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The Boston Bruins entered the 2004 draft without their own first round or second round draft choices having traded them to the Capitals for defenseman Sergei Gonchar who they expected to help the team make a long playoff run. But they were bounced in the opening round by the Canadiens and were left with LA’s second rounder (Stumpel trade) and their own third rounder. With a lack of prospects that have a potential to play on the top two lines, the Bruins were looking for top end skill players that would pay off in the long term.

 

When their 64th pick was creeping closer and closer, and two of the players they had rated in their top 20 were still available, the Bruins decided to make a move. Mike O’Connell decided to trade their 3rd, 4th, and 9th round picks to San Jose for the Sharks’ 63rd overall pick. This move excited the scouting staff as they were able to get two skilled players that were in their top 20, a similar situation to last year’s draft when they selected Patrice Bergeron in the second round.

 

 

David Krajci, C

2nd Round, 63rd Overall, Kladno (Czech)

5’11” 176 (08/24/86)

 

With the newly acquired pick the Bruins selected skilled center David Krajci from the Kladno hockey organization in the Czech Republic. He was rated No. 26 at mid-season to No. 21 at the end of the year in the CSS rankings. Krajci was the player they would have selected at No. 64 if they hadn’t made the trade with the Sharks.

 

Having not made his Extraliga debut as of this year, Krajci, still 17 years old, played all of this past season with the junior squad. He averaged more than a point a game in the regular season and in the playoffs with the team. He also made a major splash at the Under 18 world championships where he led the Czech team in scoring and a bronze medal.

 

When the Bruins drafted Krajci they got a skilled playmaking center that has a good hockey sense and sees the ice very well. Along with his great passing skills, Krajci shows poise when he gets in scoring position and uses his quick release wrist shot. Krajci shows great puck handling skills as he doesn’t shy from traffic and is known for driving to the net hard. While he was drafted at center, Krajci is very adept at playing any forward position. Leadership is also a quality that the Boston staff admired about Krajci.

 

There are concerns about Krajci’s skating as it lacks that extra gear and could use more polish in his stride. While he recognizes his defensive responsibilities, Krajci will have to step up his defensive game to satisfy NHL coaches, especially on defensive zone faceoffs. Despite not shying away from physical action, he will have to add strength to his frame in order to survive an 82-game NHL schedule. Krajci is an emotional player and sometimes his temper gets the better of him as he tends to take untimely penalties.

 

The Bruins are hoping Krajci will be coming to North America, as he was drafted by Gatineau sixth overall at the 2004 CHL Import draft. They believe Krajci playing in Quebec will help him adjust to the North American style and help him to continue to develop his game. Krajci is projected to be a top six forward and in an ideal situation would be a second line center.

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2002-03	HC Trinec	Extraliga U20	12	4	5	9	NA	2
	HC Trinec	--Playoffs--	12	5	5	10	NA	8
	HC Trinec	Extraliga U18	22	12	24	36	NA	42
2003-04	HC Kladno	Extraliga U20	50	23	37	60	6	37
	HC Kladno	--Playoffs--	7	3	6	9	2	4
	Czech U18	IIHF	7	3	4	7	7	0

 

 

Martin Karsums, LW

2nd Round, 64th Overall, Moncton (QMJHL)

5’10” 177 (02/26/86)

 

The second player that the scouting staff had rated in their top 20 and the player they actually traded up for was Latvian born and bred Martin Karsums. The 2002-03 season was a struggle for Karsums as he was unable to establish himself at either junior championships or with his club team in Latvia. After receiving very little ice time, Karsums decided to come play juniors in North America and was drafted by Moncton of the QMJHL.

 

His move to North America helped him make a huge rise in the eyes of scouts as he continued to improve throughout the year. Karsums earned the respect of his teammates and coaches almost immediately, as when Moncton management had decided to trade him instead of fellow import Alexei Shkotov the team protested and management traded Shkotov instead. Karsums didn’t disappoint as he finished in the top five for the team and in rookie scoring league wide. The playoffs helped Karsums rise in the rankings as he had 17 points in 20 games as Moncton made it to the QMJHL finals, losing to Gatineau.

