. Um, and if you you knowingly take that risk in the way that Columbus knowingly took that risk with Kaden Lindstöm last year at number four, um, you know, that would be interesting. And there’s a lot of debate. We we actually debated this on my podcast last week. Who would you rather have Roger McQueen at full health or Kane Lindström at full health? And I said McQueen and Cam Robinson said Lindstöm. And I think that they’re they don’t play the game similarly. I think Lindstöm is probably got the flashier offensive upside, but McQueen probably is the most well-rounded of the two players. And so, you know, you’ve got a guy that that could be there. But you you absolutely have to get it right. So, like I said, when my first one after the draft lottery is typically going to be the spiciest one that I do where I’m I’m taking a couple of of swings. And the other thing that happens after mock drafts come out is that I hear from people and they’re like, you’re that’s you know, here hear from people that would know, you know, you’re not even close on that one. And that’s always fun. That that does happen sometimes. like it doesn’t happen all the time, but you know, I was I was intrigued and I obviously the one that got the most attention was Hagens at one. Um, but you know, I think there was also some some conversation about really where is McQueen going to go. Um, and and as you start talking to teams, I think it’s less and less likely that he goes inside the top 10, but he’s a player that I think you still have to know about because of just this tanalyzing upside that remains there. I was going to say, so maybe like there’s a potential that he’s in the top, you know, picked in the top five, but probably not. I mean, I I don’t know why a team would I would say it’s unlikely, but again, it’s just like if a team has him as their number four prospect and one, two, and three are gone, then that’s who they pick, you know? So, yeah, it’s it’s it’s it’s a it’s never an exact process. And then, so some of someone else like who else do you see who could potentially be around there? I mean, like, I look at like Jake O’Brien and we’ll start with him. Like, what would the Bruins be getting in a guy like Jake O’Brien? Well, I I I think the excitement of a of a Jake O’Brien comes in in that he has pretty decent size. Um, he still needs to get thicker um and and fill out a bit more, but he’s the 6’2 center, right shot. Um, makes a lot of plays. I mean, just makes a lot of plays all over the ice. High-end skill, really good vision. Um, hockey sense is is solid, skating is solid. Um, you know, his his he’s he’s probably one of the flashier options in terms of what will be available at seven. Um, you know, he had an assist per game, averaged an assist per game this year, but he did play with um one of the the, you know, o an OHL player that had 70 goals this season. Um, he also had, you know, over 30 goals this year, so he’s got really good touch. Um, you know, he he his postseason was um he got a he had a point per game, but I mean like there was a lot of kind of, you know, I I don’t know. I think there were some scouts that wanted more from him at that stage of the season. and uh Brford ends up getting bounced and then he didn’t go to the under 18 worlds which I think could have potentially helped his cause um helping Canada win a gold medal there um to to get you know but this is a guy that I think could go within the top five as well you know like that’s that’s the range that we’re talking about is these these guys in this cluster of of of Marton Hagens uh DOY uh O’Brien you know maybe to a lesser extent McQueen you know those are the types of players that you know could go earlier earlier than we expect. Could go a little bit later. Like I just don’t think that there’s really a good read on those guys, but O’Brien to me unless James Hagens is there, you know, is is probably the most dynamic of of the group remain of of what would be remaining. Am I wrong to say he would almost be like a safe pick if that exists? Not a safe pick, but like you kind of know what you’re getting, or am I off on that? Um, I don’t know. I think I feel like I don’t feel like there are very many safe picks in this draft, period. compared to never but like there’s not you know like I think like even Schaefer has a boatload of risk judging him off of a super small sample you know um Misa breakout season this year but last year was kind of a you know an extra guy on a on a championship team where he he wasn’t able to assert himself as much. So, you know, there’s there’s risk in every single one of these guys. And and O’Brien is the same way. Like, what if he never does tack on extra weight? You know, what what happens if he’s if he doesn’t get stronger? You know, that’s usually not the case because these guys are still obviously physically developing. But, you know, I I I also think you have to, you know, take