Despite my best efforts, not going to complete the series by August 1st, so I'll close out the prospects coverage tomorrow and next week.
Until then, here's a one-source post that allows you to see what I've written about the Bruins' top (in my view) 25 prospects:
1. Tyler Seguin, C/W
2. Joe Colborne, C
3. Jordan Caron, RW
4. Maxime Sauve, C/LW
5. Jared Knight, RW
6. Ryan Button, D
7. Brad Marchand, RW
8. Ryan Spooner, C/W
9. Yuri Alexandrov, D
10. Zach Hamill, C
11. David Warsofsky, D
12. Adam McQuaid, D
13. Jamie Arniel, C
14. Tommy Cross, D
15. Michael Hutchinson, G
16. Alexander Fallstrom, RW
17. Andrew Bodnarchuk, D
18. Steven Kampfer, D
19. Yannick Riendeau, RW
20. Jeff Penner, D
21. Mikko Lehtonen, RW
22. Matt Bartkowski, D
23. Craig Cunningham, LW
24. Matt Dalton, G
25. Lane MacDermid, LW
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #25 Lane MacDermid
Lane MacDermid, LW
6-3, 210
August 25, 1989
Shoots: Left
Boston's 3rd choice, 112th overall (fourth round) in 2009 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Big, strong, physical winger with good bloodlines; his father, Paul, played nearly 700 NHL games for the Hartford Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals and Quebec Nordiques. slightly below average skater; had trouble keeping up with the play in the AHL at the beginning of the season last year, but worked hard on it and is steadily improving. Puckhandling and shooting skills are also a work in progress, but his real strengths are what could get him to the NHL as an enforcer: the hitting and fighting. He goes out and hits everything in sight, kind of like a poor man's Milan Lucic (when Lucic is healthy and on top of his game). Led Providence with 21 fighting majors last season and probably would have had more had he not broken his thumb in a fight against Zach Sill of the Binghamton Senators in mid-March. Has continued to build his strength in the gym and it shows in his fights, as he stands in against opponents and gives and takes punches while remaining upright. Relishes the fighting aspect of the game and is developing into a feared pugilist in the minors.
Intangibles: Hard worker who understands his role and his limitations. Earned Providence coach Rob Murray's respect for his willingness to go the extra mile to address the shortcomings in his game while regularly fighting and taking one for the team. Character guy who understands what it takes to make it in the pros and has been a model citizen on the farm.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
Fourth line enforcer; MacDermid is developing into a similar player to Shawn Thornton and could provide the same kind of impact that 'Sugar" has for the B's. He's a willing and nasty fighter and should elevate his offense a bit in his second AHL season after putting in the work to improve his hockey skills.
Quotable
"We've never had to tell him to get in the gym, to do a little extra. We got back from a Sunday afternoon game a while ago, and as I was leaving to go home I looked in the gym, and there was Dermie. We had Monday off and he understood, 'Here's a good chance for me to get a workout in.'''- Providence head coach Rob Murray to Mark Divver, Providence Journal; March 26, 2010
The Final Word
There are other Bruins prospects in the system with better skills and upside than MacDermid, but nobody's tougher. So long as he's willing to be patient, he'll get his shot with Boston when Thornton moves on. We're at the point where arguing about where the prospects are listed is a bit of an exercise in futility, as the Bruins have only so many openings. But, as far as toughness goes, that will be MacDermid's ticket to the big show. He's not great shakes as a player, but he'll go out and fight anyone without needing to be told what to do. We can certainly argue that the Bruins could have gotten more value for their buck than MacDermid in the 4th round of the 2009 draft, but they also ended up with Alexander Fallstrom, so the two together are not a bad haul from that round and both have a shot at playing for the big club if they continue to take steps forward.
6-3, 210
August 25, 1989
Shoots: Left
Boston's 3rd choice, 112th overall (fourth round) in 2009 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Big, strong, physical winger with good bloodlines; his father, Paul, played nearly 700 NHL games for the Hartford Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals and Quebec Nordiques. slightly below average skater; had trouble keeping up with the play in the AHL at the beginning of the season last year, but worked hard on it and is steadily improving. Puckhandling and shooting skills are also a work in progress, but his real strengths are what could get him to the NHL as an enforcer: the hitting and fighting. He goes out and hits everything in sight, kind of like a poor man's Milan Lucic (when Lucic is healthy and on top of his game). Led Providence with 21 fighting majors last season and probably would have had more had he not broken his thumb in a fight against Zach Sill of the Binghamton Senators in mid-March. Has continued to build his strength in the gym and it shows in his fights, as he stands in against opponents and gives and takes punches while remaining upright. Relishes the fighting aspect of the game and is developing into a feared pugilist in the minors.
Intangibles: Hard worker who understands his role and his limitations. Earned Providence coach Rob Murray's respect for his willingness to go the extra mile to address the shortcomings in his game while regularly fighting and taking one for the team. Character guy who understands what it takes to make it in the pros and has been a model citizen on the farm.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
Fourth line enforcer; MacDermid is developing into a similar player to Shawn Thornton and could provide the same kind of impact that 'Sugar" has for the B's. He's a willing and nasty fighter and should elevate his offense a bit in his second AHL season after putting in the work to improve his hockey skills.
Quotable
"We've never had to tell him to get in the gym, to do a little extra. We got back from a Sunday afternoon game a while ago, and as I was leaving to go home I looked in the gym, and there was Dermie. We had Monday off and he understood, 'Here's a good chance for me to get a workout in.'''- Providence head coach Rob Murray to Mark Divver, Providence Journal; March 26, 2010
The Final Word
There are other Bruins prospects in the system with better skills and upside than MacDermid, but nobody's tougher. So long as he's willing to be patient, he'll get his shot with Boston when Thornton moves on. We're at the point where arguing about where the prospects are listed is a bit of an exercise in futility, as the Bruins have only so many openings. But, as far as toughness goes, that will be MacDermid's ticket to the big show. He's not great shakes as a player, but he'll go out and fight anyone without needing to be told what to do. We can certainly argue that the Bruins could have gotten more value for their buck than MacDermid in the 4th round of the 2009 draft, but they also ended up with Alexander Fallstrom, so the two together are not a bad haul from that round and both have a shot at playing for the big club if they continue to take steps forward.
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #24 Matt Dalton
Matt Dalton, G
6-1, 190
July 4, 1986
Catches: Left
Signed as a free agent by Boston; April 22, 2009
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Good size and athleticism with the requisite quick reflexes to play the position effectively. Takes up a good portion of the net and stays square to the shooter; very good with his angles and positioning. Quick pads and glove; gets down and back up quickly while maintaining good net coverage. Needs to improve rebound control. Puckhandling is average. Is an effective puckstopper who is still honing his skills and fundamentals, but plays a good, consistent game overall.
