Grading The Bruins Draft Choices

The Boston Bruins participated in last week’s 2020 draft. With only four picks the Bruins drafted for the future rather than now. With offseason surgeries to David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, we will see if this draft either hurts the organization or helps the team. In this post, we will review Grading The Bruin’s draft choices.

Bruins Draft Choices Are:

Mason Lohrei / D.Green Bay Gamblers USHL

With the 58 selection, the Bruins drafted 20-year-old Mason Lohrei. In Lohrei the Bruins are getting a true two_way defenseman. He is not afraid to jump into any play.

General Manager Don Sweeney, liked his size 6′!” 205 lbs and a left-shot defenseman. His competitive nature will fit right into the Bruins style of play. Lohrei however, is committed to Ohio State if play ever resumes.

Other qualities of Lohrei are the way he drives to the net. He skates low to the ice and creates opportunities. Lohrei also has a heavy shot. With the outbreak of Coved19, only time will tell if Lohrei will be in a Boston uniform.

Trevor Kuntar / C / Youngstown Phantoms / USHL

This is an interesting pick by the Bruins. Trevor Kuntar was the Phantoms leading goal scorer in 2019/20. Scoring 28 goals in 44 game Kuntar is known for his hard shooting. His puck handling skills are exceptional. He is also regarded as a two-way center.

Kuntar is committed to playing for the Boston College Eagles in the fall. Another attribute of Trevor Kuntar is his size. Standing at 6′ 1″ and weighing 205, Kuntar still has some growing to do. If college hockey resumes the Bruins will have a quality prospect in Kuntar.

Mason Langenbrunner -D – Eden Prarie HS Minnesota

This is a long-range project by the Bruins. Mason Langenbrunner was one of the youngest players selected in this year’s draft. Only 18 years old, Langenbrunner is committed to playing for the Harvard Crimson this fall.

His father, Jamie Langenbrunner toiled for 18 years as an NHL defenseman. The father is also the director of player personnel for the Bruins. The Bruins drafted him because they loved his style of play.

Langenbrunner is 6′ 1″ and weighs 195 lbs. His physical style of play is what attracted the Bruins. Being so young he needs to add muscle and gain some experience. If college play eventually resumes, this may turn out to be a diamond in the rough for the team.

Riley Duran – C – Woburn HS, Woburn Mass.

With their last pick, the Bruins gambled. They selected 18-year-old Riley Duran of Woburn High School in Woburn, Mass. His father is the coach of Woburn High School.

A center, Duran is committed to Providence College in the fall. His strong points are his puck handling skills and playmaking. Being so young Duran needs experience. His only organized experience is the Cape Cod league and limited play for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. If all goes well, Duran should be in Boston in three or four years.

Conclusion

My overall grade for the Bruins this year is a D. They did not draft to get immediate help. With the loss of Torey Krug, the Bruins have not improved either defensively or offensively.

I was very disappointed that the team did not select any college players. For example, Torey Krug left Michigan early and made the club as an undrafted player. With any luck, the Bruins have some hopefuls in Lohrei and Kontor.

If the season starts as planned in January, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnk may not be ready. Off-season surgery has put a damper on this season. Minus Torey Krug means the Bruins are in trouble.

If they cannot sign Mike Hoffman or Mikael Granlund their maybe recipes for disaster. Rookies such as Jack Studnicka, Jakob Zaboril, and Jeremy Larson, will be thrown into the fire. Also, the issue of Tuukka Rask. Many media people question his passion. Leaving the bubble certainly did not help. I look for a long and disappointing season coming.

Follow me on Twitter @bobphaneuf1957 for more hockey content! Also check out our website, www.overtimeheroics.net for all the latest sports stories!