your time and and be really cautious about, you know, what you want out of a player and and make sure that you’re drafting a player that has those assets and those elements. If you’re GM of the Bruins, if you if Don Sweeney didn’t get the extension and they said, “We’re going to hire Chris Peters as a GM between O’Brien and like if Porter Marone is still there, this is one de debate that’s come up. Do you take the center or do you take the powerful wing who probably could have been picked in the top five or six but somehow wasn’t. Um would you go I know you go best available and it’s all about you know your sort of own rankings but in your own mind would you go Martone over O’Brien or if you’re the Bruins or would you stick with O’Brien? Yeah I mean I haven’t really finalized it on my on my own list. They’re both close together um those two players right now. So, you know, I I think my my lean would be towards Martone. I think, you know, you’ve got the size element. He he he lacks consistency, too. Um, and sometimes you need a little bit more compete out of him, but I think if you’re if you’re looking at those two players typically, like if you think it’s close, usually the tie goes to the center. Um, you know, you’re you’re going to say, “Okay, well, we’ll we’ll take the we’ll take the player with a little bit of positional value there.” Um, but I do think that, you know, to me, Marton is just a bit more of everything and he’s got the size, he’s got some physicality when he wants to. Um, you know, he he has touch around the puck. I just think that having a power winger um of that caliber might be a bit more overall effective of O’Brien. But I would I would also say, Evan, that it’s super close. I don’t think there’s a lot separating those two players. um you know and I don’t I I think again like that is a that is a thing when when when they get down to the list and you’ve got a C and a D or a C and a wing um on your list and you’re just trying to like you know you have them in a different order and you’re like I don’t know we didn’t expect them to necessarily be here and he’s here should we take him you know th those are the conversations that get had like right there in the war room or you know previously at the table so uh yeah so hopefully it uh you know we we won’t get as much insight into that decision proc process. Now, the teams are are not coming to the uh to the draft. With Martone, it feels like every mock draft I see a different placement of him. Some people have him in the top three, some people have him at, you know, five, some people have him at eight, seven, wherever it is. Um, do you like what you see from him? It feels like people kind of have varying opinions. I I like him when he’s at his best. And when he’s at his best, I think he’s one of the best players in this draft. The problem is is that we don’t always get that, you know, and and I’d say that there is a lot of he’s he can be a frustrating player to watch. I think there are times where he’s he’s he’s a little passive and he needs to be more in it and on it. Um, you know, I think that there are times where the compete waines and and he could probably use his body a bit better to win more pucks. Um, so that’s that’s probably the downside and I think a lot of teams are are are examining that very closely. I have a feeling Porter is going to get absolutely grilled um at the combine uh depending on when he gets back. But he’s also now at the World Championships with Team Canada having a chance to spend time around Sydney Crosby and Nathan McKinnon and all these things. It’s like how can that not be a huge benefit for a player to see that at a young age and and see how they operate. So, you know, I I just think that Martone has tremendous upside, but I he’s also one of those players where it feels like, you know, he is he going to get there and does he have the drive and and all those other things. I think he does. I mean, you know, but it’s just it’s hard to know from the outside and so I do think that teams want to make sure with him and he’s going to have a very long combine week once he gets to Buffalo. One guy that has risen a lot, especially after U8 World, was Brady Martin. And it feels like he went from someone who some looked at as like, you know, a 15th overall guy to now he’s being talked about, I think some I think it was the Athletic Academy had a mock draft where he was like sixth. Um, you know, he’s been talked about somewhere in the top 10. And I mean, the description sounds like a Bruin when you when you look at what he is and you watch his highlights. Um, is that a smart pick at seven? Um or is his offensive ceiling a little bit too limited to take him that high? Yeah, I mean I it would be it would be high for me. Um you know, I just think like say in this scenario, there’s a very there’s strong likelihood, you know, that one of um you know, Hagens or O’Brien could