What to know about every pick the Bruins made in the 2023 NHL Draft

The Bruins were spectators for much of the 2023 NHL Draft, going without a pick in the first two rounds before a late third-round selection. Boston was also without a fifth-rounder but had two sevenths.

Their 2023 first-rounder was part of a package to Washington for Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway (the Capitals traded it to Toronto before the trade deadline, who went off the board, in the spirit of the Bruins). This year's second-round pick was part of the framework to acquire Hampus Lindholm at the 2022 trade deadline. 

While we're keeping track, Boston also sent a fifth this year to Minnesota for playing broker with the Bruins and Capitals at the deadline (the Wild sent it to the Leafs at the deadline). 

After loading up at recent trade deadlines, 2023 in particular, moving back up into the first or second round appeared to be a "difficult task" for the Bruins, and that projection held true. 

"Turning the focus to the draft, it's very difficult for me as a general manager to sit patiently with the group because I know the work I know they've put in [scouting] over the course of the year," Don Sweeney, who again felt it was unlikely he'd re-sign any of his UFAs, told reporters in Nashville. "So you feel badly. Full disclosure, as a general manager, you feel badly that you could not have rewarded the work that these guys have done, and that's on me. I need to find ways to pick up extra draft capital so they get more swings, which we had in my first couple of years of the draft. We haven't recently, so that's on me."

In all, the B's made five picks, selecting a trio of potential centers with their first three picks and a pair of big Swedes (a winger and a defenseman) in the seventh round. There was a trend with all five players, too: size.

Another trend was opting for either European skaters or players bound for college. This allows the Bruins five years to sign any of the players. Teams have two years of a player's rights if he is drafted out of the CHL. Makes perfect sense, considering the five players selected Thursday are unlikely to make an impact in short order. 

The draft came and went without much excitement, overall. After Connor Bedard went first to Chicago, to no surprise, the Ducks turned heads by opting for Swedish center Leo Carlsson with the second pick over Adam Fantilli, who Columbus snatched at No. 3. Risky Russian Matvei Michkov lasted until the seventh pick at Philadelphia. 

"I thought the draft played out fairly consistent to how we thought it would go," said Bruins director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau after the first round, who was not surprised by Carlsson over Fantilli. "Nothing really too major. I think the Russian question [as a whole] was a valid one, just thinking about geopolitically and just a few other things and how teams would handle it. But they're outstanding players."

On the trade front, the first round went on without a single trade for the first time since 2007. 

"Outside of the draft, we were clearly looking for a little bit more flexibility," Sweeney told reporters. "We have a busy week next week. We still have some talks [to add to our] current club."

Day 2 saw picks being traded and a couple of smaller cap dumps, mainly. Disappointing, especially considering all the chatter and buzz going into things. 

To Detroit's credit, Steve Yzerman had a savvy bit of business, sending the 43rd pick to Nashville for the 47th and 144th picks. Yzerman then immediately acquired forwards Kailer Yamamoto ($3.1 million AAV) and Klim Kostin (RFA) from Edmonton for future considerations. So essentially, Yzerman gave up a second for a second, a fourth and two 24-year-old former first-round picks who can certainly contribute in the middle six. Not bad, I'd say. 

Back to the Bruins, here's what you need to know about their five draft picks:

Round 3: 92nd overall – C Christopher Pelosi (Sioux Falls, USHL)

Height/Weight:  6-foot-2, 185 pounds
Stats: NAHL: 24 GP, 10-7--17; USHL: 43 GP, 13-6--19

Pre-Draft Rankings: 
#127 BY NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
HM by McKeen's Hockey

The Bruins, naturally, went a little off the board with their first pick. Some felt that other centers like Jayden Perron, Denver Barkey or Luca Pinelli might have provided better value. What's important to bear in mind, with basically every pick, is different organizations have their own internal rankings and grades on top of data that isn't available publicly. That's not to say Pelosi will become a steal like Mason Lohrei could turn out to be, but folks killed that pick at the time. We'll just have to wait and see. It's all magic beans anyway. 

Pelosi split his time between the NAHL and USHL last season. He's pretty green, but has the tools and plays hard and physically. Passed over in each of his first two go-arounds in the draft, too. 

