After not having a first-round pick in the NHL Draft the last two years, the Boston Bruins have moved up in the draft after their recent trade with the Ottawa Senators. They sent former Vezina-winning goaltender Linus Ullmark to their divisional rival in exchange for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and the 25th pick in this weekend’s 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Related: Analyzing the Bruins’ Return for Linus Ullmark
Given the return Boston received, the first-round pick seems to be the most notable and impressive piece. Prior to the trade, the Bruins only had three selections in the upcoming draft, with the first one not coming until the fourth round. This year’s draft class is considered by some to be weaker than average, so it makes sense why general manager (GM) Don Sweeney wanted to get into the first round and make a selection earlier.
Almost certainly whoever they pick will need another year or two to develop before being ready to make the NHL. The team’s last two selections in the first round came in the second half of the round and were Johnny Beecher (2019) and Fabian Lysell (2021). Beecher just made his NHL debut this season and Lysell has yet to make his debut, though it is important to note he had some injury issues.
So who are some potential candidates the Bruins could target at pick number 25? Well, here are a couple of names that could still be on the board.
Emil Hemming
The Bruins need scoring help, and Emil Hemming could bring some offensive excitement to the team’s prospect pool. Coming out of Finland, the NHL has him ranked as the sixth skater coming out of Europe and most draft projections have him going somewhere in the 20s, meaning he could be a good option for Boston to bring in more scoring.
Hemming is a right wing who comes in at over six feet tall. He spent the 2023-24 season playing for TPS in the Liiga where he played 13 games for the U20 team and 40 games in the top league, meaning he has more experience playing against grown men than the guys coming out of juniors. He had seven goals and 11 points in those 40 games, but it is important to note that he faced a higher level of competition than some other prospects at his age.
He’s been noted to already have a decent two-way game and knows how to use his size to his advantage. His best asset is his shot. He has areas to work on defensively and when it comes to consistency, but there is a lot to like about Hemming if…
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