Where Are They Now? Bruins’ First-Round Picks Since 2005

As the Boston Bruins prepare to open the doors to training camp for the 2026-27 season, a handful of names on the invite list are former first-round picks. Of course, a few skaters will already make the opening night roster with multi-million dollar contracts guaranteeing them a spot.

However, a handful of recent picks are trying out for another shot with the big club before packing their bags for Providence in the American Hockey League (AHL). Considering Boston still employs a lot of their recent first-round selections, the club has lost many others through trades or opportunities in other leagues. 

Overall, the Bruins have had modest success regarding first-round picks in the salary cap era, which began with the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Here’s a look back at who those players are and where they are today.

James Hagens (7th Overall, 2025)

Current Status: Boston Bruins (NHL)

NHL games: 2

Boston’s most recent first-round pick, and one of six that were taken in the top-10 on this list, James Hagens was drafted seventh overall in the 2026 Draft after having a stellar freshman campaign with Boston College. In 47 games with the Eagles, he was better than a point-per-game player in 2025-26. He finished with 23 goals and 24 assists. Hagens was also named Hockey East’s Most Valuable Player and to the conference’s first all-star team.

He turned pro at the end of last season and made his NHL debut.

Dean Letourneau (25th Overall, 2024)

Current status: Boston College (NCAA)

NHL games: 0 

The Bruins’ 2024 first rounder was drafted from the USHL’s (United States Hockey League) Sioux Falls Stampede and St. Andrew’s College, a prep school in Canada. Following the draft, Letourneau announced his commitment to play for BC.

He bounced back after a rocky first collegiate season when he was unable to score a goal and was only able to muster three assists. His sophomore season saw him record 22 goals and 39 points in 36 games.

He’ll return to BC for his junior season in 2026-27.

Fabian Lysell (21st Overall, 2021)

Current status: Fringe Roster Player

NHL games: 12

As the Bruins’ most recent first-round selection prior to 2024, Fabian Lysell is still rounding out his game in the AHL, where he collected 42 points in 57 games last season. Surprisingly, that’s a solid total for the highly regarded prospect who struggled at the 2023 World Junior Championships with zero points in seven games. 

Lysell finally made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season on Dec. 28, 2024, vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets but was immediately sent back down following the game. He was recalled later in the season on Mar. 22, 2025, and picked up his first NHL point, assisting on a Casey Mittelstadt goal. A few weeks later, he picked up his first (and only thus far) NHL goal on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After not seeing any NHL time last season, he still needs to prove he belongs on the NHL Bruins.

John Beecher (30th Overall, 2019)

Current status: Panthers Forward

NHL games: 165 / Bruins games: 130

At 25 years old and heading into training camp this fall, John Beecher is feeling good after signing with the Florida Panthers for the 2026-27 season. He’ll fight for an NHL roster spot after only appearing in 29 games with the Calgary Flames last season.

Urho Vaakanainen (18th Overall, 2017)

Current status: New York Rangers Defenseman

NHL games: 221 / Bruins games: 31

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for Urho Vaakanainen in Boston, where he played 31 games over four seasons, collecting just six points. However, the Bruins included the former first-round pick in a blockbuster trade package that brought Hampus Lindholm to Beantown in March 2022. After two seasons in Anaheim, he was traded to the New York Rangers.

Charles McAvoy (14th Overall, 2016) 

Current status: Bruins’ Top-Pairing Defenseman

NHL games: 573

Heading into the 2026-27 season, Charlie McAvoy is one of the front runners to become the next captain of the Bruins. As arguably their best defenseman, the Long Beach, NY, native has called Boston home since 2015, when he first played with the Boston University Terriers. 

Now entering his 10th season with the club, McAvoy has finished as a top-10 finalist for the Norris Trophy in three of his nine seasons. Even though he averages more than 50 points a season, he is one of the leaders in ice time and is an irreplaceable member of the team’s core. 