be there. Um, I think Brady Martin is an exceptional player in a lot of different ways and primarily in that he is pound-for-pound probably the strongest player in this draft. He is the the hardest body checker in the draft. He is nasty, but he’s just got this like incredible work ethic to him on the ice. Um, I think the players kind of gravitate towards his play and he brings energy. Um, I think there’s a lot of value for that player. I think Brady Martin is the kind of player that can help you win hockey games and I think that he can do a lot of really good things for for your team. I what I and and he had a really strong season, you know, 72 points in the OHL. It’s not like amazing, not earthshattering, but 72 points in 57 games and then 11 at the World Under 18s. And I think the fact is is that the the game while it has, you know, there’s less fighting and things like that, it’s still a very physical game. And to have players like him that really disrupt things for the other team, uh, is a net positive. So, do I think it’s reasonable for him to go seventh? I would say yes. Would I take him over some of those more triedand-true offensive performers? I would say no because I think that there, you know, if if Brady Martin doesn’t hit, he’s probably way down your lineup. He’s still probably an NHL player, but he’s not but but you don’t you don’t draft just an NHL player at seven. You try not to at least. So, you’ve got to try to go a little bit more. And I think that where the Bruins are at, they have so many needs within their system and they have a need to get more skilled um and more dynamic. And I think that while Martin helps you in some of those assets or facets, I think that there will be some real opportunity for you to add a player that is just a bit more dynamic. And you say, “Okay, well, how long, you know, how long is Pastor going to be here? How how how soon can we get a player that that that is up to his level to distribute pucks and things like that?” And there there probably aren’t a lot in this draft. And and I would say that Brady Martin is another one where I I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s one of those guys. And if there’s anything this Bruins team does not need, it’s another middle six center. God knows they have more than enough middle six centers. Um, Caleb Denier, I’m not going to ask you about every single prospect, so you don’t have to worry about that. But NYA is someone whose stock is wicked high after the playoffs in the Q. Monton wins the whole thing. He’s dominant. Um, he’s someone that I think a lot of Bruins fans targeted as like, all right, you know, if the Bruins get the fifth pick or the sixth, that seems reasonable. Um, is there a chance I know we’ve talked a little bit about guys falling, uh, but is do you see like a chance that he falls to seven? And if so, would is he a guy that you would jump all over? Yeah, I I would have a hard time seeing him fall to seven. Um, I think that he is too versatile and too, you know, there there’s too many things to like about his game that I don’t think teams will will pass, but you never really know. I mean, it just kind of depends on how the the first pick shakes out and how that dictates the rest of of the way that things go. Um, but, you know, for for me, I I think that that’s a player um where, you know, he he does so many things well. Like, I do think that he’s a great fit for the Bruins, but he, you know, he’s a great fit for the Blackhawks, a great fit for the Flyers, like all these different teams that are, you know, where cuz who who wouldn’t want a versatile guy? I think his upside is number two center. You know, I I I think that that’s probably like I don’t see a topline center. I don’t see a top power play guy here. I see a guy that is is, you know, probably yes, he probably will be a middle six, but he’d be the best one of that group, you know, and and so, you know, number two centers are such a valuable commodity in the NHL. They’re very hard to find because, you know, I think that they’re just it’s just harder for players to develop that that versatile skill set. Um DOA plays at both sides of the game. You both sides of the puck. He’s all over it offensively. He’s just the QMJHL playoffs MVP. He’s hard-nosed. He’s He’s got work ethic. Um, is there a chance he’ll be there? Yes. I I just don’t think it’s likely, especially after that playoff run. That felt like it just it, you know, put the the nail in the coffin that he was not going to end up being there at seven. Um, I know you mentioned number one center upside. Um, and you talked about it with McQueen. Um, you think O’Brien, like one of O’Brien, uh, or not one of O’Brien, Do you think O’Brien could be a potential number one center someday? I mean, I I don’t It’s hard to say. Like, I I don’t think so. You know, I mean, like like I said, the the threshold is so high. I’m not even 100% convinced