Intangibles: Big-game player who led tiny Bemidji State to its improbable Frozen Four run in April '09. In five postseason games for the Beavers, Dalton posted insane numbers, going 4-1 wit a 1.60 GAA and .948 save percentage. His heroics kept his team in the semifinal game against Miami Unversity, when the RedHawks tilted the ice in BSU's end and pelted Dalton with shot after shot. Dalton played well in Reading of the ECHL, showing enough poise that he was recalled to Boston for a week in early March to backup Tim Thomas when Tuukka Rask was injured. Although he didn't play, the chance to be around the team and practice with the players provided him some confidence going into his second pro season.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Dalton had an okay camp, but more was expected to be frank. He just turned 24 and was the only player there with any legitimate pro experience (aside from Adam Courchaine's four games with Providence in '08 and '09), but didn't do a great deal to stand out. As Don Sweeney said, the goalies were at the biggest disadvantage, and because they are constantly under assault both in the drills and scrimmages, it's hard to get a read on them in the D-Camp setting. As things stand right now, a solid main camp from Dalton will give him the chance to spend the season in the AHL with Providence, likely backing up the more experienced Nolan Schaefer, but with enough playing time to keep developing.
Projection
A raw prospect who has been a late-bloomer, Dalton would need some major breaks to go his way to see any considerable NHL time. He's a good athlete and has shown promise at the NCAA and ECHL levels, but his chances of making the big show as anything other than a fill-in or backup are pretty slim. That said, he's a serviceable player who's shown a penchant for putting teams on his back when under fire, so keep an eye on him.
Quotable
“I want to dominate at whatever level I’m at. Whether it’s NHL, AHL or wherever, I want to dominate and that’s my goal. I’ve had a taste of it now and kind of know what to expect, and I’m excited.”- Matt Dalton to hockeyjournal.com, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
The Final Word
After Mike Hutchinson, Dalton is the best the Bruins have for goaltending prospects, but none are considered high-end or "blue chip" players at the position as it stands right now. This isn't a bad thing because between Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas, there isn't any room for young, raw players. If injuries set in, however, Dalton could see a callup, and if the B's were to be hit with a rash of boo boos at the position, that's going to be an issue for Boston. The best thing B's fans can hope for is that Dalton makes the Providence roster and can continue to gain pro experience and play well without being thrown into the fire this season.
6-1, 190
July 4, 1986
Catches: Left
Signed as a free agent by Boston; April 22, 2009
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Good size and athleticism with the requisite quick reflexes to play the position effectively. Takes up a good portion of the net and stays square to the shooter; very good with his angles and positioning. Quick pads and glove; gets down and back up quickly while maintaining good net coverage. Needs to improve rebound control. Puckhandling is average. Is an effective puckstopper who is still honing his skills and fundamentals, but plays a good, consistent game overall.
Intangibles: Big-game player who led tiny Bemidji State to its improbable Frozen Four run in April '09. In five postseason games for the Beavers, Dalton posted insane numbers, going 4-1 wit a 1.60 GAA and .948 save percentage. His heroics kept his team in the semifinal game against Miami Unversity, when the RedHawks tilted the ice in BSU's end and pelted Dalton with shot after shot. Dalton played well in Reading of the ECHL, showing enough poise that he was recalled to Boston for a week in early March to backup Tim Thomas when Tuukka Rask was injured. Although he didn't play, the chance to be around the team and practice with the players provided him some confidence going into his second pro season.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Dalton had an okay camp, but more was expected to be frank. He just turned 24 and was the only player there with any legitimate pro experience (aside from Adam Courchaine's four games with Providence in '08 and '09), but didn't do a great deal to stand out. As Don Sweeney said, the goalies were at the biggest disadvantage, and because they are constantly under assault both in the drills and scrimmages, it's hard to get a read on them in the D-Camp setting. As things stand right now, a solid main camp from Dalton will give him the chance to spend the season in the AHL with Providence, likely backing up the more experienced Nolan Schaefer, but with enough playing time to keep developing.
Projection
A raw prospect who has been a late-bloomer, Dalton would need some major breaks to go his way to see any considerable NHL time. He's a good athlete and has shown promise at the NCAA and ECHL levels, but his chances of making the big show as anything other than a fill-in or backup are pretty slim. That said, he's a serviceable player who's shown a penchant for putting teams on his back when under fire, so keep an eye on him.
Quotable
“I want to dominate at whatever level I’m at. Whether it’s NHL, AHL or wherever, I want to dominate and that’s my goal. I’ve had a taste of it now and kind of know what to expect, and I’m excited.”- Matt Dalton to hockeyjournal.com, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
The Final Word
After Mike Hutchinson, Dalton is the best the Bruins have for goaltending prospects, but none are considered high-end or "blue chip" players at the position as it stands right now. This isn't a bad thing because between Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas, there isn't any room for young, raw players. If injuries set in, however, Dalton could see a callup, and if the B's were to be hit with a rash of boo boos at the position, that's going to be an issue for Boston. The best thing B's fans can hope for is that Dalton makes the Providence roster and can continue to gain pro experience and play well without being thrown into the fire this season.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #23 Craig Cunningham
Craig Cunningham, LW
5-10, 180
September 3, 1990
Shoots: Left
Boston's 4th choice, 97th overall, in 2010 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Short but stocky forward is naturally strong and better suited to transition from major junior to the pro grind than one would think simply by looking at his vitals on paper. Strong upper- and lower-body drive for his size. Very good skater who doesn't have explosive speed, but is highly quick and agile; outstanding edge control provides him the balance and elusiveness to slip checks and create space for himself. Soft hands for passing and scoring goals. Can feather feeds through traffic and find open teammates for quality scoring opportunities. Has a quick stick and is exceptionally good at getting it on loose pucks and putting them home in close. Chippy player who gives as good as he gets; not afraid to get his nose dirty. Doesn't have the size to be a physical force, but willingly initiates contact and finishes his checks-- plays with a lot of energy. Another dedicated gym rat who became a close friend and workout partner of Milan Lucic's when the two were teammates on the Memorial Cup-winning Vancouver Giants in 2006-07.
Intangibles: This fierce competitor has had to overcome a great deal before age 20; lost his father, Alvin, to a car accident 10 years ago and had to grow up quickly. Highly coachable player who is as mature and focused as any 19-year-old prospect you'll find. Has the kind of heart and desire that may transcend his size deficit at the next level, but has a ways to go before he'll be ready to seriously compete for an NHL job. An affable yet serious type who learned the value of hard work watching his mother, Heather, work two jobs to support him and his two brothers after his father passed away. One of those classic "more than the sum of his parts" type players you hear about; he elevated himself from 0 goals at age 16 to 11 to 28 to 37 this past season while facing other teams' best defensive focus. Driven to succeed and is a fine leader and teammate.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Cunningham kept the skeptics (present company included) at bay in Wilmington this month by showing off the skills and drive that the B's raved about when they drafted him with a surpisingly high pick for a player who was twice passed over previously in the draft. He played well on a line with Ryan Spooner and camp invite Tyler Brenner, going hard to the net and generating some good scoring opportunities. All three wore a teal penney throughout camp and scored goals while making it exciting for the fans in attendance. Cunningham also showed a nice chemistry skating with '09 top pick Jordan Caron when the team went to a three-on-three scrimmage format on the last day. Cunningham wasn't a dynamic presence, but he grew on me as the days progressed, and certainly did not look out of place.