McAvoy bounced back in 2025-26 after a down 2024-25 season with 11 goals and 61 points in 69 games. He also represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, capturing a gold medal.

Trent Frederic (29th Overall, 2016) 

Current status: Edmonton Oilers Forward

NHL games: 412 / Bruins games: 359

At the University of Wisconsin, Trent Frederic was almost a point-per-game player who found moderate success in Providence with 57 points in 104 games. Ultimately, he’s a solid bottom-six player who is fearless in going to the dirty areas to mix it up and just had his best season in the NHL with 40 points and 18 goals. Although these are not typical numbers of a first-round pick, they are exceptional for a role player like Frederic.

Frederic, however, was a part of a three-team trade deadline move that involved the Bruins, the Edmonton Oilers, and the New Jersey Devils that sent Max Wanner, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. Frederic signed an eight-year, $30.8 million extension with the Oilers.

Jakub Zboril (13th Overall, 2015) 

Current status: Skating for HC Vitkovice

NHL games: 76 / Bruins games: 76

Jakub Zboril has not appeared in the NHL since 2022-23, when he made 22 appearances. He split the 2023-24 season with the AHL Bruins and the Cleveland Monsters. He became a free agent on July 1, 2024, and remains unsigned.

Following the 2023-24 season with the Monsters, Zboril signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the New Jersey Devils but did not make the roster. On Oct. 20, 2024, he signed a five-year deal with HC Dynamo Pardubice, but they mutually parted ways following the season. He subsequently signed with rival HC Vitkovice in August.

Jake Debrusk (14th Overall, 2015)

Current status: Canucks Winger

NHL games: 628 / Bruins games: 465

Jake DeBrusk played out the final year of his contract in 2023-24, having a bounce-back season under head coach Jim Montgomery in 2022-23. After a solid 2023-24 season, he earned a seven-year contract with the Canucks.

In two seasons in Vancouver, he’s been a consistent if a bit underwhelming player.

Zachary Senyshyn (15th Overall, 2015)

Current status: Playing for Czechia’s HC Olomouc

NHL games: 16 / Bruins games: 14

Unfortunately, playing in the NHL never panned out for Zachary Senyshyn, who skated in just 16 contests over four seasons. However, after spending the entire 2022-23 season in the AHL, he opted to head over to Europe and keep playing professionally with HC Olomouc in Czechia. 

David Pastrňák (25th Overall, 2014)

Current status: Bruins top-line winger

NHL games: 833

Historically, the Bruins have employed many Hall of Fame goal scorers, with only two scoring more than 60 goals in a single season: Phil Esposito and David Pastrňák. Considering that Boston has him signed for the next five seasons, he’s got a good chance at breaking the franchise’s goal record, which stands at 545. 

As the catalyst for the Bruins’ attack, Pastrňák has also become a leader for the Bruins following the departures of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

Pastrnak is consistently a 100-point player and remains one of the best players in the league.

Malcolm Subban (24th Overall, 2013)

Current status: Playing for HC Dynamo Pardubice in Czechia

NHL games: 87 / Bruins games: 2

Malcolm Subban may always play in the shadow of his older brother, P.K. Subban, but he can brag about being a first-round pick instead of being known as a second-rounder. Despite the high selection, Subban has never found his grove in the NHL, suiting up for 87 games with five franchises in eight seasons. As an AHL starter in 2023-23, he played 39 games, the most since turning professional in 2013-14. 

Dougie Hamilton (9th Overall, 2011)

Current status: New Jersey Devils Top-Pairing Defenseman

NHL games: 912 / Bruins games: 178

Dougie Hamilton debuted at 19 and developed slower than fans hoped. Ultimately, the Bruins traded him to the Calgary Flames in June 2015 for three draft picks. While in Alberta, Hamilton began to flourish, becoming a valuable trade piece that brought Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm to the organization. 

Interestingly, when Hamilton became a free agent in 2021, he signed a seven-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, earning $9 million a season.

