The Bruins finally got to use their second overall pick at the 2010 NHL entry draft on Friday night, and after Edmonton drafted Windsor Spitfires winger Taylor Hall, the B’s selected center Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers, as expected.
Seguin was excited to be drafted.
“It feels amazing,” Seguin said as he donned the spoked B for the first time. “I can’t really describe it. Maybe it’s like winning the Stanley Cup. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had so far.”
Despite receiving numerous and some very substantial offers for their picks, Boston decided that the Brampton, Ontario, native was worth the selection.
There were also plenty of rumblings that the Bruins were trying to move up to take Hall at No. 1, but Seguin didn’t really care where ended up. Instead, he is simply happy to be part of the Bruins organization.
“I wasn’t surprised or disappointed,” Seguin said. “I think I just came in here really with an open mind. I didn’t have any expectations. I think everyone has their own opinion. We’ve seen it all year with whatever scouting service there may be. You know Edmonton decided to select Hall first overall, and good for him. He deserves it. And I’m happy to be a Bruin.”
Most of the trade speculation on the Bruins trying to acquire the rights to select Hall stemmed from the fact that Seguin is a center, the position at which the Bruins have the most depth. But as Seguin pointed out, he began his junior hockey career as a winger, despite being a natural center, and isn’t opposed to starting his NHL career the same way.
“No, I’ve always been a natural centerman my whole life,” Seguin told the media. “I’ve always played center. But when I came into my OHL career as a rookie, I had to adjust to wing because I was playing with better players, and I was more of a play-maker that year.
“This past year, the better players ended up leaving the team. They were older, so I got moved to center, and turned out to be more of a goal scorer. I’m a pretty diverse player, and I want to step into a team or organization like the Bruins and play any role.”
Seguin may be known for his playmaking and offensive skills, amassing 106 points with Plymouth in 2009-10, but he is ready to be a solid two-way player as well, after focusing on his defensive game this past season.
“Especially this year I knew I had to get to the next level, and I had to mature as a player and get better being in my own end, and I knew that,” the Bruins’ newest member said. “It started working out that when I was doing better in my ‘D’ zone, I was getting more chances in the offensive zone. I think that was just because of maturing as a player here in this past year.”
Seguin acknowledged that his childhood loyalty was dedicated to his local team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, but any blue and white flowing through his veins has turned black and gold and, as he pointed out, he is happy to play with Toronto’s Original Six rival and be a Bruin.
“Growing up I was the local guy. I liked watching the Leafs because they were the local team,” Seguin admitted. “Now that it happened, I think it’s meant to be. I think things worked out throughout my life and anyone’s lives. It’s just where we were supposed to fall, and Boston was the team that was supposed to pick me.”
Seguin apparently has already become very familiar with a new teammate that will most likely become a mentor for him, veteran Mark Recchi, who just signed a new one-year deal with the Bruins on Friday.
“Actually I just ran into Mark Recchi at the hotel a couple times,” Seguin said when asked if there are Bruins that he has looked forward to playing with if he did become a Bruin. “We seem to be elevator buddies. That was pretty cool. He’s going to give me a lot of advice, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Seguin also enjoyed watching captain Zdeno Chara play this past season, but isn’t sure about facing him in practice.
“And of course, I’ve seen Chara play and he was probably the best player I’ve ever seen on the Bruins this past year,” Seguin said. “I think it’s going to be quite tough going one-on-one against him if I get that opportunity.”
