Don Sweeney, Bruins feel 'excruciating' pain after not making a first-round selection

DALLAS – There may be a time again in Don Sweeney’s tenure as Bruins general manager when he’ll trade a first-round draft pick, but that seems unlikely after the way he described his feelings Friday night.

As top players ticked off the board and landed with their future franchises, the Bruins table was quiet until the end. Each of the 31 first-round picks seemed to painfully drive the point home further. The most recent avenue Sweeney tried to improve his club — shedding a top-tier pick to acquire a veteran player at the deadline — backfired badly. He did say he wouldn't rule out ever doing it again, but it was clear the Bruins brass were licking their wounds.

“Excruciating,” Sweeney said about not having a selection. “Let’s try not to have that happen again. It’s been referenced that teams that get to pick at the top of the draft suffered to get there and they’re anxious to make their picks. Early on, certainly through the season, I had some discussions that maybe it was a possibility, but I didn’t think it’d necessarily come to fruition closer to the draft.”

Sweeney’s decision to send the No. 26 pick to the New York Rangers for Rick Nash was a big swing at contending for the Stanley Cup. Sweeney felt the move would better position the team for that. When they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round, suddenly the idea of not having that first-round pick stung more.



The Rangers ultimately moved up four spots to No. 22 in a trade with Ottawa. The Senators picked Jacob Bernard-Docker, a defenseman committed to North Dakota who was No. 33 in the NHL’s Central Scouting rank for North American skaters. Ottawa felt it could get the guy they were interested four spots later while grabbing a second-round pick in the process.

Other Eastern Conference rivals made picks that could help bolster their outlook in the future. The Red Wings, who finished fifth in the Atlantic Division had a solid first round. Right wing Filip Zadina fell out of the top five and landed to the Red Wings at No. 6. Joe Veleno, an 18-year-old center ranked No. 8 by Central Scouting, was available when the Red Wings picked again at No. 30.

The Islanders had consecutive picks at Nos. 10 and 11 and landed Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy/Boston College) and Noah Dobson.

“I mean, it means that they got a chance to improve their hockey club, that’s the pain part,” Sweeney said. “They might close the gap as a result, if there is a gap. We all start at the same base of the hill again. We missed that opportunity.”

There was minimal movement in an uneventful first round, where seven teams were without a pick. Multiple teams possessed multiple picks – the Rangers had three – which led to speculation there’d be the opportunity for the Bruins to make a deal.

The requirements for such a deal would not have been easy to meet. Former Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, now with the Oilers, voiced his desire in the last week to move the No. 10 pick. Acquiring such a pick would come at a hefty cost, one the Bruins weren’t willing to pay to counter-correct a move Sweeney is now looking back on with disdain.

“We’re in it to try and win,” Sweeney said. “If we got ourselves in the same position we may do it again if it’s the right move. Clearly, it wasn’t and that falls on me. We knew how hard it would be to get back in the top 10. I’ve referenced the fact that the first year it takes three first-rounders to get back in the top eight. Even if you’re having that discussion, you have a player other teams want that you probably need.”

Torey Krug was a popular name with teams around the league, but he ultimately stayed put. There were reasons other teams were interested in him, particularly the career-high 59 points he scored last season and his ability to guide a power-play unit. There were reasons the Bruins may have looked to move him, too.

The physical makeup of the Bruins defense isn’t quite exactly where they expected it to be. They have two 5-foot-9 left-shot defenseman, Krug and Matt Grzelcyk, who was signed to a two-year extension last week. Krug is owed $10.5 million over the next two seasons, but his offense would be hard to replace and he’s proved to be an essential part of the Bruins blue line.

For now, the Bruins focus this weekend will turn to the second round of the draft and free agency. They’ll select No. 57 Saturday in the second round, where Sweeney said he feels the Bruins can still find a valuable asset.

The Bruins are in on talks to land Ilya Kovalchuk, but it does not appear formal, defined contract terms have been offered. Sweeney on Thursday confirmed the 35-year-old wing, who’s making a comeback from the KHL, would be a good asset to the team. Sweeney and agent JP Barry met Friday, and Sweeney said the Bruins “position has been set forth.”

Los Angeles and San Jose are two other teams contending for Kovalchuk’s services. More importantly, Sweeney said conversations are “inching along” with their soon-to-be unrestricted free agents.

The process has taken longer for the Bruins to finalize some contracts that seemed like they’d come quickly, such as one for backup goaltender Anton Khudobin.

Whatever progress is made Saturday, in both the draft or free agency, will do little to ease the pain Sweeney felt Friday night. The focus will be on the players he can take in the remaining six rounds, but he’ll sorely miss the opportunity at grabbing a first-round pick. Sweeney and the Bruins went for it all at the end of the regular season. It didn't work out, a feeling Sweeney hopes not to feel anytime soon.

Local connections: In addition to Wahlstrom going 11th overall to the Islanders, Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) went fourth to the Senators, and Jay O'Brien (Hingham/Thayer Academy) was taken 19th by the Flyers.