 

Scouts are very impressed with Karsums’ hockey head as he has great ice vision, hockey sense and has excellent scoring instincts. He is a very good skater as he posses a smooth stride, is very agile on the ice, and is very hard to knock off his skates. While Karsums doesn’t have blazing speed, he has a very good change of pace when attacking the zone. He has very soft hands that allow him to handle the puck deftly and make swift passes to his teammates. Karsums uses his quickness effectively to find perfect scoring spots where he can capitalize with his quick and accurate wrist shot. Most of the people that watch Karsums are impressed with his heart and determination as he plays big for his size fighting for pucks along the boards and in the corners.

 

Size will be the biggest factor for Karsums as he needs to prove to the Bruins that he can withstand the punishment of the stronger players of the NHL. He will need to bulk up his frame to get stronger without losing his agility. While being very responsible defensively, Karsums will have to remain vigilant on not losing focus on that part of his game.

 

If Karsums was a couple of inches taller he would have been able to sneak into the first round with his talent level. He is the safer bet of the top two choices as he has the skills to develop into a top six forward and even if he doesn’t make that position with his grit and overall game he could play the third or fourth line as two-way forward. As with most 18-year-olds, Karsums will have to improve his overall package but it shouldn’t be a major obstacle as he is very coachable.

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2002-03	Vilka Riga	Latvia	NA	7	5	12	NA	14
	Latvia U20	IIHF Div 1	5	0	1	1	2	35
	Latvia U18	IIHF Div 1	4	2	0	2	-2	14
2003-04	Moncton	QMJHL	60	30	23	53	6	76
	Moncton	--Playoffs--	20	8	9	17	8	14
	Latvia U20	IIHF Div 1	5	7	6	13	8	22

 

 

Ashton Rome, RW

4th Round, 108th Overall, Moose Jaw (WHL)

6’0” 191 (12/31/85)

 

Ashton Rome is one of those players who are very valuable in the playoffs and coaches adore when the going gets tough. He was passed over by every team in the WHL bantam draft and joined the Moose Jaw Warriors making his debut in 2002. His first season saw him play a limited role on the team as a fourth line grinder, not scoring much but being an effective player. Rome started his second season slow but gained confidence as the season went on as he started playing a bigger role on the top two lines. The WHL playoffs were where Rome made the biggest impression as he led Moose Jaw in goals with 6 in 10 games.

 

Rome is a typical western league mucker who has good size and above average skating ability that consists of good speed. He is a physical presence especially in front of the net where he scores most of his goals in the crease area. Along the boards and in the corners is where Rome will make his living as he displays great tenacity on the forecheck. While he will never be a heavyweight fighter, Rome isn’t shy to drop his gloves when the situation calls for it.

 

While Rome is able to put the puck in the net, he relies on his teammates as his ability to create offensive chances are limited. His offensive skills are lacking as he doesn’t pass or stick handle very well and lacks the necessary vision to create. While he is very strong in the WHL, the NHL is a different beast and he must continue to get stronger to play at the higher level.

 

The Bruins are looking as a long term project as he is considered to be a late developer and will have to move up the ladder slowly. They expect him to play next year at 200 lbs with Moose Jaw and play a more prominent role in the team’s offensive scheme. The team sees Rome as an adaptable player that will take on the role as a third or fourth line grinder that in some situations will be able to play on the top two lines.

