Bruins will pick eighth

The Bruins, who completed the season with the eighth-worst record in the league, will have the No. 8 pick in the NHL draft June 22-23 in Columbus, Ohio.

In the draft lottery, which was held yesterday, the Chicago Blackhawks nabbed the first pick. The Blackhawks had the fifth-worst record but moved up the maximum four slots in the lottery. The Philadelphia Flyers, the league's worst team, will pick second.

"The amateur draft is the lifeblood -- even more so now -- of an NHL organization," said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. "It goes without saying that it's a significant pick, whoever it is. From what I've been told and what I've seen, it's not as deep as last year."

In 1997, the last time the Bruins had the eighth pick, they selected Sergei Samsonov. Last season, the Coyotes picked forward Peter Mueller in the No. 8 slot. Mueller completed his second year of junior hockey, scoring 71 points in 51 games for the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips.

In other Bruins news, the team assigned Jeff Hoggan, Petr Kalus, and Nate Thompson to Providence, which is battling for an AHL playoff spot with three games remaining.

FLUTO SHINZAWA