By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
The 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft took place in Buffalo, New York, where perennial superstar Auston Matthews was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs’ choice to pick Matthews proved to be an excellent decision. However, the players chosen in the following picks failed to meet expectations, with four of the top five selections underperforming. Despite this disappointing trend in a draft filled with untapped potential, the Boston Bruins excelled by successfully hitting on nearly all of their picks.
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Pick 14 – Defenseman – Charlie McAvoy
The Boston Bruins selected defenseman Charlie McAvoy with the 14th overall pick in the draft. General Manager Don Sweeney made an intelligent choice, as McAvoy has been a solid anchor for the Bruins’ defense for several years and continues to impress each season. He showed immense skill while playing for the Boston University Terriers. He also played a crucial role on Team USA during the 2017 World Junior Championship, where he scored a significant goal in the gold medal game against Canada, helping lead the team to victory.
Since then, McAvoy has emerged as a leader on the Bruins team, earning the role of assistant captain last offseason. Charlie will continue to play a significant part in this team’s success. Players like Olli Juolevi, Mikhail Sergachev, and Jake Bean were selected before McAvoy, so I consider him a steal at the 14th pick.
Pick 29 – Forward – Trent Frederic
Trent Frederic was an excellent pick in a draft that was filled with disappointments. The Bruins’ staff successfully identified two impact players in a year when many teams were let down. The St. Louis native attended the University of Wisconsin and made a strong impression. Even during two less-than-stellar seasons for the Badgers, Frederic stood out. After his second season, he signed a professional contract with the Boston Bruins and gradually earned the respect of the organization.
Trent emerged as a critical player for the Bruins. Last season was Frederic’s best, as he recorded his first 40-point season and scored his first playoff goal. At 26 years old, he will remain a focal point in the Bruins’ bottom six. Despite the sluggish start to the season, he has shown flashes of brilliance, like in a recent game against the St. Louis Blues, where he recorded two goals in one period. We hope to see more of that in the future.
Pick 49 – Defenseman – Ryan Lindgren
Ryan Lindgren was another strong selection by the Bruins. He was a leader on every team he played for and is recognized as a stay-at-home defenseman with exceptional penalty-killing abilities. Although Lindgren may not be the most noticeable player on the ice, he is highly effective at blocking shots. The Bruins ultimately traded the six-foot, 185-pound defenseman to the New York Rangers, along with forwards Matt Belesky and Ryan Spooner, as well as their 2018 first-round pick and 2019 seventh-round pick, in exchange for Rick Nash.
Lindgren has become vital to the Rangers’ defensive lineup, logging significant minutes while maintaining a positive plus/minus rating. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he possesses exceptional vision on the ice, which he utilizes effectively when breaking the puck out of the defensive zone. He occasionally applies this vision to contribute offensively as well. This season has been challenging for Ryan offensively, as he only recorded three points in 16 games, but his defensive game is as strong as ever.
Pick 135 – Forward – Joona Koppanen
During the fifth round, the Bruins had back-to-back selections and chose Joona Koppanen with their first pick. Koppanen had a rough start to his career with the Bruins, recording only two points in 45 games with Providence. As a result, he was demoted to the East Coast Hockey League affiliate, the Atlanta Gladiators, where he scored six points in just five games. After his brief stint in the ECHL, the Bruins organization loaned him back to Finland to gain experience playing against more advanced competition.
He played for Ilves in the Finnish LIIGA, where he had the opportunity to team up with future NHL players such as Matias Maccelli, Barrett Hayton, and Lassi Thompson. The following year proved more successful, as he recorded 35 points in 65 games with Providence. Although Joona had a few strong seasons in the American Hockey League, he only appeared in five games with Boston. He achieved his first NHL point with an assist on a goal scored by Nick Foligno against the San Jose Sharks. Koppanen recently signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in hopes of securing a full-time role in the NHL, but he spent last season in the minors. So far this season, he has spent all his time with the Wilkes-Barrie Scranton Penguins and has recorded five points in 16 games with the team.
Pick 136 – Defenseman – Cam Clarke
With their second consecutive fifth-round pick, the Bruins selected Cam Clarke. Clarke had four solid seasons with a struggling Ferris State Univerity team. Unfortunately, he never reached his full potential. After finishing his college hockey career, he signed a contract with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder. Following his 2022 season with the Toledo Walleye, Clarke retired from playing and is now an assistant coach for Division III Norwich University.
Pick 165 – Forward – Oskar Steen
In conclusion, the Bruins finished a very successful draft when Don Sweeney selected Oskar Steen with the 165th pick. Steen has demonstrated both promise and inconsistency for the Bruins. He made a notable impact in his first season with the Providence Bruins, scoring 23 points in 60 games at just 20 years old. Oskar also made his first NHL appearance, a brief three-game stint with Boston. His performance suggested he could be a steal for the team.
Steen had an even better season with Providence the following year, racking up 35 points in 49 games. This earned him another call-up to the NHL, where he scored his first NHL goal and finished the season with six points in 20 games. In 2023, the Swedish forward had another solid season; however, he spent most of the year in the minors again, with only a short time on the NHL roster.
However, in 2023-24, Steen started the season with the Boston Bruins and had a down season. He had only one point in 35 games, which resulted in his demotion from the team. The Swedish forward again excelled in the AHL, netting 16 points in 25 games. Instead of trying to earn a spot on an NHL roster, Steen returned to his home country and signed with Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League. I have high hopes for him; it seemed like he was always NHL-ready but could never really hold a spot in the Big Leagues. Like most players in his position, Oskar Steen will most likely return to the NHL after he tries to prove himself this season.
When discussing the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, it’s evident that exceptional draft picks were scarce. However, compared to most other teams in the league, the Boston Bruins came out ahead. This draft showcased a masterful effort by Don Sweeney, significantly improving the team’s future. Although three of the six players selected no longer play for the Bruins, each impacted the franchise. Calling the 2016 draft a success for the Boston Bruins would be an understatement.
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