Malcom Subban: 2012, Dougie Hamilton: 2011, Tyler Seguin: 2010, Jordan Caron: 2009. Those 4 names all have one thing in common, we recognize them. Yet while for 4 straight years now, the Bruins have been making great picks in great positions, the latter part of that statement of greatness was not true in last night's NHL draft.
As we now know, after the Jaromir Jagr trade last April basically washed out any chance Boston had at a first round pick, after it was declared that this ensuing draft was one of the deepest in years, the Bruins fought hard to gain a top 30 selection yet in the end would come up empty handed. Fact is last night was a crazy draft, in the first round alone, perhaps the biggest blockbuster trade of the ninth came in and around the 9th pick then held by New Jersey. Mere minutes after the draft began, Gary Bettmen rose to his feet announcing that the Chanuks had traded their long time addition to their goal tending saga: Cory Schnider to the Devils in exchange for the 9th pick in that round.
Nevertheless while hockey fans sat with their mouths hanging open in reaction to the trades of Schnider, Bolland and Frolik, Bruins fans sat gritting their teeth as finally 4 hours and 32 minutes after the draft began Peter Chiarelli calmly inched closer to the microphone before him and called out the name of Linus Arnesson.
So: who is this guy.
Born on September 21st 1994, this now 19 year old 179 pound Swedish defense-man, has been playing semi pro hockey for the better part of 5 consecutive years. He has never been a scoreing threat as in those 5 years, he has barely notched 7 goals, yet he was ranked 13th overall among European skaters coming out of the recent NHL scouting combine.
In all likelihood, Arnersson may never play NHL hockey but should he excel once making the transition to American junior hockey next winter, a strong 2 way defense-man similar in playing style to already dominant Tory Krug, could be a nice complement to a future Bruins team.
*Note, the Bruins selected 5 other players in the draft, their information is listed below.
Player name | Draft round | Notes |
Peter Cehlarik | 3rd round | Cehlarik scored 31 goals this year, and plays left wing |
Ryan Fitzgerald | 4th round | Plays center and will be playing for BC this winter |
Wiley Sherman | 5th round | Plays defense |
Anton Blidh | 6th round | Scored 17 goals this year plays forward |
Mitchell Dempsey | 7th round | Was second to last pick in the draft, plays forward |
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