Projection
The Bruins did not draft Cunningham with the thought of having him serve as an AHL Marty St. Pierre-type of filler player, but hope that he could one day become a fixture on their third line and see a lot of special teams time. If you listen to Cunningham's junior coach, Don Hay, and former NHL star and family friend Ray Ferraro, he's going to not only make it to the NHL one day, but stay there. If you look at the youngster's steady progression, there is reason to believe that he can make that happen at some point, but his lack of size will be the biggest obstacle to his quest to reach the highest level. He has an overage year of junior eligibility left, so depending on how Boston's contract and cap situation looks, they could defer his signing for another season, or go ahead and get the soon-to-be 20-year-old into the pro mix right away.
Quotable
“He’s just such a coachable young man. Right from the time he was 16, he really understood everything that was being taught to him. He tried to do everything that was being taught to him, and he continually got better and better. The evolution is that he’s a 19-year-old player now; he knows what the expectations are and he’s grown with different leaders. He’s a real Giant-type player—he’s a really hard-working young man.”- Vancouver Giants Don Hay to Straight.com; December, 2009
“When he was 16 we saw some skill in him, but he didn’t score a goal the whole year. But in that training camp with his own age group, he was one of the top players. We knew he had the skill, but he wasn’t having the success as far as putting up numbers. But killing penalties and doing all the things—playing five-on-five, finishing checks—he did all those things. Now, as a 19-year-old, his skill level has caught up and he’s been a real, real good player for us.”- Don Hay to Straight.com; December, 2009
"We really like this kid. He led Vancouver in scoring andwas one of the top scorers in the entire WHL this past season, but beyond that, you have to look at what he's gone through in his life and how he's had to overcome a lot. He brings a lot of energy and passion to everything he does, and he's just one of those players that we looked at a lot this year and felt he brought both that scoring and character to the table."- Bruins director of amateur scouting Wayne Smith
to B2010DW; Los Angeles; June 26, 2010
"Craig Cunningham / LW ('90): Has become shifty and dangerous enough that he's turned into a real pro prospect. Seems to me like he's grown a little bit (maybe an inch or so) in the last two years, so that also helps. And he was one of the youngest players in the 2008 draft, so he's closer to being a part of last year's group. I'll be shocked if someone doesn't grab him at least late in the draft - could even go in the middle rounds. If somehow he doesn't go, he'll have a lot of calls from teams for a camp invite."- Mike Remmerde, NHL Draft Notes Blog, June 22, 2010
"It was a great experience. I really like all the guys here; it kind of felt like we became a team right away which was pretty cool. All the stuff we did in the first few days-- I mean-- it was hard, but I think it made the week easier as you got more and more comfortable within the organization and with the people you were around all day."- Craig Cunningham to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"I'm a two-way player. I can play a checking role or scoring role; it doesn't matter. I can play up or down the lineup-- I can be moved up or moved down. I pride myself on my work ethic and that's kind of what gets me to where I am today."- Craig Cunningham to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
Fast rising Cunningham leads Vancouver Giants to the net
http://www.straight.com/article-275161/vancouver/fastrising-cunningham-leads-giants-net
The Final Word
Looking back on it, it's easy to get caught up in the fact that the Bruins spent a top-100 pick on a player who was passed over some 420 times previously as Red Line Report pointed out in their July draft recap, where Cunningham was featured as one of the most "overvalued" picks of the draft. That said, some players simply take a longer time to develop, and in Cunningham's case, the skill was always there, he just took more time to put it together. I went to Wilmington interested in what he could do because the fact of the matter is, while sources I spoke to from the WHL beat at the draft expressed surprise that Cunningham was drafted as high as he was, not one person had a bad word for him. Not one. Now, is he going to be a legitimate NHL player, or one of these 'tweener guys who's an AHL star, but only plays bit roles now and then as he bounces around the circuit with numerous NHL clubs? That's for Cunningham to determine, but he's one of those guys who you come to appreciate the more you see him. He could in time prove the doubters wrong and establish himself as a valuable character role player who can do a little bit of everything.
5-10, 180
September 3, 1990
Shoots: Left
Boston's 4th choice, 97th overall, in 2010 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Short but stocky forward is naturally strong and better suited to transition from major junior to the pro grind than one would think simply by looking at his vitals on paper. Strong upper- and lower-body drive for his size. Very good skater who doesn't have explosive speed, but is highly quick and agile; outstanding edge control provides him the balance and elusiveness to slip checks and create space for himself. Soft hands for passing and scoring goals. Can feather feeds through traffic and find open teammates for quality scoring opportunities. Has a quick stick and is exceptionally good at getting it on loose pucks and putting them home in close. Chippy player who gives as good as he gets; not afraid to get his nose dirty. Doesn't have the size to be a physical force, but willingly initiates contact and finishes his checks-- plays with a lot of energy. Another dedicated gym rat who became a close friend and workout partner of Milan Lucic's when the two were teammates on the Memorial Cup-winning Vancouver Giants in 2006-07.
Intangibles: This fierce competitor has had to overcome a great deal before age 20; lost his father, Alvin, to a car accident 10 years ago and had to grow up quickly. Highly coachable player who is as mature and focused as any 19-year-old prospect you'll find. Has the kind of heart and desire that may transcend his size deficit at the next level, but has a ways to go before he'll be ready to seriously compete for an NHL job. An affable yet serious type who learned the value of hard work watching his mother, Heather, work two jobs to support him and his two brothers after his father passed away. One of those classic "more than the sum of his parts" type players you hear about; he elevated himself from 0 goals at age 16 to 11 to 28 to 37 this past season while facing other teams' best defensive focus. Driven to succeed and is a fine leader and teammate.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Cunningham kept the skeptics (present company included) at bay in Wilmington this month by showing off the skills and drive that the B's raved about when they drafted him with a surpisingly high pick for a player who was twice passed over previously in the draft. He played well on a line with Ryan Spooner and camp invite Tyler Brenner, going hard to the net and generating some good scoring opportunities. All three wore a teal penney throughout camp and scored goals while making it exciting for the fans in attendance. Cunningham also showed a nice chemistry skating with '09 top pick Jordan Caron when the team went to a three-on-three scrimmage format on the last day. Cunningham wasn't a dynamic presence, but he grew on me as the days progressed, and certainly did not look out of place.
Projection
The Bruins did not draft Cunningham with the thought of having him serve as an AHL Marty St. Pierre-type of filler player, but hope that he could one day become a fixture on their third line and see a lot of special teams time. If you listen to Cunningham's junior coach, Don Hay, and former NHL star and family friend Ray Ferraro, he's going to not only make it to the NHL one day, but stay there. If you look at the youngster's steady progression, there is reason to believe that he can make that happen at some point, but his lack of size will be the biggest obstacle to his quest to reach the highest level. He has an overage year of junior eligibility left, so depending on how Boston's contract and cap situation looks, they could defer his signing for another season, or go ahead and get the soon-to-be 20-year-old into the pro mix right away.