Michael Misa is going to be a number one center. I think he has number one center upside, but like, you know, I’m not like there are teams that are talking about him as a wing as well. So, like, you know, there are all these different things. So, I think it’s really hard to project that. I think it’s, you know, at this stage is, does he have like the foundation of skills to potentially do that? Yes. But that usually it takes a lot longer. So, we can say number one center upside, but he’s not he hasn’t risen to that level for me. Like I like I said earlier in the show is that it’s got to be a pretty high threshold to get that number one like topline player tag. Um, and I’m having a hard time seeing that for really, you know, the vast majority of players in this in this class, even though we know because of the law of averages and everything else and how and history that there are going to be players from this draft that are going to be substantial star players. There are going to be guys that make a significant impact in the NHL. Um, but, you know, I think it’s at this stage there’s a lot of uncertainty. Is there anyone before you head out, is there anyone uh that we haven’t touched on that you could see the Bruins potentially going for at seven like an Eklland or do you think there’s any chance they go for a D like MKA or Jackson Smith? I I think there is I think there is a chance that the because of where they’re picking one of the best remaining defenseman will be available. um you know ready murka 6’6 you know skilled good mobile but not doesn’t have that same competitive motor that you would need to get the most out of a 6’6 defenseman yet he still is this kind of rare commodity at his size and his skill ability where you’d have to at least consider that. Um you brought up Victor Ecklund as well. I think that Ecklund is is a really exceptional talent. I think seven is a very fair range for him to potentially go without me really batting an eye. Um, if he were to go say before like a Hagens or or or you know some of those players that I might be a bit more surprised. Um, but but still Ecklund actually outproduced Randelle. Um, you know, he did play more games uh at J Garden this year, but you know the fact is is that two of the best players in Sweden for the draft. Excuse me. I was trying to hold that one in. Um yeah the don’t worry I get hit with allergies this time of year too. It is allergy season trying to try. Yeah. Yeah. But um but yeah but you know for uh for for Ekan to be two one of the two best players on Jen and in the house fencekin as a draft eligible is pretty impressive. So you know that’s another player where I think that maybe he’s getting overshadowed a bit because of some of the guys that we’re talking about and because he’s primarily a wing. um you know that’ll be that’ll kind of be uh discussed further. But that that is absolutely a player that I think is it makes sense. He’s high compete level, really good skater, high-end puck puck skills and and and vision. Um you know, there is every reason to believe that he should probably be firmly in the top 10 even though he may not be in the public eye. Well, Chris, this has been enlightening. I feel like my brain has been expanded. It’s, you know, I’m a different person now that we’ve uh that we’ve done this. Um, what can people look forward to from you over at Flow? Yeah. So, flowhockey.tv. You’re going to have a lot of uh a lot of stuff. We’ve got our our podcast called Up, the Prospects Podcast, which has been uh a lot of fun with Cam Robinson doing a ton more NHL draft stuff. We’re going to have a Q&A episode tomorrow, which I’m really excited to to put together. Um, and and we’re we’re so that’s a big a big part of what we’re doing, but also we’ll have NHL draft rankings, more mock drafts. I’ll have an updated mock draft as we get a little bit closer to the end of the the uh NHL postseason. I’ll be heading to the combine for complete coverage of that. And then, you know, we we have all of our streaming games, AHL, ECHL, the USHL just wrapped up, BCHL still going. So, a lot of uh a lot of hockey still being played um on Flow Hockey. So, uh that’ll keep us busy right through through the end uh and right into the draft. So, lots of lots of content and obviously lots of live games as well. Game never stops. game never stops. Summary got USA hockey select camps and everything. So, uh it it never slows down. But Chris, thank you so much for taking the time. We really appreciate it. Uh and that’s Brewers Beat. I’m Evan Marinowski. Bruise Beat listeners. Have a great rest of your week. [Music] [Music]

On this episode of Bruins Beat , Chris Peters of FloHockey enlightens Evan Marinofsky and the audience about each prospect the Bruins might take. Is there a chance a top guy falls to No. 7? Also, what about Roger McQueen? All that, and much more!

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