The NHL Entry Draft is always considered to be a crapshoot. Regardless of the selection – from the first overall pick to the last – there are some choices that pan out, and others that don’t live up to expectations.

That sentiment holds true for Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli, whose history of picks that have come up short are well documented. None was more evident than the 2007 NHL Draft.

There was no denying that Chiarelli had his hands full during his first year on the job in the 2006-07 season. Dave Lewis was the team’s head coach and provided more humor than quality coaching behind the bench in his only season with the Black and Gold.

As a result, the Bruins had the eighth pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. That selection might not have panned out right away, but their contributions could’ve panned out down the road.

With that eighth pick, the Bruins selected Zach Hamill from the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. Eventually, Hamill proved to be one of the biggest busts in B’s history.

One pick later, the San Jose Sharks, who acquired the ninth pick in a trade with the St. Louis Blues, selected Logan Couture. Nearly eight years after being drafted, Couture remains a stalwart on the Sharks’ top two lines, while Hamill is now playing in Europe.

Other prime names that Chiarelli passed on in Round 1 of the 2007 NHL Draft include Ryan McDonagh (Canadiens), Kevin Shattenkirk (Avalanche), Max Pacioretty (Habs) and David Perron (Blues).

With the exception of Jamie Benn and P.K. Subban, the talent from rounds 2-7 haven’t panned out in that ’07 Draft class. The Bruins, however, could’ve had Subban with the fifth pick in round two. Instead they drafted Tommy Cross, who despite having four solid seasons at Boston College, has not stepped on the ice in the NHL yet. Subban was taken eight picks later by the Habs and has established himself as a Bruins killer and a top-tier defenseman.

The Bruins rounded out their draft with Denis Reul in the fifth round, Alain Goulet and Radim Ostrcil in round six and Jordan Knackstadt in the seventh round.

Of the six picks, the 2007 Bruins draft class have combined to play a grand total of 20 games – all by Hamill.

The Bruins 2007 draft class highlighted scouting flaws from Peter Chiarelli and company. Screen grab via Hockeydb.com

Maybe Chiarelli’s picks from the last few years will pan out. David Pastrnak is getting his feet wet in North American hockey and will get his chance to shine on the first line with Milan Lucic and David Krejci beginning with tonight’s game against the Devils. Malcolm Subban is getting into a rhythm in Providence. Dougie Hamilton is getting more comfortable as a good two-way defender and will be a future top defenseman.

Yet, maybe Chiarelli will turn those draft picks into trades that don’t pan out like the Tyler Seguin deal to Dallas.

Still, with Subban and Couture on board, it’s easy to imagine that the Black and Gold would’ve fared well this season. And there’s no question those two would’ve helped the Bruins in their run to the Stanley Cup in 2010-11 and beyond.

Sure, the team would look different with Subban and Couture, but it’s also safe to say that they would’ve fit the Bruins system nearly eight years after being drafted Habs and Sharks, respectively.