Quotable
“He’s just such a coachable young man. Right from the time he was 16, he really understood everything that was being taught to him. He tried to do everything that was being taught to him, and he continually got better and better. The evolution is that he’s a 19-year-old player now; he knows what the expectations are and he’s grown with different leaders. He’s a real Giant-type player—he’s a really hard-working young man.”- Vancouver Giants Don Hay to Straight.com; December, 2009
“When he was 16 we saw some skill in him, but he didn’t score a goal the whole year. But in that training camp with his own age group, he was one of the top players. We knew he had the skill, but he wasn’t having the success as far as putting up numbers. But killing penalties and doing all the things—playing five-on-five, finishing checks—he did all those things. Now, as a 19-year-old, his skill level has caught up and he’s been a real, real good player for us.”- Don Hay to Straight.com; December, 2009
"We really like this kid. He led Vancouver in scoring andwas one of the top scorers in the entire WHL this past season, but beyond that, you have to look at what he's gone through in his life and how he's had to overcome a lot. He brings a lot of energy and passion to everything he does, and he's just one of those players that we looked at a lot this year and felt he brought both that scoring and character to the table."- Bruins director of amateur scouting Wayne Smith
to B2010DW; Los Angeles; June 26, 2010
"Craig Cunningham / LW ('90): Has become shifty and dangerous enough that he's turned into a real pro prospect. Seems to me like he's grown a little bit (maybe an inch or so) in the last two years, so that also helps. And he was one of the youngest players in the 2008 draft, so he's closer to being a part of last year's group. I'll be shocked if someone doesn't grab him at least late in the draft - could even go in the middle rounds. If somehow he doesn't go, he'll have a lot of calls from teams for a camp invite."- Mike Remmerde, NHL Draft Notes Blog, June 22, 2010
"It was a great experience. I really like all the guys here; it kind of felt like we became a team right away which was pretty cool. All the stuff we did in the first few days-- I mean-- it was hard, but I think it made the week easier as you got more and more comfortable within the organization and with the people you were around all day."- Craig Cunningham to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"I'm a two-way player. I can play a checking role or scoring role; it doesn't matter. I can play up or down the lineup-- I can be moved up or moved down. I pride myself on my work ethic and that's kind of what gets me to where I am today."- Craig Cunningham to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
Fast rising Cunningham leads Vancouver Giants to the net
http://www.straight.com/article-275161/vancouver/fastrising-cunningham-leads-giants-net
The Final Word
Looking back on it, it's easy to get caught up in the fact that the Bruins spent a top-100 pick on a player who was passed over some 420 times previously as Red Line Report pointed out in their July draft recap, where Cunningham was featured as one of the most "overvalued" picks of the draft. That said, some players simply take a longer time to develop, and in Cunningham's case, the skill was always there, he just took more time to put it together. I went to Wilmington interested in what he could do because the fact of the matter is, while sources I spoke to from the WHL beat at the draft expressed surprise that Cunningham was drafted as high as he was, not one person had a bad word for him. Not one. Now, is he going to be a legitimate NHL player, or one of these 'tweener guys who's an AHL star, but only plays bit roles now and then as he bounces around the circuit with numerous NHL clubs? That's for Cunningham to determine, but he's one of those guys who you come to appreciate the more you see him. He could in time prove the doubters wrong and establish himself as a valuable character role player who can do a little bit of everything.
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #22 Matt Bartkowski
Matt Bartkowski, D
6-1, 190
June 4, 1988
Shoots: Left
Acquired by Boston from Florida with Dennis Seidenberg for Byron Bitz, Craig Wellar and a 2010 2nd-round pick (Alex Petrovic); March 3, 2010
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Live, athletic frame with room to grow. Will need to add bulk, but is on the right track in his physical maturation process. Good skater; moves well in all directions. Isn't a blazing skater, but is able to keep puck carriers in front of him and can crossover and pivot fluidly. Decent passer; can hit the long clearing pass and moves the puck out of his end quickly. Puckhandling is a bit rough; better at making the safe passing play than having to carry it out under pressure. Has an underrated shot that he gets off quickly from the point; heavy and accurate. Very good defensively; understands positioning and likes to take the body. An effective open-ice hitter and does well at pinning his man along the boards and clearing traffic from in front of his own net. Keeps things pretty safe and simple for the most part, but has the mobility and potential to play more of a two-way game if he can improve his puckhandling and overall confidence. Has a reputation for being a tough, hard-nosed player, but will need to prove that in the AHL first-- wearing full face shields in the NCAA is one thing, but how he does when the gloves come off in the pros will be another thing entirely.
Intangibles: Bright kid (engineering major at Ohio St.) who brings a good attitude and some tenacity to the ice. Seems to have a good, solid instinctive feel for the defensive flow of the game, but the questions he must answer at the next level are whether he can bring the same kind of effectiveness offensively. A mature 22-year-old who spent two years away from home with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL before spending two seasons at Ohio State closer to his Pittsburgh home.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Bartkowski had a solid, solid performance. He's not a dynamic player who really stands out, but he does skate well and surprised me a bit with some plays he made where he joined the rush or made some smart pinches to not only maintain offensive possession, but get a good shot off from the point or make a nice pass. I thought going in that he would be a lot more conservative and play it safe, so it was nice to see that he was more aggressive. The camp itself didn't lend itself to seeing the kind of physical, hard-edged stuff that Bartkowski reportedly excels at, so it will be interesting to see how he does at rookie camp and in the minors this season. Overall, he was a pleasant surprise and looks to be a player who is pretty well-rounded and only lacks seasoning and experience.
Projection
Bartkowski looks like a lower-pairing, stay-at-home defender who could end up working himself into a fourth spot with special teams time if he can improve his puck skills. If he can develop an ability to fight (not a skill that can be honed in the NCAA), he'll be even more appealing, because he skates pretty well even if he is more of a vanilla type of defender who isn't dynamic. He's pretty buried on the depth chart right now, but the best thing for him will be to go down to Providence, work hard and earn a lot of minutes. From there, he might be able to work himself into a limited stint from Boston and who knows where it might go from there?
Quotable
"It was a hard decision to make (turning pro or staying in school) but in the end, I weighed my options with my family and we felt that signing with Boston was the best thing for me right now. I can finish my degree in the summers, but the situation was right for me to go ahead and take that next step, so I'm glad to be here."- Matt Bartkowski to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010.
"I consider myself a good defenseman who takes care of my own end first and sticks up for my teammates. I would say that's the biggest thing; just keeping things simple and making the right plays whenever I can."- Matt Bartkowski to B201DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
The Final Word
This is a player who could move up the prospect depth chart pretty well, but is similar to Adam McQuaid in that he's a defense-first player who plays the game with an edge, and will need a good amount of time in the minors to get seasoned before he's ready to make a run for an NHL job. He doesn't have McQuaid's size or toughness, but he's a better skater, so he should be able to carve a niche for himself in Providence this season and next. He's on the long path to a possible spot in Boston, but seems to have the physical and intangibles package to generate some positive notice from here on out.
