Editor's Note: With the 2020 NHL Draft beginning Tuesday, it's time to look back on recent drafts for the Boston Bruins and examine what went right and wrong for them. Next up is the 2016 draft.
The Bruins have made multiple first-round picks in the same draft twice since 2001, and one of those instances came in 2016.
The Bruins took defenseman Charlie McAvoy from nearby Boston University at No. 14, and they selected center Trent Frederic at No. 29. The B's acquired the Frederic pick and forward Sean Kuraly from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Martin Jones in 2015. Boston's second-round pick came via the New York Islanders from the Johnny Boychuk trade.
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What should we make of the Bruins' 2016 draft four years later? Let's take a look.
Overview of draft picks
No. 14, Round 1: Charlie McAvoy, C
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No. 29, Round 1: Trent Frederic, C
No. 49, Round 2: Ryan Lindgren, D
No. 135, Round 5: Joona Koppanen, LW
No. 136, Round 5: Cameron Clarke, D
No. 165, Round 6: Oskar Steen, C
What went right for Bruins?
The Bruins hit a home run with McAvoy. He has become a legit first-pairing defenseman who Boston should build its blue line around for a long time. McAvoy excels in all areas of the ice, logs 20-plus minutes per game and makes a meaningful impact on special teams. He's already the team's best defenseman.
The two top defenseman prospects on the board at No. 14 were McAvoy and BU teammate Dante Fabbro. The B's clearly made the right call.
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Lindgren never played for the Bruins, but he was a good enough prospect to be included in the Rick Nash blockbuster trade with the New York Rangers during the 2018 season. Lindgren has yet to make a meaningful impact for the Rangers.
Steen finished with 23 points in 60 games for the AHL's Providence Bruins this past season. His ceiling is probably a bottom-six forward, but if he can make it to the NHL level, you'd have to consider him a successful pick in the sixth round.
What went wrong for Bruins?
The Bruins took Frederic a little too early at the end of Round 1, especially when many experts projected him as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level. So far, it still doesn't look like Frederic has top-six potential. He tallied 32 points in 59 games for the P-Bruins in 2019-20, and he's scoreless in 17 career games with Boston. Frederic could turn into a third-line player who brings the type of truculence to the ice that B's fans love -- we know he can fight -- but that's not really the type of forward who teams should be targeting in the first round.
Taking Frederic over more skilled offensive players such as center Sam Steel (No. 30 Anaheim Ducks) and left winger Alex DeBrincat (No. 39, Chicago Blackhawks) has proven to be a mistake.
Koppanen is unlikely to make much of an impact in Boston, if he even reaches the NHL level at all. Clarke is no longer part of the Bruins organization.
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Overall, the Bruins are looking at one impact NHLer from this draft. Normally this outcome would be seen as a failure, but when that one impact player is a franchise defenseman like McAvoy, it's a little easier to stomach.
Future outlook
One of the biggest priorities for the Bruins over the next few years is signing McAvoy to a long-term extension. He inked a three-year, $14.7 million bridge deal with Boston in 2019 after his entry-level contract expired. McAvoy will still be an RFA when his current contract expires after the 2021-22 season, and if he continues to develop as a pillar of Boston's blue line, the team should do everything possible to keep him around long term.
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Frederic could still be a useful NHL player, and it's now time for him to carve out a role in Boston after playing 127 games in the AHL. With veteran fourth line forward Joakim Nordstrom unlikely to return next season, there should be some ice time up for grabs in the bottom six.