Tyler Seguin (2nd Overall, 2010)

Current status: Dallas Stars Bottom-6 Forward

NHL games: 1,016 / Bruins games: 203

Tyler Seguin won the Stanley Cup as a 19-year-old with the Bruins in 2011. Since then, he’s made a name for himself with the Dallas Stars, becoming a seven-time 30-goal scorer, reaching a career-high of 40 in 2017-18. 

Outside of his rookie campaign, he’s skated in the Stanley Cup Final two more times, losing both series in six games. Statistically, Seguin has surpassed 1,000 games and 800 points. Even though he’s a bottom-six skater now, he’s still a threat to score 20 goals yearly. 

Jordan Caron (25th Overall, 2009)

Current status: Retired

NHL games: 157 / Bruins games: 134

Since last skating with the Bruins in 2014-15, Jordan Caron bounced around the NHL, skating with the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues before finding a home with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. Despite his best efforts, Caron eventually went to play professionally in the DEL and several other European leagues, retiring from the game at the end of the 2021 season. Interestingly, he scored 28 points in the NHL, all with the Bruins. 

Joe Colborne (16th Overall, 2008)

Current status: Retired

NHL games: 295 / Bruins games: 0

Joe Colborne never skated with the Bruins, making his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs after heading to Canada in the trade that brought Tomas Kaberle to Boston. Although Kaberle would go on to win the Stanley Cup with the team in 2011, Colborne would skate in 295 games over seven seasons with the Maple Leafs, Flames, and Avalanche. Instead of continuing his professional career in Europe, he left the game after spending the 2017-18 season in the AHL. 

Zach Hamill (8th Overall, 2007) 

Current status: Retired

NHL games: 20 / Bruins games: 20

Zach Hamill never skated in the NHL with another team besides the Bruins, dressing for 20 games between 2009 and 2012. Even though he spent most of his professional career in the AHL, he left North America after the 2013-14 season to pursue opportunities in Europe and Russia, ultimately retiring after the 2020-21 season. Statistically, his best season came in 2009-10 when he collected 44 points in 75 games with Providence. 

Phil Kessel (5th Overall, 2006)

Current status: Free Agent

NHL games: 1,286 / Bruins games: 222

Although Phil Kessel‘s tenure in Boston was short, he overcame a cancer diagnosis to win the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2006-07. After that, he wound up with the Maple Leafs for three draft picks, two of which were Seguin and Hamilton. 

During his time in Toronto, Kessel never scored under 20 goals in a single season, beginning his famous Iron Man streak, 1,064 consecutive games, now the NHL record. Although he found individual success in Canada, he became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins and recently won a third ring with the Vegas Golden Knights. Heading into training camp this year, he remains an unrestricted free agent at 36. He hasn’t played in the past three seasons but isn’t technically retired.

Matt Lashoff (22nd Overall, 2005)

Current status: Retired

NHL games: 74 / Bruins games: 46

As the Bruins’ first pick in the salary cap era, Matt Lashoff didn’t stay long in the NHL, playing 74 games with three teams from 2006 to 2011. However, he was a key player in a trade that brought veteran Mark Reechi to Boston in March 2009, whose presence in the lineup helped the Bruins capture the 2011 Stanley Cup. Besides spending a bulk of time in the AHL, Lashoff went to Europe and Russia to play professionally, finishing his career at the end of the 2019-20 season. 

Historical Perspective

Realistically, every team in professional sports has first-round success stories and tales of first-round busts. Of course, we could have gone through all the top picks in Bruins’ history, but we wanted to focus on the salary cap era ones, which date back 18 seasons. 

Interestingly, a handful of those initial draft picks are still playing, while most are no longer skating or with the Bruins organization. In retrospect, we could sit around for hours and debate the merits of each selection, but in hindsight, the team did what they thought was best with the selection clock ticking down. 

As one of the more successful franchises in NHL history, it’s okay to swing and miss on draft day sometimes because not every first-rounder will make an impact, and there’s no telling who else in a particular draft class could end up in the Hall of Fame someday.