6-1, 190
June 4, 1988
Shoots: Left
Acquired by Boston from Florida with Dennis Seidenberg for Byron Bitz, Craig Wellar and a 2010 2nd-round pick (Alex Petrovic); March 3, 2010
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Live, athletic frame with room to grow. Will need to add bulk, but is on the right track in his physical maturation process. Good skater; moves well in all directions. Isn't a blazing skater, but is able to keep puck carriers in front of him and can crossover and pivot fluidly. Decent passer; can hit the long clearing pass and moves the puck out of his end quickly. Puckhandling is a bit rough; better at making the safe passing play than having to carry it out under pressure. Has an underrated shot that he gets off quickly from the point; heavy and accurate. Very good defensively; understands positioning and likes to take the body. An effective open-ice hitter and does well at pinning his man along the boards and clearing traffic from in front of his own net. Keeps things pretty safe and simple for the most part, but has the mobility and potential to play more of a two-way game if he can improve his puckhandling and overall confidence. Has a reputation for being a tough, hard-nosed player, but will need to prove that in the AHL first-- wearing full face shields in the NCAA is one thing, but how he does when the gloves come off in the pros will be another thing entirely.
Intangibles: Bright kid (engineering major at Ohio St.) who brings a good attitude and some tenacity to the ice. Seems to have a good, solid instinctive feel for the defensive flow of the game, but the questions he must answer at the next level are whether he can bring the same kind of effectiveness offensively. A mature 22-year-old who spent two years away from home with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL before spending two seasons at Ohio State closer to his Pittsburgh home.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Bartkowski had a solid, solid performance. He's not a dynamic player who really stands out, but he does skate well and surprised me a bit with some plays he made where he joined the rush or made some smart pinches to not only maintain offensive possession, but get a good shot off from the point or make a nice pass. I thought going in that he would be a lot more conservative and play it safe, so it was nice to see that he was more aggressive. The camp itself didn't lend itself to seeing the kind of physical, hard-edged stuff that Bartkowski reportedly excels at, so it will be interesting to see how he does at rookie camp and in the minors this season. Overall, he was a pleasant surprise and looks to be a player who is pretty well-rounded and only lacks seasoning and experience.
Projection
Bartkowski looks like a lower-pairing, stay-at-home defender who could end up working himself into a fourth spot with special teams time if he can improve his puck skills. If he can develop an ability to fight (not a skill that can be honed in the NCAA), he'll be even more appealing, because he skates pretty well even if he is more of a vanilla type of defender who isn't dynamic. He's pretty buried on the depth chart right now, but the best thing for him will be to go down to Providence, work hard and earn a lot of minutes. From there, he might be able to work himself into a limited stint from Boston and who knows where it might go from there?
Quotable
"It was a hard decision to make (turning pro or staying in school) but in the end, I weighed my options with my family and we felt that signing with Boston was the best thing for me right now. I can finish my degree in the summers, but the situation was right for me to go ahead and take that next step, so I'm glad to be here."- Matt Bartkowski to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010.
"I consider myself a good defenseman who takes care of my own end first and sticks up for my teammates. I would say that's the biggest thing; just keeping things simple and making the right plays whenever I can."- Matt Bartkowski to B201DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
The Final Word
This is a player who could move up the prospect depth chart pretty well, but is similar to Adam McQuaid in that he's a defense-first player who plays the game with an edge, and will need a good amount of time in the minors to get seasoned before he's ready to make a run for an NHL job. He doesn't have McQuaid's size or toughness, but he's a better skater, so he should be able to carve a niche for himself in Providence this season and next. He's on the long path to a possible spot in Boston, but seems to have the physical and intangibles package to generate some positive notice from here on out.
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #21 Mikko Lehtonen
Mikko Lehtonen, RW
6-3, 200
April 1, 1987
Shoots; Right
Boston's 3rd choice, 83rd overall in 2005 Draft
Signing status: Restricted free agent
Talent Analysis
Physical: Wide-bodied power forward has the size and strength to do a lot in this game, but is still filling out and hasn't yet learned to use his physical gifts properly. A substandard first-step skating ability and his top speed is good, not great. Although he has a long stride, he seems to be a lumbering skater who takes too long to get it in gear. Directional change is mediocre; turns more as opposed to stopping and moving in a different direction. Has been observed skating better and faster than in some of the games watched with Providence; is it a lack of ability or lack of hustle? Very good hands and shot; can score from the outside and in close. Wrist shot has a rapid release and is accurate. Decent passer, but the strength of his offensive game is in the finish. Defensive play is average to below average; struggles with assignments and sticking with his man, especially when the tempo of the play picks up. Not very physical and gets pushed off the puck too much for a player of his size and natural strength.
Intangibles: After spending two seasons in Providence, you can see why this first-round talent fell down to the bottom of the third round in '05: his intensity and work ethic isn't where it needs to be in order to keep a job in the NHL. Like most players, Lehtonen is a nice guy and talks a good game about putting in the work, but the fact that Rob Murray benched him in the playoffs two years ago after he led the team in goal scoring (28) in the regular season speaks volumes as to where Lehtonen's head and compete levels have been since coming over to North America from Espoo of the Finnish SM-Liiga in 2008. He's gotten a pair of one-game recalls to Boston, but one can only deduce that the coaching staff didn't see enough that they liked of him to give Lehtonen an extended look. This is a damning assessment when you consider the injury woes the B's had last season and the fact that jobs up front were up for grabs, but he wasn't able to secure one.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
At one time, Lehtonen had the ability and upside to have an outside chance at being a top-two line forward in the NHL, but the skating and lack of fire has been his biggest hindrance and is why he's dropped out of the top-10 from where he was a year ago. Last season was an important test for Lehtonen, and he pretty well flunked it. He wasn't able to be the kind of consistent presence and difference-maker that Providence was desperate for despite ample opportunities to get it done. Sure, he didn't have much of a supporting cast, but the legitimate players find a way to get it done and make an impact. Lehtonen's best contributions have been fleeting at best. He's reportedly decided to play in Europe this year, and it wouldn't surprise if he were to give up his NHL pursuits with Boston altogether. Lehtonen has the skill to be a serviceable player in Europe, but without the grit and passion, he's simply not good enough to be much more than a solid AHL guy over here. Luckily for Boston, as a player picked in the late third round, a miss here isn't catastrophic and isn't the bad April Fool's joke (a play on his birthdate, folks) it would have been had they grabbed him in the first or second.
The Final Word
You don't want to write off a prospect with Lehtonen's physical abilities at age 23, but it appears to be where he's headed. He's just outside the top-20 because he could theoretically turn things around and his ability alone should have him higher even if it looks like he may be at the end of the line and is following the same path back to Scandinavian obscurity that former 1st-rounder Martin Samuelsson did five years ago. Lehtonen's been solidly productive in the AHL, but has also come off as soft and lacking in the drive that NHL coaches demand from players who can't get by on their talent alone. Boston's system and ethos do not appear to be a good fit for the affable but uneven Lehtonen, and he's on the verge of becoming a classic case study in what often happens to those players with impressive talent who fall down the draft board because of concerns about intensity and work ethic. He's not a bad guy, but the perception is that he wasn't willing to work as hard at improving his game that he needed to. And the fact that Boston gave him little opportunity speaks volumes to where they see him: icetime must be earned.
