Bruins seeking special type
They enter draft with a blueprint
Toward the end of training camp last fall, when the Bruins' amateur scouts scattered from Boston and returned to their home bases across North America and Europe, general manager Peter Chiarelli gave them the following directive when scouting youngsters for the 2008 draft:
Identify something in each player that makes him a Bruin.
"The first thing you instill in them is to hammer home our philosophy of what we're looking for," Chiarelli said. "It's as simple as continuing to remind them after viewing their reports throughout the year. What part of the player's game tells you he's a Bruin?"
Each year, 30 teams endure the annual crapshoot that is the NHL draft, projecting which 18-year-olds playing high school, college, and junior hockey can beat the odds and make it to the NHL.
Chiarelli's instruction doesn't offer any guarantees that when the Bruins make their first-round selection Friday at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place, they'll be assured of a longtime pro. The Bruins' mission, however, of identifying, drafting, and developing players with character and work ethic provides some sense of structure to a process that is anything but an exact science.
"It's very important to have that," said vice president Cam Neely. "I am excited about that initiative. It really speaks to the tradition of the Boston Bruins - really, what this franchise was built on.
"With those types of players, with character and hard work, that tradition gets passed down and passed down. There might have been a little disconnect in the past few years, but we're trying to reestablish ourselves as a team that really wants those types of players.
"That's what we're looking for. Peter's made it clear to our scouting staff. We have a real good idea of what our fans want in their players, too."
The Bruins have a pick in every round, including No. 16 overall when the draft kicks off Friday (Rounds 2-7 take place Saturday). Forward Steven Stamkos is expected to be taken first overall by Tampa Bay. Top defensemen Zach Bogosian, Drew Doughty, and Luke Schenn are not expected to be on the board for the Bruins if they remain in the 16th slot.
The Bruins recently hosted six potential picks whom Chiarelli declined to identify, although he revealed that there were three forwards and three defensemen. Last year, Zach Hamill, selected eighth overall by the Bruins, was part of a group that visited Boston prior to the draft.
"This draft is the deepest in a while," Chiarelli said. "There's a surplus of defensemen available. Our philosophy has been to draft the best player available. That may be a defenseman, but this might be a draft where we go to balance between need and best player available because of the number of good defensemen available."
The Bruins acquired 6-foot-3-inch, 222-pound forward Matt Marquardt from Columbus May 27. After July 1, they will sign 6-4, 220-pound winger Blake Wheeler, the former University of Minnesota teammate of Phil Kessel who elected to become a free agent instead of signing with Phoenix, which drafted him fifth overall in 2004.
The Bruins have bulked up with the two acquisitions, but if similar forwards are available, they may continue to fill their up-front needs instead of going with the best player available.
If they choose the former route, one player of interest might be 6-3, 203-pound center Kyle Beach, Hamill's former junior teammate. Beach, ranked seventh among North American skaters by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau, is considered one of the most competitive and hard-nosed draft-eligible players, combining skill and grit. Beach had 27 goals and 33 assists in 2007-08, but also racked up 222 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, he tangled with Milan Lucic after calling the winger a hunchback.
Beach has gone through individual interviews with assistant GM Jim Benning and director of amateur scouting Scott Bradley, and also met with the Boston bosses during last month's combine in Toronto. Beach has drawn interest around the league, but it's not clear whether he'll be selected early or passed over because of character questions.
"He does have some of the things we're looking for," Chiarelli said.
Other possible targets include offensive-minded defenseman Tyler Cuma, stay-at-home defenseman Colten Teubert, and center Joe Colborne.
Chiarelli said he's inquired about moving up in the first round but prices are currently high. Because of the draft's depth, Chiarelli said, his scouts have suggested that he stockpile second- and third-round picks. The Bruins will conduct their final predraft meetings tomorrow in Ottawa.
In the days leading up to last year's draft in Columbus, Ohio, the Bruins laid the seeds for the July 1 trade that brought Manny Fernandez from Minnesota for Petr Kalus and a 2009 fourth-round pick. There has been significant trade talk already, perhaps because of the scarcity of impact free agents, and Chiarelli said he is listening.
"I'm excited about this draft," said Chiarelli. "It's always nice when it's a deep draft. There's going to be some activity around it. I look forward to the weekend."
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com
