2011 Boston Bruins draft pick update; 22 Nov.

Despite a pair of wins last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still in 26th place in the NHL standings as of today.

Saturday was a tough night for Bruins fans, as they not only had to decide between the lesser of two evils in a Canadiens-Leafs matchup, but had to see the B's come out on the short end of a 4-3 shootout loss to the white-hot L.A. Kings (and let's give it up for my boy, Hamden, Conn.'s own Jonathan Quick, who I was huge on since his dominant puckstopping days at Avon Old Farms. He's living proof that as much shi-ite that the NEPSIHA gets in the scouting community and among many draft fans as a lower level of competition, it still can produce fine NHL talent, but I digress). I give the B's credit for battling back from an 0-3 hole to tie it, but the shootout performers get big razzberries for continuing to shoot five-hole from the outside on Quick when he was eating that garbage up. Very curious shot selection by veteran players who should know better (Welcome back, David Krejci, but I'm talking to you).

Carey Price continued his outstanding play this season with his fourth shutout, blanking the Leafs now for the fourth time this season.

The Leafs are home tonight against the Dallas Stars and then go on the road Friday and Saturday to face division opponents Buffalo and Ottawa, both of whom are playing better since the last time they faced Toronto.

Edmonton's victory over Anaheim last night has pulled them to within three points of the Leafs, but the Devils and Islanders (12 points each) really look like lost causes at this point. A shame because both teams have talent, but there is a malaise permeating both clubs. I thought firing Scott Gordon exhibited the inherent unfairness that is being an NHL coach sometimes, and the Devils have just gotten one turn of rotten luck after another in the early going, losing one star player after another and getting very little return on investment for the megacontract they handed out over the summer to Ilya Kovalchuk. The fact is-- the Devils just don't have any depth to counterbalance the loss of key guys like Zach Parise, Marty Brodeur (whose best days are clearly behind him even when healthy) and Brian Rolston (who's back after hernia surgery, but not 100 percent).

So, on that note, the Toronto pick may be a top-three, but realistically, barring a major turnaround, I don't see the Leafs being as poor as the 1-2 cellar dwellers right now.

1st Round

4th overall- Toronto (17 points; 7-9-3)- Completes Phil Kessel trade.
22nd overall- Boston (24 points; 11-5-2)


2nd Round

44th overall- Minnesota (22 points; 10-7-2)- Completes Chuck Kobasew trade.

52nd overall- Boston


3rd Round

83rd overall- Phoenix (25 points; 10-5-5) - Completes Derek Morris trade.

Boston pick traded to Florida; Completes Nathan Horton deal

4th Round

112th overall- Boston

5th Round

142nd overall- Boston

6th Round

172nd overall- Boston

7th Round

Pick traded to Chicago (Zach Trotman)