6-3, 200
April 1, 1987
Shoots; Right
Boston's 3rd choice, 83rd overall in 2005 Draft
Signing status: Restricted free agent
Talent Analysis
Physical: Wide-bodied power forward has the size and strength to do a lot in this game, but is still filling out and hasn't yet learned to use his physical gifts properly. A substandard first-step skating ability and his top speed is good, not great. Although he has a long stride, he seems to be a lumbering skater who takes too long to get it in gear. Directional change is mediocre; turns more as opposed to stopping and moving in a different direction. Has been observed skating better and faster than in some of the games watched with Providence; is it a lack of ability or lack of hustle? Very good hands and shot; can score from the outside and in close. Wrist shot has a rapid release and is accurate. Decent passer, but the strength of his offensive game is in the finish. Defensive play is average to below average; struggles with assignments and sticking with his man, especially when the tempo of the play picks up. Not very physical and gets pushed off the puck too much for a player of his size and natural strength.
Intangibles: After spending two seasons in Providence, you can see why this first-round talent fell down to the bottom of the third round in '05: his intensity and work ethic isn't where it needs to be in order to keep a job in the NHL. Like most players, Lehtonen is a nice guy and talks a good game about putting in the work, but the fact that Rob Murray benched him in the playoffs two years ago after he led the team in goal scoring (28) in the regular season speaks volumes as to where Lehtonen's head and compete levels have been since coming over to North America from Espoo of the Finnish SM-Liiga in 2008. He's gotten a pair of one-game recalls to Boston, but one can only deduce that the coaching staff didn't see enough that they liked of him to give Lehtonen an extended look. This is a damning assessment when you consider the injury woes the B's had last season and the fact that jobs up front were up for grabs, but he wasn't able to secure one.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
At one time, Lehtonen had the ability and upside to have an outside chance at being a top-two line forward in the NHL, but the skating and lack of fire has been his biggest hindrance and is why he's dropped out of the top-10 from where he was a year ago. Last season was an important test for Lehtonen, and he pretty well flunked it. He wasn't able to be the kind of consistent presence and difference-maker that Providence was desperate for despite ample opportunities to get it done. Sure, he didn't have much of a supporting cast, but the legitimate players find a way to get it done and make an impact. Lehtonen's best contributions have been fleeting at best. He's reportedly decided to play in Europe this year, and it wouldn't surprise if he were to give up his NHL pursuits with Boston altogether. Lehtonen has the skill to be a serviceable player in Europe, but without the grit and passion, he's simply not good enough to be much more than a solid AHL guy over here. Luckily for Boston, as a player picked in the late third round, a miss here isn't catastrophic and isn't the bad April Fool's joke (a play on his birthdate, folks) it would have been had they grabbed him in the first or second.
The Final Word
You don't want to write off a prospect with Lehtonen's physical abilities at age 23, but it appears to be where he's headed. He's just outside the top-20 because he could theoretically turn things around and his ability alone should have him higher even if it looks like he may be at the end of the line and is following the same path back to Scandinavian obscurity that former 1st-rounder Martin Samuelsson did five years ago. Lehtonen's been solidly productive in the AHL, but has also come off as soft and lacking in the drive that NHL coaches demand from players who can't get by on their talent alone. Boston's system and ethos do not appear to be a good fit for the affable but uneven Lehtonen, and he's on the verge of becoming a classic case study in what often happens to those players with impressive talent who fall down the draft board because of concerns about intensity and work ethic. He's not a bad guy, but the perception is that he wasn't willing to work as hard at improving his game that he needed to. And the fact that Boston gave him little opportunity speaks volumes to where they see him: icetime must be earned.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #20 Jeff Penner
Jeff Penner, D
5-10, 191
April 13, 1987
Shoots: Left
Signed by Boston as a free agent; March, 2008
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Did someone say undersized defenseman? Blazing skater whose mobility is his best attribute. Explosive first few steps and excellent four-way directional speed. Jumps up into the play; a very good puck mover at the AHL level. Makes the quick first pass and can transition from defense to the attack quickly. A key element of the Providence power play over the past two seasons for his ability to move well along the blue line, shoot the puck from the point and distribute effectively into the more open spaces on the ice. Still learning how to play the position in terms of locating himself and does not play a very physical or rugged game, which stands in contrast to Andrew Bodnarchuk. Suffered a major back injury during his bantam year which prevented his being drafted into the WHL; since then he's worked himself gradually to the NHL by playing Jr. B and going all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska to get his shot, playing two scoreless games for Boston last season after injuries to the defense corps gave him his chance.
Intangibles: Hard working, character player who has stuck with hockey instead of giving up when facing some tough adversity. His defensive hockey sense is suspect; doesn't seem to play instinctively and gets caught out of position. A riverboat gambler who will go for the score, but has a lot to learn yet about playing defense.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
Third-pairing defenseman and power play or penalty killer is about the best Penner can hope for at the NHL level. He's a skilled player, but because he's so similar to the glut of what the Bruins already have, Penner appears to be on the outside looking in unless injuries open the door for him this year. He has the look of one of those career 'tweener AHL players: he'll spend most of his time at that level and play pretty well, but will not likely be able to translate that success into a regular stint in the big show.
The Final Word
As an undrafted free agent, Penner was not a bad signing and has progressed in the two full years since becoming a part of the Boston organization. However, he lacks the size and grit that other small prospects like David Warsofsky, Andrew Bodnarchuk and even Steve Kampfer possess. I hesitate to use the word 'soft' but there has to be a certain on-ice tenacity that I have found lacking in Penner when viewing him. His skills are right behind Warsofsky, but the toughness quotient is going to be his biggest stumbling block to making a lasting impact in Boston. That said, he played well enough to get his cup of coffee last year and may get another look, even if the odds are stacked against him.
5-10, 191
April 13, 1987
Shoots: Left
Signed by Boston as a free agent; March, 2008
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Did someone say undersized defenseman? Blazing skater whose mobility is his best attribute. Explosive first few steps and excellent four-way directional speed. Jumps up into the play; a very good puck mover at the AHL level. Makes the quick first pass and can transition from defense to the attack quickly. A key element of the Providence power play over the past two seasons for his ability to move well along the blue line, shoot the puck from the point and distribute effectively into the more open spaces on the ice. Still learning how to play the position in terms of locating himself and does not play a very physical or rugged game, which stands in contrast to Andrew Bodnarchuk. Suffered a major back injury during his bantam year which prevented his being drafted into the WHL; since then he's worked himself gradually to the NHL by playing Jr. B and going all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska to get his shot, playing two scoreless games for Boston last season after injuries to the defense corps gave him his chance.
