The Bruins have the No. 7 pick in the NHL Draft, and over the last 10 years there have been hits and misses in that spot

Boston Globe

14-05-2025

A look at the last 10 players drafted with the No. 7 overall pick:
2024: Carter Yakemchuk, Ottawa.
The big defenseman (6 feet 3 inches, 195 pounds) joined the Senators during their first-round playoff series but didn't get into any games. Yakemchuk, 19, is poised to make a big impact in 2025-26 after a 245-game career in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen, for whom he collected 70 goals, 180 points, and 247 penalty minutes.
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2023: Matvei Michkov, Philadelphia.
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The right winger was a surprise snub in the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) race after leading all freshmen with 26 goals and 46 even-strength points. The 20-year-old Russian will be a favorite of fickle Flyers fans for the next decade.
2022: Kevin Korchinski, Chicago.
Following a 76-game rookie season in 2023-24, Korchinski, 20, spent most of this past season in the AHL. The defenseman is aggressive by nature and that led to too many turnovers at the varsity level. Still projects to be a top-four guy for the rebuilding Blackhawks.
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Blackhawks prospect Kevin Korchinski spent most of this past season in the AHL but still projects as a top-four defenseman.
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2021: William Eklund, San Jose.
One of the Sharks' plethora of young guns, the left winger, who is just 22, has played 174 games with 35 goals and 110 points. His most impressive stat? He was minus-7 in 2024-25 after minus-44 the previous season.
2020: Alexander Holtz, New Jersey.
After three seasons with the Devils (162 games, 23 goals, 46 points), the right winger was traded to Las Vegas. Holtz played 53 games for the Golden Knights but hasn't cracked Bruce Cassidy's playoff rotation.
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2019: Dylan Cozens, Buffalo.
After four-plus seasons with the Sabres, the center was traded to the Senators at the deadline. He was a regular for Ottawa down the stretch and scored a shorthanded goal in the playoff series loss to the Maple Leafs.
2018: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver.
The slick, puck-moving defenseman is the most accomplished player on this list. A Norris Trophy (top defenseman) finalist, Quinn has 59 goals and 350 assists in 433 games. He's on the books for two more seasons with a salary-cap hit of $7.85 million. Can they afford to keep their captain beyond that?
2017: Lias
Andersson, NY Rangers.
The Swedish center never found consistent footing in the NHL (seven goals in 110 career games), last suiting up for the Kings in 2022-23. He's now playing in the Swiss National League.
2016: Clayton Keller, Arizona.
The Boston University product has been a consistent force for the Coyotes/Mammoth, with 196 goals and 508 points in 601 games. The center was named the first captain for the fledgling Utah franchise and is currently captaining Team USA at the World Championship.
Utah captain Clayton Keller is also captaining Team USA at the World Championship.
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2015: Ivan Provorov, Philadelphia.
After a seven-year run with the Flyers, the big defenseman has spent the last two seasons with the Blue Jackets. A steady and responsible performer, he has 77 goals and 282 points in 696 games. He has just 247 PIMs, impressive for a physical defender.
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Jim McBride can be reached at