Mick Riddleton
“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.”
Add to that too is the fact no one was taking the #1 centre spot away from Bergeron and possibly the #2 spot from Krecji till they retired (this year). So would Barzal have stayed around and been happy for 9 years as the 3rd centre or winger?Well, it did in the fact that they could have been a super team the past several years had they nailed their 2015 picks like they did in 2014 and 2016.
But now, years later, we don't talk about Chabot the same way he was talked about 3 seasons ago. Connor, yes. Barzal, feels like he should produce more than he does. Think those were the 3 guys people harped on Bos passing up over the years.
They reached on one guy that year and it was Senyshyn. Zboril was projected ahead of anyone they passed on and Jake paid off. Another fact was that Sweeney was given the job just before the draft and had no time to prep for it. You win some and lose some.
Getting McAvoy the 4th picked defenseman in the 2016 draft with the 14th pick worked out. Looking back at that draft the top 5 were Laine #2, Dubois #3, Jesse Puljujärvi #4, Olli Juolevi #5, showing what a crapshoot the whole thing is. Getting Swayman in the 4th round (111th pick) in 2017 was another win, nine goalies were picked before him.
As for the trade, the Bruins learned a few years ago that it is never a bad thing to have extra defensemen in the playoffs. Peeke has some size and needs a scenario change. They have a way of getting players to adapt and perform. Good luck to Zboril, I think he is still a bottom-pairing guy in the NHL, injuries and depth never helped him.