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2002-03	Moose Jaw	WHL	61	5	10	15	0	103
	Moose Jaw	--Playoffs--	13	1	1	2	1	6
2003-04	Moose Jaw	WHL	72	15	22	37	5	139
	Moose Jaw	--Playoffs--	10	6	2	8	4	18

 

 

Kris Versteeg, RW

5th Round, 134th Overall, Lethbridge (WHL)

5’9” 159 (05/13/86)

 

The Bruins rolled the dice with their fifth round pick as they selected the diminutive Kris Versteeg out of the Western Hockey League. During this past year Versteeg was under the radar as he was unranked by CSS at both the midseason and final rankings. Versteeg hasn’t seen the playoffs in the WHL as Lethbridge has failed to make the post season in each of his two years. However he did see action in the Under 18 World championships, as one of the top performing forwards for Team Canada.

 

Great vision and an above average hockey sense are the first things that the Bruin scouting staff noticed about Versteeg’s game. He has good stickhandling ability and passing skills that make him a very dangerous weapon on the power play. He has good speed and quickness that he uses in the attacking zone to find room to score or set up scoring chances. What he lacks in size Versteeg makes up for it in his heart and determination as he will always fight bigger defenders for pucks.

 

Versteeg is very underdeveloped at 5’9” and 159 and will need to get stronger if he is to have a chance to make the big team. Versteeg has a very average shot and is not a threat to blow the puck by the goaltender from the perimeter. He will have to improve his defensive play as most young players have yet to master this responsibility.

 

While becoming used to being passed over by teams at every level, the Bruins may be the first team to recognize his talent at such an early stage. Boston management hope Versteeg has a late growth spurt and adds a couple of inches to his height and a little bulk to his frame. They feel if that occurs along with amount of time the Bruin’s scouting staff had observed him, they may have unearthed a special player with special talent in Versteeg. With his vision and hockey sense, at his maximum potential Versteeg could be a top line playmaking forward or he could a career minor leaguer.

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2002-03	Lethbridge	WHL	68	16	33	49	-5	85
2003-04	Lethbridge	WHL	57	8	10	18	-11	32
	Canada U18	IIHF	7	0	2	2	1	4

 

 

Ben Walter, C

5th Round, 160th Overall, UMass-Lowell (NCAA)

6’1” 195 (05/11/84)

 

Being the son of a former NHLer Ryan Walter can only get you so far as a player, talent is needed and the Bruins feel they have found a player in Ben Walter. For two years Walter played in the BCHL for Langley, coached by another former big leaguer in Rick Lanz. He played in the 2002 BCHL All-Star game and was voted the team MVP in 2002. He moved on to play at the college level for UMass-Lowell and had an average rookie season playing mostly on the fourth line. His second season was a greater success as he was able to almost average a point a game with 34 points in 36 games.

 

Walter has been blessed with excellent hockey sense and ice vision which helps him make great passes and involve his teammates. He also has great skating skills and posses that extra gear that will help him on the attack and keep defenders honest. Walter knows how to work the boards and corners and will be a tireless forechecker. One of his important traits will be his maturity as he is already a great leader, something that he inherited from his father.

 

While he is scoring at a good pace, there is little upside in Walter’s offensive game as he will never be a top six forward. The two skills on the offensive side that he lacks are his stickhandling and his finishing ability around the net. While he does have a good frame to start with, he will need to get stronger to become a solid two-way center.

 

For the second straight year the Bruins selected the son of a former Canadien with Benoit Mondou taken in the eighth last year. Because education is an important factor to the Walters, expect Walter to finish his college career as he will play the next two years at the college level. Of all of the Bruin’s second day picks Walter might be the safest bet to make the NHL as a third or fourth line center because of his NHL ready body and skating. But like all the draft picks this year the Bruins will need to show patience in order to let Walter grow into his full potential.

