The Boston Bruins offseason has already been a long and boring one. So out of boredom I put together a roster of current players (and one who is maybe going to be retired soon?) in the NHL that were drafted just one pick before the Bruins in the NHL Entry Draft!

FIRST LINE

JAMIE BENN – NICKLAS BACKSTROM – OLIVER BJORKSTRAND

ST PAUL, MN – APRIL 28: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the third period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on April 28, 2023 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 4-1 to advance to the Second Round. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Benn – 5th round 129th overall in 2007 before Denis Reul

Backstrom – 1st round 4th overall in 2006 before Phil Kessel

Bjorkstrand – 3rd round 89th overall in 2013 before Peter Cehlarik

A few years ago the duo of Benn and Backstrom would’ve been awesome. Still a solid line, but not a true top line.
SECOND LINE

TAYLOR HALL – SEAN COUTURIER – DENIS GURIANOV

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 06: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Colorado Avalanche at the Wells Fargo Center on December 06, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Hall – 1st round 1st overall in 2010 before Tyler Seguin

Couturier – 1st round 8th overall in 2011 before Dougie Hamilton

Gurianov – 1st round 12th overall in 2015 before Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zach Senyshyn

Well the Bruins have Hall now, so I guess it worked out. This line is okay. We’d have to see how Couturier looks after missing over a season and a half of the last two seasons.
THIRD LINE

JARED MCCANN – TYLER PITLICK – ALIAKSEI PROTAS

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MAY 09: Jared McCann #19 of the Seattle Kraken skates during the first period against the Dallas Stars in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on May 09, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
McCann – 1st round 24th overall in 2014 before David Pastrnak

Pitlick – 2nd round 31st overall in 2010 before Jared Knight

Protas – 3rd round 91st overall in 2019 before Quinn Olson

McCann is a great player that was picked right before a really great player. Overall, a “meh” third line.
FOURTH LINE

MARCUS JOHANSSON – ANDY ANDREOFF – JAKUB VORACEK*

DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 25: Jake Oettinger #29 of the Dallas Stars blocks a shot on goal against Marcus Johansson #90 of the Minnesota Wild in the second period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 25, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Johansson – 1st round 24th overall in 2009 before Jordan Caron

Andreoff – 3rd round 80th overall in 2011 before Anthony Camara

Voracek* – 1st round 7th overall in 2007 before Zach Hamill

We had to pull Jakub Voracek out of what I believe is retirement for this one, that’s why he is on the 4th line. This is a pretty solid 4th line if all parties are healthy. Andreoff at center is spotty, but a good line overall
1ST DEFENSIVE PAIRING

ERIK KARLSSON – BRENT BURNS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Brent Burns #88 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates a goal with Erik Karlsson #65 against the Los Angeles Kings in the first period at Crypto.com Arena on March 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Karlsson – 1st round 15th overall in 2008 before Joe Colborne

Burns – 1st round 20th overall in 2003 before Mark Stuart

Had to go with two right handed players on the top pairing because they are a top pairing.
2ND DEFENSIVE PAIRING

TIMOTHY LILJEGREN – BRANDON MONTOUR

Apr 19, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) celebrates his goal as Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skates away during the third period of game two of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Liljegren – 1st round 17th overall in 2017 before Urho Vaakanainen

Montour – 2nd round 55th overall in 2014 before Ryan Donato

Another pairing with two right handers. Bruins fans should remember Brandon Montour from a few weeks ago.
3RD DEFENSIVE PAIRING

MICHAEL MATHESON – MATT ROY

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 10: Matt Roy #3 of the Los Angeles Kings collects the puck as he is chased by Conor Garland #8 of the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 10, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Matheson – 1st round 23rd overall in 2012 before Malcolm Subban

Roy – 7th round 194th overall in 2015 before Jack Becker

Ok third pairing. I’ve seen worse.
7th DEFENSEMAN

JAKE BEAN

BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 24: Jake Bean celebrates with the Carolina Hurricanes after being selected 13th during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Bean – 1st round 13th overall in 2016 before Charlie McAvoy

I had to add Bean as a reminder that the Carolina Hurricanes took him over Charlie McAvoy!
GOALIES

CONNOR HELLEBUYCK – JOHN GIBSON – CARTER HART

WINNIPEG, CANADA – APRIL 24: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a save during action against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 24, 2023 at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)
Hellebuyck – 5th round 130th overall in 2012 before Seth Griffith

Gibson – 2nd round 39th overall in 2011 before Alexander Khokhlachev

Hart – 2nd round 48th overall in 2016 before Ryan Lindgren

This would be some pretty solid goaltending depth.
Kevin Maggiore is a producer for the Felger & Massarotti program

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