The 1996-97 Boston Bruins were bad. Really bad; we’re talking 26 wins bad. As a result, they landed the first overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft, a pick which was used to select Sault Ste. Marie center Joe Thornton. That, however, wasn’t Boston’s only opening round pick, and their next one had a direct tie to the Carolina Hurricanes organization.
Back on August 26, 1994, the Bruins shipped defenseman Glen Wesley to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for Hartford’s 1st round picks in 95, 96, and 97. The latter pick ended up in the number 8 spot and netted Russian winger Sergei Samsonov.