By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
As the Boston Bruins prepare for the 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft, they find themselves at a pivotal point as an organization that’s already made several moves this offseason leading up to the festivities in Nevada this Friday night. With the draft being held at the iconic Sphere in Las Vegas, the Bruins have an opportunity to make strategic selections to help replenish the prospect pool.
This article will explore potential players the Bruins might target in the later rounds of the annual draft. If you’d like to view the potential selections the Bruins could pick in the first round, if available around the 25th pick, I highly recommend company colleague Tom Calautti and his article, which can be seen HERE.
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is one of the most anticipated events of the hockey year. The draft process involves 32 teams taking turns selecting eligible players, typically aged 18-20. Historically, the Bruins have had mixed success in the draft, with recent years seeing a balanced blend of hits and misses. While the narrative of you have to give to get holds water, the Boston Bruins have certainly done their part in trading first-round picks for immediate needs, but that process has taken its toll on the diminishing prospect depth.
Under the guidance of General Manager Don Sweeney, the Bruins have typically focused on drafting players who exhibit two-way solid play, high hockey IQ, and versatility. Given the team’s current state, there is a clear need to bolster both offensive and defensive depths. Additionally, goaltending depth in the crease could be a consideration, given the outcome for certain netminders, as the July 1st free agent market opens up.
The names below stood out to me, considering several factors many North American / International scouts look for. These mentions are what I believe would be good additions to the Boston Bruins’ developing system. Regardless, I hope my thoughts on who jumped out at me and who the Bruins could select in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, if available, of course. Enjoy!
Fourth Round (#122) Forward Jonathan Morello – St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
This would be a solid pick for the Boston Bruins if a forward position is needed with the team’s first selection in the fourth round. Morello is a natural center with a decent frame and competes with a high-end two-way game. Although he’s a work-in-progress as a developing forward, he’s shown an upward trend in the past few seasons when looking at intriguing attributes.
Listed at 6′-3″ and 190 pounds, he has explosive speed and is considered by a few scouts in my research as a dangerous net front presence player. The 17-year-old is a left-shooting centerman who played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and had a career season posting 25-32-57 numbers in 50 games for the Buzzers. In 101 career OJHL games, the Ontario, Canada native has contributed offensively with 41-56-97 totals. Morello was honored for his efforts last year as he received the OJHL’s Top Prospect Award.
Morello was drafted by the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League Entry Draft and is expected to play a full season in one of North America’s rising tier-1 leagues. Jonathan is committed to Clarkson University and is most likely to attend the NCAA ranks in the 2025-26 campaign.
- Strengths: Good length and explosive speed, good instincts, and positioning, consistently creates odd-man rushes.
- Weaknesses: Needs to improve physicality and strength, struggles to maintain possession at full speed.
Fourth Round (#122) Defenseman Luke Ashton – Langley Rivermen BCHL
If the Bruins are thinking defense with their second selection in this upcoming draft, Big Luke Ashton might be an intriguing blueliner if available in the fourth round. The 6′-5″ 229-pound blueliner made significant steps forward in his development last season, playing in his first year with his new team, the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL. Ashton started his BCHL career playing for the Vernon Vipers, where he played two seasons, appearing in 81 games with 2-7-9 numbers. Last season with Langly, the North Vancouver native exploded offensively, having a career year posting 18-18-36 numbers in 53 games.
Luke is a 19-year-old two-way defenseman who has good edge work for his large frame. He’s a decent puck carrier who uses his powerful strides for quick transition. Ashton has good agility and gap control, seeing a play develop and close the lanes with his long reach. He’d be a good project for the Boston Bruins if the defense is the way the organization goes with their pick in the fourth round. I think the Bruins need to address bigger defensemen with an uncanny ability to shut down passing lanes or gain possession, intercepting opposing plays.
Ashton will play his first year of NCAA hockey in the fall of the 2024-25 season as he joins the Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks. Luke will get an increased workload playing in the CCHA next year as a freshman, and I’m sure Mavs head coach Luke Strand will put Ashton in the best situation concerning his development and rounding out his game before reaching the professional levels after school is done.
- Strengths: Massive human being and heavy minute eater. Good at creating turnovers and solid puck retrieval.
- Weaknesses: Skating, particularly backward and lateral directions. He has good upside on the physical aspect of the game, but that needs more consistency as he continues to develop.
Fifth Round (#154) Forward Kaden Shahan – Sioux City Musketeers USHL
If the Bruins are looking at a forward with the fifth-round selection, Kaden Shahan is a player I highly recommend considering to address the right-wing need in the prospect pool. The 5′-11″ 170-pound forward may be undersized by today’s player standards, but in my research, several scouts have mentioned his motor and never-stopping movement.
The 19-year-old Washington native (USA) completed his second season in the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers, posting 39-18-57 in 56 games last season. Shahan almost doubled his point productions from his rookie USHL season, where he continued 20-11-31 totals in 55 games. Kaden is a two-way forward with sniper-like attributes and is a buzz saw out on the ice in every shift he participates in. Shahan plays the game on the edge with a physical flair for a smaller player and never shies away from body contact, especially when gaining possession.
Kaden will join the University of Connecticut to play for the Huskies this fall, starting his first year in the NCAA. It remains to be seen how his offensive attributes adjust to the higher collegiate level, but with his motor skills and work ethic, I believe he would be a solid selection for the Bruins if he is available.
- Strengths: Strong work ethic. Good shot and scoring instincts. Finds ways to outwork defenders around the net.
- Weaknesses: Undersized player that needs to be a better playmaker. Improved skating and puck control.