He said he hopes "to prove a lot of people wrong" and described himself as, “I think I’m a pretty good offensive forward, but I can also play in all three zones and I’m able to use my stick in battles and stuff to fish that puck out and not get myself pinned along the wall. Going in to play with Rand [Pecknold], I think I need to work on my defensive play because Rand likes the D-zone a lot. So, my defensive position I think needs to get a little better.”  

The former Mount St. Charles standout is committed to Quinnipiac for 2024-25. He has another important year of development in the USHL before making the jump to NCAA.

Sweeney said, "Certainly has translatable things all on the same lines [as Hendrickson]. We think it's 200 feet and detail. A little bit of a different path over the course of the year. Liked the conviction in the young man to sort of take the setback in stride and pick himself up and move forward. I don't think [Sioux Falls] necessarily thought he was going to be in the lineup every night when they brought him up for a couple of games, but then next thing you know, they can't get him out. So he ingratiated himself in that way and just kept getting better, and our guys just continued to appreciate it." 

Scouting report via Neutral Zone: “He knows what he is and what it’s going to take to be successful at higher levels. He is a force on the forecheck. He finishes everything with the purpose of being disruptive and creating turnovers. And as soon as there’s a loose puck, he is attacking the net with his stick on the ice looking to score goals or generate scoring opportunities. He carries himself like a leader and expects his teammates to play hard, be accountable and make the right hockey play.”

Round 4: 124th overall – LW/C Beckett Hendrickson (USNTDP)

Height/Weight:  6-foot-2, 174 pounds
Stats: U18: 52 GP, 13-21--34; USHL: 21 GP, 7-9--16

Pre-Draft Rankings: 
#67 by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters)
#58 by Elite Prospects
#115 by FCHockey
#116 by Daily Faceoff
#139 by McKeen's Hockey
#148 by Red Line
#175 by Draft Prospects Hockey

Really intrigued by this pick. Some said Hendrickson could have gone in the third round or even snuck into the back end of the second round. If that's the case, Boston gets pretty good value here. 

"I had a really good interview with them at the combine," Hendrickson told reporters of the pre-draft process with Boston. "I had a good feeling. You never know at the draft and stuff. ... But I had been talking to them throughout the year."

Hendrickson, although maybe more of a wing than a center, is regarded as one of the better passers in the draft and works hard along the boards, one of his stronger traits. He played lower in the lineup on an absolutely loaded U.S. program but still had solid production. Given his frame, he has plenty left to fill out and could just be scratching the surface. He's committed to Minnesota for 2024-25 and will play alongside Pelosi in Sioux Falls for 2023-24. 

"I think I’m a really smart player... raw talent,” Hendrickson told reports of his game. “I think, I’ve got a lot of progress to work on, but I think I’ll get there with hard work and dedication. So I’m really excited to get back home and get to work. ... I feel like I'm a good player around the net. A good player with IQ.”

Hendrickson, whose father Darby (a former pro) is an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild, said he models his game after Matt Boldy: "The way he plays down low, he’s really smart. I think we’re both bigger bodies and just the way he plays around the net and stuff. I really try to take some stuff out of his game.”

Sweeney said of Hendrickson: "Detail and work ethic. High motor. That's Beckett's calling card. Had a little injury that might have affected a little bit of opportunity and production, but sometimes with the development program, guys get slotted in a little bit... let's be honest, the high-end side of the top two lines there are pretty skilled. He's got a lot of detail in his game that we appreciate. ... That resonated with us."

Scouting report via Elite Prospects draft guide: "Hendrickson exhibits a combination of passing skill and lane creation in all three zones. He hooks pucks around sticks, slips them under, and sauces them over sticks with no wind-up, even off the backhand. But he doesn’t just take open lanes; he creates them with multiple layers of deception. He slows down and angles away from his eventual target, baiting the defender. The second they pivot or reach, he passes."

