The Ottawa Senators’ 25th pick, which the Boston Bruins originally used to select forward Tyler Bertuzzi, has been acquired by the franchise once again, putting them back in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. In an attempt by the Bruins to bolster their limited pool of prospects, the draft pick plays a crucial role in the goalkeeper Linus Ullmark trade. If General Manager Don Sweeney decides to keep the selection, Boston will select 25th on Friday. Here are five defenseman that may be available when the Bruins turn to select.
Aron Kiviharju, HIFK (Liiga)’s left defenseman
Complete Draft Profile
The native of Denmark excels at breaking away and rushing the defense. The former forward can create plays with his passing and has a physique akin to that of Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei. The scout located inside The Rink is as follows: “Kiviharju demonstrates exceptional decision-making abilities, whether it’s selecting the ideal time to pass the ball or playing in tight quarters. Scouts see him as a proactive defenseman who controls opponents’ time and movement with ease and maintains remarkable poise while calling plays across the rink. Impressively, he can handle pressure-filled defensive zone situations by deftly navigating around forechecking opponents to advance the puck quickly. He makes accurate outlet passes that always find their way to his teammates’ sticks without error.
Defenseman Cole Hutson, left, US National U18 Team
Complete Draft Profile
Hutson, a Matt Grzelcyk-type player with a slightly aggressive style, is enrolled at Boston University. ITR characterizes Hutson as “looking like a good bet to make the NHL down the road, but it will take some development time.” Hutson is smaller but still a solid player in every way. He should eventually rank among the top six defensemen, at worst, but with his skill set and offensive potential, he appears more likely to finish among the top four. Projecting Hutson’s ceiling after he has participated in an NCAA season will be considerably simpler.
The Ottawa 67’s (OHL) right defenseman Henry Mews’s complete draft profile
Mews is a 6-foot, 185-pound defenceman with good passing and skating ability. Mews is also incredibly composed under duress. Mews “has refined his skating ability and demonstrates a fluid stride that helps him maintain possession of the puck,” according to ITR. With his deft edgework, he can move the puck to fresh lanes for his teammates while being agile and fast to change directions. He set up the first pass out of the defensive zone by using his skating skills. Mews has the mechanics to advance as a strong skater as long as he keeps building his muscle and physique.
Charlie Elick: Full Draft Profile – Right Defenseman, Brandon Wheat Kings (OHL)
Elick is a strong threat who plays with excellent stick position, making him challenging to play against in his zone. Pro-sized at 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds, Elick excels in puck retrieval. ITR praises Elick for his willingness to sacrifice his body and for keeping things straightforward on both sides of the puck rather than forcing plays. Every organization searches for it in a potential defenseman. Elick is accustomed to swiping his body. He might be a very lucrative draft pick in a few years because he has a solid platform and space to grow over the next few seasons.
Right defenseman EJ Emery plays for the US National U18 Team.
Complete Draft Profile
Boston appears to be moving toward becoming just another large, physically strong kid on the blue line. Emery is a straightforward player with a strong defensive mindset. The American-born athlete is seen by many as a potential bottom-pair defenceman. This is ITR’s assessment: “EJ Emery is a promising player who is still growing but has the potential to be a second-pairing star. He is a good, solid defenseman.” The Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, native contributes offensively when given the go-ahead and is efficient at both ends of the rink. He is more of a defensive defenceman with good puck handling abilities who can dictate the offensive play. He has a strong build and can use his 6-foot-3 height and 181 pounds to his advantage in the defensive zone.
The Bruins have a draft pick that might ignite the prospect pool ahead of the NHL Draft, which is in a few hours. Boston is probably going to go offensive, but crazier things have happened.