Fifth Round (#154) Defenseman William McIsaac – Spokane Chiefs WHL
If a defenseman is needed in the fifth round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins should consider selecting William Mcisaac if he’s still available. This is the type of defender that fits the mold of the Boston Bruins style. Mcisaac is a defenseman with exceptional mobility and physicality and plays the game with a strong shutdown role.
Last season with the Spokane Chiefs, the 6′-3″ 192-pound blueliner appeared in 67 games last year, completing his second full year in the WHL, posting 6-21-27 numbers. One of the best attributes of his game, which goes a little underrated, is his stick work and well-timed poke checks. The 18-year-old is a freight train when opponents come into his defensive zone, and it’s challenging to get away from his bone-crushing hits when taking the play along the boards and is a nuisance shutting down a team cycling play.
The physical defensive defenseman is a Vancouver, BC, Canada native and would be a great selection if Boston were to pick him this weekend. Mcisaac is most likely headed back to the WHL after this upcoming draft for continued development, and after his commitment to Spokane is over, he could be a seamless fit in the NHL, much like the path B’s blueliner Brandon Carlo took to start his professional career.
- Strengths: Physicality, mobility, and incredibly detailed. Impressive hockey IQ and gap control.
- Weaknesses: The transition part of his game needs work.
Sixth Round (#186) Forward Erik Pahlsson – Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL
If the B’s are looking for a forward with the sixth-round selection, Sweden native Erik Pahlsson would be a sneakingly good pick in the late rounds of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old Pahlsson is a left-shooting right-winger with a 6′-1″ 185-pound frame, good creativity, and defensive responsibilities.
Last season, his first year in the USHL, he played with the Dubuque Fighting Saints and adjusted quite well to the North American game, posting 28-44-72 numbers in 57 regular-season games. Pahlsson is set to join the University of Minnesota in the fall and is already on the right path of his development curve. In his international play, Erik has excelled at every level and was a point-per-game player in the J20 Nationell league for the HV71 club, serving one year as team captain.
- Strengths: Solid off-puck scoring threat. Good creativity and setup game.
- Weaknesses: Needs to improve physically and strength along with adding more dynamic qualities. Body positioning is another small concern that can be worked on. Skating is also a concern for many scouts.
Sixth Round (#186) Defenseman Jack Bodin – Orebro HK / J20 Nationell Sweden
In a heavy defensive entry draft, if the Bruins would like to add size on the backend of future seasons if a player like Jack Bodin is available, they should certainly take a flyer on him. With a 6′-3″ 214-pound frame, Bodin is a heavy shooting right-handed defenceman who plays with a physical edge for the Orebro HK club in the J20 Nationell league in his native Sweden.
In 46 games last season, the 17-year-old Bodin posted 6-6-12 numbers and had a decent postseason effort, going 1-1-2 in eight games. The big defensive defenseman is a decent gap player, and another has bone-crushing hitting capabilities. Jack is another player who plays the game that the Bruins scouting staff love to see from a developing blueliner.
Bodin is under contract with the Orebro HK team for the upcoming 2024-25 season, and another year or two of international hockey before heading to North America is probably the best path for his continued development. If he works hard this offseason and in the upcoming regular season in the J20 League, his stock could rise from some of those who left this player off their end-of-year prospect rankings.
- Strengths: Good defensive zone retrievals. Decent transitioning defenseman. Good rush activation.
- Weaknesses: He often gets too aggressive, which gets him into trouble. The passing game and gap control could use some work.
Sixth Round (#186) Goaltender Kam Hendrickson – Chanhassen High School USHS-MN
In my opinion, an NHL team can never have enough goaltending depth, and with the uncertain future of Kyle Keyser and the Bruins organization parting ways with former goaltending prospect Reid Dyck, I believe the B’s will look to add another netminder. If the B’s do, in fact, think of goaltending addition via the upcoming NHL Draft, I would love to see them consider netminder Kam Hendrickson.
Last season, the 18-year-old Minnesota native posted a regular-season record of 23-6-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .951%. In the previous two seasons playing for Chanhassen High School, Kam appeared in 50 games and went 40-10 with a ridiculous 1.06 GAA, .945 Save%, and 16 shutouts. Like current Boston Bruins prospect Brandon Bussi, Hendrickson catches with his right hand and has exceptional hand-eye coordination for a developing netminder.
After his commitment to his Chanhassen team was over, Kam appeared in seven games for the USHL Omaha Lancers, posting a 4-1-0 record with a 2.92 GAA and .924 Save%. Kam is 6′-2″ and 185 pounds and could work wonders with Bob Essensa and Mike Dunham if he’s drafted by the B’s. Hendrickson is a great competitor and a hard worker who battles to make second and third saves, keeping square with the puck and vision tracking down low.
I believe this pick would be a smart selection as it gives the player and organization time for continued development. Henderickson is talking to schools about NCAA placement for the upcoming 2024-25 season and doing his due diligence, taking time this offseason to consider his plan for further development.
- Strengths: Good reflexes and effective glove hand. Strong competition level. Tremendous puck tracker.
- Weaknesses: Smaller netminder but not really a weakness. Puck handling is a minor concern but fixable.
What do you think about these potential picks for the Bruins? Share your thoughts and join the conversation! Be sure to tune in to the 2024 NHL Entry Draft live from the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, to see who the Bruins select.
I want to give a shoutout to the fantastic folks at EliteProspect.com and McKeensHockey.com for doing the actual legwork in this research article. I give them full credit, and I highly recommend becoming a subscriber to both research outlets.
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