Intangibles: Hard working, character player who has stuck with hockey instead of giving up when facing some tough adversity. His defensive hockey sense is suspect; doesn't seem to play instinctively and gets caught out of position. A riverboat gambler who will go for the score, but has a lot to learn yet about playing defense.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
Third-pairing defenseman and power play or penalty killer is about the best Penner can hope for at the NHL level. He's a skilled player, but because he's so similar to the glut of what the Bruins already have, Penner appears to be on the outside looking in unless injuries open the door for him this year. He has the look of one of those career 'tweener AHL players: he'll spend most of his time at that level and play pretty well, but will not likely be able to translate that success into a regular stint in the big show.
The Final Word
As an undrafted free agent, Penner was not a bad signing and has progressed in the two full years since becoming a part of the Boston organization. However, he lacks the size and grit that other small prospects like David Warsofsky, Andrew Bodnarchuk and even Steve Kampfer possess. I hesitate to use the word 'soft' but there has to be a certain on-ice tenacity that I have found lacking in Penner when viewing him. His skills are right behind Warsofsky, but the toughness quotient is going to be his biggest stumbling block to making a lasting impact in Boston. That said, he played well enough to get his cup of coffee last year and may get another look, even if the odds are stacked against him.
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #19 Yannick Riendeau
Yannick Riendeau, RW
5-10, 180
June 18, 1988
Shoots: Left
Signed as a free agent, May, 2009
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent analysis
Physical: Small winger who is coming off an injury-riddled first pro campaign after dominating the Quebec league in scoring the year before. Needs to add weight and functional strength to his undersized frame. Below average skater who skates hunched over and has a choppy stride. Slow first step and only average speed. Excellent passer and shooter; has terrific hands and an ability to create something from nothing. Deadly in between the hashmarks, where he can get rid of the puck in an instant and has a very accurate shot. Tends to play on the perimeter when the hitting picks up. Not a physical player, but will take the hit to make the play. Played through a shoulder injury that required major surgery in the summer of '09 and forced him to miss the first three months of the season. Also injured his wrist during the '09 Memorial Cup tournament and then re-aggravated it after a few games with Providence, further setting him back.
Intangibles: Possesses elite offensive hockey sense; was a highly productive player in junior and even though an overage player at 20, scored 29 goals in 19 games in leading Drummondville to the '09 President's Cup as QMJHL champion. His 53 playoff points were as many as Mario Lemieux racked up with the Laval Voisins in 1984. Hard worker who is dedicated to being a player after being passed over in the draft despite being a high midget draft pick. Posted his career-best season while dealing with the pain of the shoulder injury for much of the 08-09 campaign; a gutsy competitor albeit a fragile one.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
Riendeau is a flawed player as far as hockey tools go. His size and lack of skating ability get to the heart of why he wasn't ever drafted, but as far as his hockey intellect goes, he's right up there with the best prospects in Boston's system. It's very difficult to project what kind of impact he'll make in the NHL (if he even gets there), but history has shown that more than a few guys who didn't look like players coming out of junior or college became legitimate NHL stars (Adam Oates and Steve Thomas to name two). Will Riendeau follow a similar path? That's asking a lot, but given that the Bruins didn't spend a draft pick on the 22-year-old, then it's not a bad roll of the dice to take-- the team is playing with house money on this guy. Because he lacks speed and size, Riendeau probably can't be a bottom-six forward who is required to perform a grinding/checking role, so his immeasurables and outstanding passing/shooting/hands are going to have to take him into a top-six role at some point. Tall order, but in looking at his numbers and how he played in the Memorial Cup a little over a year ago, he's worth keeping an eye on.
Quotable
“Yannick’s a very instinctive player. Can you teach the hockey sense side of things? Probably not; I think you can get players to become more aware during offensive situations, but the offense comes naturally to him. We’re excited that he’s the kind of player who reads the developing play so well and sees things on the ice others don’t.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney to hockeyjournal.com; January, 2010
“His first game was the best out of the ones he’s played. He showed some offensive touch, played well defensively and showed that he has some upside. His speed wasn’t an issue. He was moving his feet and staying involved in the play, and as long as he’s playing at that higher pace and skating, he’ll be fine at least at our level.”- Providence Bruins head coach Rob Murray to hockeyjournal.com; January, 2010
Holding Pattern for Riendeau
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/news/2010/01/16_holding.php
The Final Word
At first glance, Riendeau doesn't look like he has a shot at being an NHLer given his lack of size and skating ability, but people said the same things about Mark Recchi, too. Riendeau's first pro season was a wash, but he showed flashes of promise and was a point-per-game player for Reading of the ECHL. If he can stay healthy, he should make a much bigger impact this year for Providence's fortunes. If not, he'll put up big numbers for the Royals. Either way, he's an intriguing prospect who has some real upside even if he's quite the longshot.
5-10, 180
June 18, 1988
Shoots: Left
Signed as a free agent, May, 2009
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent analysis
Physical: Small winger who is coming off an injury-riddled first pro campaign after dominating the Quebec league in scoring the year before. Needs to add weight and functional strength to his undersized frame. Below average skater who skates hunched over and has a choppy stride. Slow first step and only average speed. Excellent passer and shooter; has terrific hands and an ability to create something from nothing. Deadly in between the hashmarks, where he can get rid of the puck in an instant and has a very accurate shot. Tends to play on the perimeter when the hitting picks up. Not a physical player, but will take the hit to make the play. Played through a shoulder injury that required major surgery in the summer of '09 and forced him to miss the first three months of the season. Also injured his wrist during the '09 Memorial Cup tournament and then re-aggravated it after a few games with Providence, further setting him back.
Intangibles: Possesses elite offensive hockey sense; was a highly productive player in junior and even though an overage player at 20, scored 29 goals in 19 games in leading Drummondville to the '09 President's Cup as QMJHL champion. His 53 playoff points were as many as Mario Lemieux racked up with the Laval Voisins in 1984. Hard worker who is dedicated to being a player after being passed over in the draft despite being a high midget draft pick. Posted his career-best season while dealing with the pain of the shoulder injury for much of the 08-09 campaign; a gutsy competitor albeit a fragile one.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend
Projection
Riendeau is a flawed player as far as hockey tools go. His size and lack of skating ability get to the heart of why he wasn't ever drafted, but as far as his hockey intellect goes, he's right up there with the best prospects in Boston's system. It's very difficult to project what kind of impact he'll make in the NHL (if he even gets there), but history has shown that more than a few guys who didn't look like players coming out of junior or college became legitimate NHL stars (Adam Oates and Steve Thomas to name two). Will Riendeau follow a similar path? That's asking a lot, but given that the Bruins didn't spend a draft pick on the 22-year-old, then it's not a bad roll of the dice to take-- the team is playing with house money on this guy. Because he lacks speed and size, Riendeau probably can't be a bottom-six forward who is required to perform a grinding/checking role, so his immeasurables and outstanding passing/shooting/hands are going to have to take him into a top-six role at some point. Tall order, but in looking at his numbers and how he played in the Memorial Cup a little over a year ago, he's worth keeping an eye on.
