The 2015 NHL Entry Draft is a haunting reminder for the Boston Bruins and their fanbase of what could have been. The Bruins, led by then-newly appointed General Manager Don Sweeney, had an unprecedented opportunity to reshape their franchise with three consecutive first-round picks. Armed with the 13th, 14th, and 15th overall selections, the Bruins aimed to inject talent into a team that had just missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. However, the Bruins' draft selections have largely failed to live up to expectations, especially when compared to the talent that was available.
With the 13th pick, the Bruins selected defenseman Jakub Zboril from the Saint John Sea Dogs. Zboril's development took longer than the Bruins hoped, and he struggled to find a permanent spot in Boston. In 76 NHL games, he has just 16 points. The Bruins used the 14th pick to select Jake DeBrusk, a winger from the WHL. DeBrusk has been a regular contributor to the Bruins' lineup, but was considered a reach at the time. In 525 games, he has 159 goals and 301 points. With the 15th pick, the Bruins chose Zach Senyshyn, a pick that never panned out. He spent most of his time in the AHL and played just 16 games for Boston.
Looking back, the Bruins missed out on several players who have become stars in the NHL. Players like Mitch Marner, Timo Meier, and Sebastian Aho were all drafted shortly after the Bruins' selections. The Bruins' failure to capitalize on the 2015 draft is particularly painful considering the depth of talent available that year. The 2015 draft is considered one of the deepest in recent memory, with Connor McDavid headlining a class filled with potential superstars.
While Jake DeBrusk has had a decent NHL career, the overall impact of the Bruins' 2015 draft class has been underwhelming. The selections of Zboril and Senyshyn, in particular, have been widely criticized. The Bruins' struggles in the 2015 draft highlight the unpredictable nature of prospect evaluation and the importance of making the right choices when opportunities arise. While every team misses on draft picks, the magnitude of the Bruins' missteps in 2015 is magnified by the fact that they had three consecutive first-round selections. This draft is a prime example of how a single draft can set a franchise back for years.
The Bruins did find some success later in the 2015 draft, selecting Brandon Carlo in the second round. Carlo has become a top-four defenseman for the Bruins and a valuable member of their penalty kill. However, the success of Carlo does not make up for the Bruins' failures in the first round.