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2000-01	Langley	BCHL	50	8	20	28	NA	19
2001-02	Langley	BCHL	50	29	47	76	NA	20
2002-03	UMass-Lowell	NCAA	35	5	12	17	NA	12
2003-04	UMass-Lowell	NCAA	36	18	16	34	NA	18

 

 

Matt Hunwick, D

7th Round, 224th Overall, Michigan (NCAA)

5’10” 187 (05/21/85)

 

The Bruins continued this year’s trend of selecting prospects based on skill and hockey sense rather than measurables, when they picked Matt Hunwick in the seventh round. Hunwick developed his skills as a defenseman in the U.S. National Team Development Program before he joined the Michigan Wolverines last year. He spent the 2001-02 season with the under 17 national team where he helped lead the U.S. to a gold medal in an U17 challenge tournament. Hunwick moved up to the Under 18 team in 2002-03 and impressed many scouts at the U18 world championships as the Americans finished fourth.

 

Hunwick enrolled in the prestigious Michigan program under coach Red Berenson for the 2003-04 season. His playing time was limited at the beginning of the season as he only saw spot duty on the defense. Hunwick was part of the gold medal winning World Junior team where despite not picking up very many points he was dependable on the back end. He returned from that great experience to Michigan and started receiving more ice time, eventually pairing with captain Andy Burnes as the top twosome. Of the 15 points he collected in the season 11 of them were in the second half, which helped him earn a spot on the CCHA All-Rookie team and raised his CSS ranking from 179 to 151.

 

Despite his lack of size, Hunwick is still able to be responsible in the defensive zone using his superior positioning and his ability to read the attack to defend the goal as evident in his +14 rating last year. His skating ability and smooth skating stride helps him make the transition from the defensive end to the attack quite easily. He has the potential to be very dangerous power play quarterback with his ability to move the puck quickly as he makes hard and sharp passes when on the man advantage.

 

Hunwick’s lack of height will be a major factor of whether he will play in the NHL or be a depth defenseman in the minors. There are worries about how Hunwick will be able absorb or dish out the physical punishment that is required by defensemen. Will he able to take hits while trying not to give the puck up on a dump in and will he able to clear big forwards from in front of the net? While he does make strong passes on the power play, Hunwick is not a threat to score from the point as his point shot is average at best.

 

If Hunwick was two inches taller or played 25 years ago he would have been drafted in the first or second round based on his skills and hockey sense. The Bruins hope he can emulate the career of another undersized defenseman, Brian Rafalski, who has enjoyed a successful career despite being 5’10”. Rafalski didn’t make his debut until he was 26 so the road to the NHL might be a long and difficult one for Hunwick. If he does make it to the big show look for him to play as a number 4/5 defenseman who will be able to quarterback the second unit of the powerplay.

 

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2001-02	USA U17	NTDP	48	8	16	26	NA	NA
2002-03	USA U18	NTDP	43	5	5	10	NA	NA
	USA U18	IIHF	6	0	3	3	-2	6
2003-04	Michigan	NCAA	41	1	14	15	14	62
	USA U20	IIHF	6	0	0	0	2	0

 

 

Anton Hedman, F

8 Round, 255 Overall, Allsvenskan (SWE II)

6’3” 180 (05/15/86)

 

The Bruins went off the board and searched the depths of Swedish hockey when they made their final selection of Anton Hedman. He played last year for Allsvenskan in Swedish Tier II hockey league which is equivalent to junior B hockey in North America. Very little was known about Hedman as he wasn’t on any rankings and was the exclusive pick of Bruin’s Swedish scout Sven Svensson.

 

Hedman possesses great size for a forward and has above average skating ability for someone of his stature. Along with his size Hedman plays with an edge to his game that will set him apart from most other Swedish prospects. He will have to work on every other part of his game as he moves up the ladder in the Swedish system. He’ll have to add muscle to his lanky frame and improve his hockey sense especially in the defensive zone to make an impact in the future.

 

Hedman is a long term project who the Bruins wanted to select this year instead of taking the chance that he might improve next year which could have him be an earlier selection. He is moving on to the Djurgarden organization where he will play on their under 20 team which will be tougher competition for him. By next year the Bruins will be able to get a better read on Hedman and see if their gamble in the eighth round was worth it.

 

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
2003-04	Allsvenskan	Swe Jr18	14	5	5	10	-3	14