Round 6: 188th overall – C Ryan Walsh (Cedar Rapids, USHL)

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 181 pounds
Stats: USHL: 61 GP, 30-49--79

Pre-Draft Rankings:
#231 by Red Line

Walsh, who will soon turn 20, is coming off his over-age year in the USHL that saw him set a single-season franchise record for points in a season with Cedar Rapids, finishing with 79 (30g, 49a) in 61 games, second in the league behind potential 2024 No. 1 pick (and incoming BU freshman) Macklin Celebrini. Can really shoot the puck.

Walsh, who said he models his game after Joe Pavelski, described himself as, "A playmaker, I have good IQ, that’s one of my main assets and I’m a good passer. So, I’m definitely a playmaker. I’m not afraid to shoot the puck. If the opportunity is there, I’m definitely letting a shot go, but definitely like to set up other teammates and make the right pass and I’m a 200-foot player, I take pride in faceoffs and I’m very defensively sound in the D-zone, that’s something I take pride in is you have to have good defense to create good offense.”  

Was a standout at Salisbury School with 39 points (16g, 23a) in 28 games at the prep level in 2021-22. He's committed to Cornell for this coming season. Never overly surprising to see a swing on an over-ager in the later rounds. 

Sweeney said the Bruins got some good looks at Walsh while he was at Salisbury: "Again, a little longer trajectory there, and the area guys really feel strongly about his path. He's going to go to Cornell next year and probably, as a young player, make an impact there. You just see the progression he made in one year [in the USHL]. That speaks to us. We do a lot of work in trying to figure out... especially in a guy who's maybe a little older and you start to wonder, 'O.K., is it because he's older in that league?' You know, Mason [Lohrei] was a good example of that. That's a difficult league, and the first year, you do have to hit certain benchmarks. He did that."

New England Hockey Journal's Mark Divver tweeted: "Word on Ryan Walsh is he's not a speedster, but he's so smart. Plays with pace, terrific shot. Just makes plays. A winning hockey player."

Round 7: 214th overall (from Los Angeles) – RW Casper Nassen (Sweden-Jr.)

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
Stats: J20 Nationell: 48 GP, 23-17--40

Pre-Draft Rankings:
#138 by NHL Central Scouting (European skaters)

Nassen is committed to Miami (Ohio) for 2024-25 after likely one more season overseas. He had a very productive year with Vasteras of the Swedish junior league with 40 points (23g, 17a). Seems to be a great shooter with size, obviously. Wonder how much of a power forward he could develop into. Definitely intriguing with his size and shot.

Sweeney on Nassen: "You look at Nassan and the size and the shooting ability and just have to continue to apply the resources for him, so he continues to move along with his development.

Scouting report via The Athletic's Corey Pronman: "Nassen has one of the best pure shots in the draft. His one-timer is a legit weapon from range. He’s a good-sized winger, too. His skating is quite heavy, though, and I don’t see much offensive creativity in his game."

Round 7: 220th overall – LD Kristian Kostadinski (Sweden-Jr.)

Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 214 pounds
Stats: J20 Nationell: 48 GP; 2-8--10 (69 PIM)

Pre-Draft Rankings:
#62 by NHL Central Scouting (European skaters)
#188 by FCHockey
#198 by Draft Prospects Hockey

The Bruins went with another big Swede with their final pick. Kostadinski is hulking and has the makeup of a physical, shutdown defenseman. Wouldn't expect a ton of offense from him, given the role he's likely to play on any team. Had 10 points (2g, 8a) with Frolunda of the Swedish U20 junior league.

Sweeney on Kostadinski: “There’s a little bit of a size element there with both players. Maybe a little bit more longer development trajectory with both of them as well. … Kostadinski did play on the national scene, so he was seen by a lot of cross-over people. Size is a thing that stands out, competitiveness. [P.J. Axelsson] and [Victor Nybladh] and our Swedish guys spending time with them realizing that he knows that he has deficiencies and he’s willing to work on them, and he has a great work ethic, so excited about it.”  

Scouting report via Sportsnet's Jason Bukala: "Teams looking to add a defensive “D” who plays with some edge will track Kostadinski closely this season. He’s a big body who knows his limitations and plays to his strengths. He isn’t likely to produce much offensively, but he is capable of making the first pass. Kostadinski takes pride in cleaning out his crease and making life miserable on opponents along the boards."