The Bruins moved on from Tyler Seguin after three semiproductive seasons. That’s a short leash for a No. 2 overall draft pick, but hardly unprecedented in team history. The Bruins have traded six other players they drafted in the top five, and all found success elsewhere.
A look at those players:
Barry Gibbs, D
First overall in 1966
With Bruins: 24 games, 0 points
After Bruins: 773 games, 282 points
Gibbs was traded to Minnesota along with Tom Williams for a minimal return. Gibbs was an All-Star in 1973.
Reggie Leach, RW
Third overall in 1970
With Bruins: 79 games, 26 points
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After Bruins: 855 games, 640 points
Leach, a two-time All-Star with the Flyers, went in a package to California. The Bruins gained Carol Vadnais.
Rick MacLeish, LW
Fourth overall in 1970
With Bruins: 0 games, 0 points
After Bruins: 846 games, 759 points
MacLeish, a three-time All-Star, was dished to the Flyers in a three-way deal that brought the Bruins Mike Walton.
Glen Wesley, D
Third overall in 1987
With Bruins: 537 games, 307 points
After Bruins: 920 games, 230 points
Wesley was 25 when dealt to Hartford for picks that turned into Kyle McLaren, Johnathan Aitken, and Sergei Samsonov.
Joe Thornton, C
First overall in 1997
With Bruins: 532 games, 454 points
After Bruins: 593 games, 664 points
Thornton ended up with the Hart Trophy following his early-season trade in 2005, making three All-Star teams with Sharks.
Phil Kessel, RW
Fifth overall in 2006
With Bruins: 222 games, 126 points
After Bruins: 282 games, 253 points
Kessel, a two-time All-Star was the piece that got Toronto to part with picks that became Seguin and Dougie Hamilton.