The first casualty of the 2022 NHL Draft for the Boston Bruins appears to be goaltender Reid Dyck, a sixth-round pick progressing well each season with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. The Bruins elected not to sign Dyck to an entry-level contract when the deadline for his rights approached on June 1. The 20-year-old goalie can sign an AHL deal with Boston, but that appears unlikely. Dyck is the first player from that draft to be headed elsewhere. However, the 2022 draft still looks like a good one for General Manager Don Sweeney and the Bruins.
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The prize of the draft for Boston is second-round pick Matt Poitras, who played 33 games with the Bruins this season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Boston had a choice to send the 19-year-old center back to the OHL or keep him on the roster, and they chose to give him a shot. The Bruins seem to have hit on that 54th overall selection after not having a pick in the first round.
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Sweeney was without a third-round pick but did have two fourth-round selections. University of Minnesota-Duluth center Cole Spicer was the 117th choice in the draft, and the center has played two collegiate seasons. Spicer has scored eight goals with seven assists in 49 total games and questions about his compete level have persisted. The 19-year-old is headed into a big junior year where his production will need to be more consistent. The Grand Forks, North Dakota native is still unsigned, and the upcoming season might determine whether the Bruins will proceed with him.
The other fourth-round pick is UMass-Amherst center Dans Locmelis who has shown some promise and offensive ability for the Minutemen. Locmelis turns 21 in January and the Latvian scored seven goals with seven assists in 30 games. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound forward enters his sophomore season with some promise to be a potential steal in this draft as the 119th pick.
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At pick number 132, the Bruins chose defenseman Frederic Brunet from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. the 6-foot-1 blueliner showed high-end offensive ability, with Rimouski and Victoriaville posting 16 goals and 57 assists in 63 games during the 2022-23 season. In October of 2023, the Bruins signed Brunet to a three-year entry-level contract, and the Quebec native spent this season with the Providence Bruins and registered two goals with 10 assists and a plus-9 rating in 48 games. The Bruins hope for more of that offensive flair in the upcoming season.
The Bruins’ seventh-round draft pick in 2022 is intriguing for sure. Jackson Edward is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound defenseman who plays with an edge that would endear him to Bruins fans. Edward had a terrific season with the London Knights in the OHL while helping the team to the Memorial Cup Final. The 20-year-old improved his offensive game with seven goals and 23 assists during the regular season and an impressive plus-43 rating. In the postseason, Edward was one of the top defensemen with two goals, nine assists, and a plus-17 rating. His style of play makes him an interesting but risky prospect. Edward has been suspended four times this season for on-ice conduct. The Bruins also signed Edward to a three-year, entry-level deal in October of 2023.
The Bruins prospect pool has been thin over the years but seems to be improving, and the 2022 draft is an important one for the organization. Beyond Poitras, there might be some players there who Bruins fans can get excited about going forward.
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