Boston Bruins Pick Update 2010, 2011 Jan. 11th

Hiya folks- I'm here with what has become a ritual for B2010DW this season: the Monday pick update.

I'm also going to start including the rest of the rounds (estimated) AND throw in the total number of picks in 2011 given that it's impossible to project where those are going to be 18 months out.

The Boston Bruins are hurting with the injuries to Patrice Bergeron, Marc Savard, Mark Stuart and Andrew Ference. A team that had trouble scoring goals before its top two centermen and best playmakers went out with thumb and knee injuries respectively is positively hamstrung without Bergeron and Savard. And the defense is banged up, too- with Stuart yet to return from a broken sternum and Ference out with a groin injury suffered against Ottawa last week.

The good news for B's fans is that Toronto has been just plain lousy lately (2-6-2 in their last 10). Let's face it- we all knew they weren't that great a team going into the season, but this latest version of the Maple Leafs has underachieved in major fashion in Brian Burke's first full year as GM.

So, Toronto is holding the third-worst spot in the NHL, but Edmonton is just two points behind them with a pair of games in hand, while Carolina has quietly creeped up from the basement, just six points behind the Leafs with the same number of games in hand. Clearly, getting Eric Staal and Cam Ward back have helped the Hurricanes, and where they once looked buried in the cellar a month ago, they could play their way out of a last-place finish if they keep it up.

Best of all, the teams ahead of Toronto have been winning lately, putting some distance between them and the Leafs. So, it's going to be tough for Ron Wilson's team to climb up in the standings unless they go on a major hot streak. Possible, sure, but not the way Phil Kessel and Co. have been playing for them lately.

That's it for the Monday analysis. Now, here are the B's picks (not taking the lottery into account) if the season ended today. After round 2, the picks are estimated and won't be carved in stone until the Stanley Cup playoffs conclude in June. But, it's close and will give you, the hardcore draftniks out there, something to template for your mock drafts between now and then:

2010 Boston Bruins draft picks

1st round (2)
3rd overall (Toronto- 39 points; 15-22-9) *Kessel trade
17th overall (Boston- 51 points; 22-15-7)

2nd round (3)
33rd overall (Toronto) *Kessel trade
36th overall (Tampa Bay- 44 points; 17-17-10) *Recchi trade
47th overall (Boston)

3rd round (0)
None- Buffalo *Paille trade

4th round (2)**
91st overall (Carolina- 33 points; 13-24-7) *Ward trade
107th overall** (Boston)

**One 4th-round conditional pick (Boston's) obligated to Buffalo as part of Paille trade if he scores 16 goals this season (based on reports- exact performance measure not confirmed)

5th round (1)
137th overall (Boston)

6th round (1)
167th overall (Boston)

7th round (1)
197th overall (Boston)

2011 Boston Bruins draft picks

1st round (2)
Boston
Toronto * Kessel trade

2nd round (2)
Boston
Minnesota * Kobsasew trade

3rd round (1)
Boston

4th round (1)
Boston

5th round (1)
Boston

6th round (1)
Boston

7th round (1)
Boston

Not a bad 100th post. I hope you guys are getting something out of the blog, and if there is anything in particular you want to see or have questions about, let me know.