Here’s a small sampling of Bruins’ No. 9 pick in mock drafts
Beaulieu
The Bruins run to the Stanley Cup championship didn’t allow for much preparation for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft here at The Bruins Blog.
By now you know the Bruins will be picking at No. 9 in tonight’s first round. According to the official NHL draft order, the Bruins then have one pick in each of tomorrow’s rounds except for the seventh (the last round).
Here’s a quick glance at who some of the recent mock drafts have the Bruins picking tonight:
•Red Line Report
Nathan Beaulieu, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
The Tomas Kaberle experiment hasn’t worked out as hoped, so he won’t be back. They’re praying that Ryan Murphy falls to them, but if not, they’ll settle for another high-risk, high-reward puck-moving defender. Time to reload with some young blood on the blue line. (MK note: I don’t necessarily agree about the Kaberle comment, but it would make sense for Boston to take a blueliner if there’s a solid one available. It’s not like the Bruins are looking for someone to play in the NHL next year.)
•TSN.ca
Jonas Brodin
Boston probably wanted [Ryan] Murphy, but they’re not getting him here. Brodin would be a very useful player for Boston’s blue line. – Pierre McGuire
•NHL.com/Mike Morreale
Beaulieu
Fills need along aging blue line; transitional dynamo with speed, poise and great shot; 45 pts in 65 gms.
•NHL.com/Steven Hoffner
Sven Baertschi, LW, Portland (WHL)
Skilled forward with great hands, lots of fun to watch.
•NHL.com/Deven Persaud
Ryan Murphy, D, Kitchener (OHL)
Murphy’s offensive game drawing comparisons to a young Bobby Orr — makes him the perfect Bruins pick.
•The Hockey News
Murphy
B’s playing with house money, so why not tab undersized D-man with mad power play skills?
•CBC.ca
There are nine upper-level prospects in this draft, so the Bruins will sit back and choose the one left to them. Or, they could move down and accumulate picks along the way. Either way, they’ll take the best player available.
•Sportsnet.ca
Murphy
There may not be a player and team that fit so nicely together than the Stanley Cup champs and the smooth-skating, offensive defenceman from Kitchener. The Bruins didn’t get the puck-moving defenceman they thought they had in Tomas Kaberle, who is a good bet to find a new team when he becomes a free agent. The Bruins were able to win the Stanley Cup in spite of their power-play, not because of it. Murphy would inject instant offence and would be given ample opportunity to do what he does best on a team as loaded in talent as Boston.
You should at least post a link under the bruins prospects or something like that as a must read, (or reread in many of our cases!)
George-
I don’t even know how to take it, and I wrote it.
But seriously, they were a team of destiny even if I picked VAN in 6.
MK
MattK, that Carnac article should be at the top the site with the date in bold letters. The beauty of it was nobody knew how to take it, some thought it was a joke and others thought you were serious.
David-
You are a loyal reader.
Thanks,
MK
Also, Matt, After that post calling the Bruins the Cup Champs, yes.
Sorry Matt,
Just had to yank your chain. Nice posts today by the way!
David-
Did you expect me to be Carnac?
Post on Hamilton up now.
MK
MattK,
Why nothing on Hamilton, he is who we ended up with after all!
Yeah, his offensive potential is beyond the charts. A great skater with ridiculous vision and confidence. The kid wants to score every time he touches the puck. He has a whole whack of Bobby Orr like highlights where he basically beats all 5 guys on the ice, then the goalie. On the flipside, he does cough up the puck once in a while and isn’t always thinking about his defensive responsibilities enough, but that’s par for the course with players like him. He’s smart enough to pick up our system and I think grooming him from within would help with that aspect.
Of all the great players to play for Canada in the World U-18 tourney, he set the national points record in the one that just passed. That’s for anyone, not just d-men.
CNL good to hear from someone who has seen Murphy play, that is good info
I would be fine with any of the top 4 d men on most boards (Beaulieu, Murphy, Hamilton, Larsson). I’d be shocked if the last 2 were around at 9. CNL, to your point about Couturier, I have heard he can play wing as well, so wouldn’t be disappointed if Chia decides on that if he falls.
Liles is garbage. Murphy’s size won’t be a problem. I’ve seen him play. He’s like a Marchand in the way he seems to magically avoid trouble while not being afraid to get his nose dirty. You learn to survive, especially in Canadian Jr. (excluding the Q’). If he was coming out of US college I’d be more concerned. If Hamilton or Larsson drop to us, I’ll be a happy camper. Otherwise I’m sticking to my guns. I’m torn between Murphy and Beaulieu if they’re both available. If we go with a forward, I love Sven Baertschi. However, if Couturier slides, do we go after another centre??
Liles to Toronto for our former 2nd rounder next year. I would have done that for our 2nd rounder this year!
karl,
doubt we see our 1st round pick in the NHL next season. MAYBE Larrson if he manages to drop that far (I’ll have a wide grin if he does.)
Murphy is a right handed shot…
Chara-Murphy
Sides-Boychuk
AF-Quaider
Just have to share: Toronto hires dudley because “He is a premiere talent evaluator,” which is why the Atlanta Thrashers are on of the top teams in the east.
Do any of these d-men have a righted handed shot? I’d like to see an improvement over Kampfer, Hunwick, Wideman.
Hope SI.com mock draft comes true it has Hamilton falling to the Bruins. I’d be very happy with Beaulieu just what Boston needs a great shot form the blue line.
Red Line Report made Beaulieu sound like a new Wideman. I wonder how the Flyers at #8 might affect the Bruins pick.
All we have is young tall defenceman Mcqauid Boychuk Yuri all big guys can stick any of them with Murphy and I’m not worried about the size if his skill is that remarkable
I think they have spent a lot of picks recently on forwards, and so all things being equal when #9 rolls around, they should pick a D man. They should not pick a D man if there is a demonstrably better forward still hanging around, similar to when Fowler just kept falling last year
I think he seems short and rather light, but if he can build muscle mass and continue to grow in skill he seems like a good risk to take.
I do think the best move for the B’s is to look for a strong defenseman, but I think they should take whoever is the best available when the pick comes around rather than pick specifically for a position need.
Size not always an issue: Rafalski
If he is that good then trade up to get him. Not rocket science.
79pts in 63 games for Murphy, its def a gamble on his size if a PMD is what they really want. I think he might be like a Cam Fowler type of defenseman but only 5’11″ and 166lbs I think he would get outmuscled in the defensive zone.
Murphy is pretty small for an NHL defenceman.