Bruins 2003 draft recap

The Boston Bruins were one of the entry draft wheeler dealers. Before the entry draft began Josef Stumpel was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth draft choice in 2003 and a second draft draft choice in 2004. This was a good deal for the Bruins, as Stumpel fell out of favor with Bruin management. Brian Rolston would be a more than adequate second or third line center.

The dealing continued in the first round of the entry draft. With Zack Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, and Steve Bernier available at 16 the Bruins traded down to no. 21 while gaining a second round choice 66 and a fourth round choice no. 107 from San Jose. The Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils would trade up and choose Parise at no. 17. The Bruins would pick talented defenseman Mark Stuart from Colorado College at no. 21. The trade for extra draft choices was good but seeing an offensive talent like Parise go to the Devils would make anyone second guess. In the second round at pick 45 the Bruins selected Patrice Bergeron, a center from Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL with Dan Fritsche, Pat O’Sullivan and Evgeny Tunik available. With the other pick in the second round 66 the Bruins drafted a left wing import from Finland Masi Marjamaki who played for Red Deer in the WHL. At the end of the first day of the entry draft the Bruins didn’t take any chances and drafted solid character players.

The Bruins would go on to draft seven more prospects on the second day of the entry draft, four forwards, two goaltenders, and a defenseman. The Bruins didn’t deviate from selecting prospects with two qualities. Most of the Bruin choices would be pesky aggressive types who also had character. One disappointment early in the entry draft was seeing two Massachusetts natives Brian Boyle and Joel Hennessey not fall to the Bruins at no. 45 in the second round. Boyle going to Los Angeles in the first round at no. 26 and Hennessey going to San Jose in the second round at no. 43.

Meet the new Boston Bruins Prospects:

Round 1, Pick 21

Mark Stuart, Defenseman, 6’1″, 215 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Colorado College	WCHA	38	3	17	20	81

Scouting Report: Rock solid wide body defenseman, tough captain persona, Richard Matvichuk type
Rankings: CSB 17 N.A., HF 23, RLR 20, HN 20
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley (Director of amateur scouting) “We’re got a lot of depth at defense but we had to take Stuart because he was just too good to pass up.”

Round 2, Pick 45

Patrice Bergeron, Center, 6’0″, 175 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Acadie-Bathurst	QMJHL	70	23	50	73	62

Scouting Report: Playmaking second line center, Adam Oates type
Rankings: CSB 28 N.A., HF 67, RLR 71
Organization Quote: Dan Dore (Bruin scout) “He is a great playmaker with excellent vision of the ice.”

Round 2, Pick 66

Masi Marjamaki , Left Wing, 6’1″, 185 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Red Deer	WHL	65	15	20	35	56

Scouting Report: Good skating pest and improving finishing skill,Vaclav Varada type
Rankings: CSB 104 N.A., HF 116, RLR 63, HN 85
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley, “He plays with a bit of an edge, with some talent around the net that he can finish.”

Round 4, Pick 107

Byron Bitz, Right Wing, 6’3″,220 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Nanaimo	BCHL	58	27	46	73	59

Scouting Report: Big good skating wing, Mike Knuble type
Rankings: CSB 143 N.A., HF 238, RLR 265
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley “For his size he skates well. He has a good feel for the game.”

Round 4, Pick 118

Frank Rediker, Defenseman, 6’2″ 198 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Windsor	OHL	51	8	8	16	120

Scouting Report: Good skate and shoot defenseman, Andy Delmore type
Rankings: CSB 63 N.A., HF 91, RLR 147, HN 73,
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley “He can shoot the puck, and he has a lot of offensive upside.”

Round 4, Pick 129

Patrick Valcak, Left Wing, 6’1″, 185 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Ostrava	CZECH JR.	31	10	12	22	100

Scouting Report: Another pest who skates well, willing to come to North America, Esa Tikanen type
Rankings: CSB 40 E., HF 128, HN 98
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley “He plays with an edge, he is a very good skater.”

Round  5, Pick 153

Mike Brown, Goaltender, 6’0″ 180 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	GAA	SV%
Saginaw	OHL	39	3.68	.890

Scouting Report: Hard working, quick goaltender, Chris Osgood type
Ranking: CSB N.A.G. 9, HF 127
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley “He saw a lot of rubber this year because they were not a great team.”

Round 6, Pick 183

Nate Thompson, Center, 6’0″ 190 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Seattle	WHL	61	10	24	34	48

Scouting Report: Character player who is tenacious and is captain material, Tim Taylor type
Rankings: CSB 83 N.A., HF 132, RLR 144
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley “He’s going to be a leader in Seattle next year.”

Round 8, Pick 247

Benoit Mondou, Center, 5’10″, 165 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Shawinigan	QMJHL	60	11	51	62	33

Scouting Report: Smallish but skill center with excellent passing skills, Pierre Mondou type
Rankings: CSB 151 N.A., HF NR, RLR 248
Organization Quote: Scott Bradley “He’s a very skilled kid.”

Round 9, Pick 277

Kevin Regan, Goaltender, 6’0″  195 lbs.

TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	GAA	SV%
St. Sebastians	N.E. PREP	28	1.81	.916

Scouting Report: Big, quick, and good feet, Sean Burke, type
Ranking: CSB 17 N.A.G., HF 198
Organization Quote: Tom Songin (Bruin Scout) “He has great awareness and handles the puck well.”

Ranking abbreviations: CSB=Central Scouting Bureau, HF=Hockey’s Future, RLR=Red Line Report, HN=Hockey News, N.A.=North America, N.A.G.=North America Goal, E=Europe