Quotable
“Yannick’s a very instinctive player. Can you teach the hockey sense side of things? Probably not; I think you can get players to become more aware during offensive situations, but the offense comes naturally to him. We’re excited that he’s the kind of player who reads the developing play so well and sees things on the ice others don’t.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney to hockeyjournal.com; January, 2010
“His first game was the best out of the ones he’s played. He showed some offensive touch, played well defensively and showed that he has some upside. His speed wasn’t an issue. He was moving his feet and staying involved in the play, and as long as he’s playing at that higher pace and skating, he’ll be fine at least at our level.”- Providence Bruins head coach Rob Murray to hockeyjournal.com; January, 2010
Holding Pattern for Riendeau
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/news/2010/01/16_holding.php
The Final Word
At first glance, Riendeau doesn't look like he has a shot at being an NHLer given his lack of size and skating ability, but people said the same things about Mark Recchi, too. Riendeau's first pro season was a wash, but he showed flashes of promise and was a point-per-game player for Reading of the ECHL. If he can stay healthy, he should make a much bigger impact this year for Providence's fortunes. If not, he'll put up big numbers for the Royals. Either way, he's an intriguing prospect who has some real upside even if he's quite the longshot.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #18 Steve Kampfer
Steven Kampfer, D
5-11, 197
September 24, 1988
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Anaheim for 2010 fourth-round pick (Justin Shugg- Carolina via Anaheim) , March, 2010
Signing status: Signed through 2013
Talent Analysis
Physical: It feels like deja vu all over again after banging out profiles on David Warsofsky, Andrew Bodnarchuk, but Kampfer is another undersized defender in Boston's system. Like Bodnarchuk, Kampfer is strong for his size and puts in an honest effort with his off-ice conditioning and strength training. Good skater with nice blend of speed and quickness. Moves well laterally and backwards. Likes to jump up into the play and has a separation gear that can get him past defenders when he sees an opening. Fine passer who can start the play up and out of his zone quickly. Possesses a nice shot; better with quick wrister or snap shot than he is firing a slap shot from the point. Good passer who sees the ice well and can get the puck out quickly. Like most defenders his size, he has his hands full when trying to move bigger, stronger forwards out from in front of his net or fighting for pucks along the walls. Chippy and rugged; adept at making contact in the open ice (as Michigan State's Corey Tropp can attest). Made a nice first impression in six games with Providence last spring, scoring a goal and three points while earning the distinction to most as the best of the team's late-season additions (Joe Colborne, Max Sauve). Positioning needs work, and he'll get that chance in Providence.
Intangibles: Had a strong senior season after struggling to make his mark in his first three collegiate campaigns. Has been involved in several ugly incidents both on and off the ice, but appears to have turned the corner (for more on the issues, see the link in the quotable section) and kept his nose clean as a senior. Has persevered despite several tough setbacks; the Bruins traded for him even after being well aware of his past. Seems to bring a maturity and understanding of his shortcomings, which is a good sign as he begins the first real phase of his pro career.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Kampfer was the defense version of Alexander Fallstrom at camp: he had a very good performance that didn't go unnoticed, but didn't generate a lot of attention, either. He's got nice wheels and you could see him taking advantage of openings to jump up into the play and bring the offense. Kampfer scored a nice goal on a long clearing pass from Tyler Seguin in one scrimmage, zooming up the left side of the ice, then making a nice oblique cut to his right before wiring a low wrister into the net.
Projection
Like Bodnarchuk, the odds for Kampfer are long, but he does bring the requisite skill level to make a run at an NHL job at some point. He looked good in his late-season audition with Providence, so it will be interesting to see how he performs over the course of a full season. College players often have trouble adjusting to the longer schedule and grind, so that may be Kampfer's biggest challenge as a rookie pro. The trade (originally drafted in the fourth round in 2007 by Anaheim- missed being eligible for the 2006 draft by 10 days) originally didn't look all that great on paper, but Kampfer has been better than advertised and is a player to watch this season.
Quotable
“I think it helped me out a lot. I was excited to get out there, I was excited to sign with the Bruins. Going out there and playing with guys of that level and starting my development going forward was a big help.”- Steve Kampfer to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
“I need to work on my defensive game. It was something that we talked about at the end of the year, just positioning, stickwork and just getting stronger in the corners and moving guys out of the way. Overall, I gotta get better in every aspect of the game, but those are the things I gotta keep working on.”- Steve Kampfer to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"It was a year of hell. With everything I went through, you take things for granted and you want to make sure you're not missing out on certain aspects of life and you're not taking things for granted. So when I came into this year, I was excited, I was happy to play hockey. It was a second chance to get back and play hockey, and I wanted to make it everything I could."- Steven Kampfer to Ann Arbor.com; March, 2010
Here's a link to a very good story by Jeff Arnold of Ann Arbor.com which chronicles Kampfer's college career and controversy that dogged him:
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/michigan-hockey-defenseman-steve-kampfer-leaves-the-past-behind-to-enjoy-the-fruits-of-the-present/
The Final Word
He's never been a point producer at any level, but Kampfer has the tools to be an NHL player eventually. How far he goes and whether he can get it done in the Boston organization remains to be seen, but he's been impressive in limited viewing since the team traded for him at the March deadline. He provides the Bruins with a more mature, pro-ready player to help Boston's farm team in Providence and gives them more of an emergency option as opposed to what they would have likely drafted in the June draft's fourth round.
5-11, 197
September 24, 1988
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Anaheim for 2010 fourth-round pick (Justin Shugg- Carolina via Anaheim) , March, 2010
Signing status: Signed through 2013
Talent Analysis
Physical: It feels like deja vu all over again after banging out profiles on David Warsofsky, Andrew Bodnarchuk, but Kampfer is another undersized defender in Boston's system. Like Bodnarchuk, Kampfer is strong for his size and puts in an honest effort with his off-ice conditioning and strength training. Good skater with nice blend of speed and quickness. Moves well laterally and backwards. Likes to jump up into the play and has a separation gear that can get him past defenders when he sees an opening. Fine passer who can start the play up and out of his zone quickly. Possesses a nice shot; better with quick wrister or snap shot than he is firing a slap shot from the point. Good passer who sees the ice well and can get the puck out quickly. Like most defenders his size, he has his hands full when trying to move bigger, stronger forwards out from in front of his net or fighting for pucks along the walls. Chippy and rugged; adept at making contact in the open ice (as Michigan State's Corey Tropp can attest). Made a nice first impression in six games with Providence last spring, scoring a goal and three points while earning the distinction to most as the best of the team's late-season additions (Joe Colborne, Max Sauve). Positioning needs work, and he'll get that chance in Providence.
Intangibles: Had a strong senior season after struggling to make his mark in his first three collegiate campaigns. Has been involved in several ugly incidents both on and off the ice, but appears to have turned the corner (for more on the issues, see the link in the quotable section) and kept his nose clean as a senior. Has persevered despite several tough setbacks; the Bruins traded for him even after being well aware of his past. Seems to bring a maturity and understanding of his shortcomings, which is a good sign as he begins the first real phase of his pro career.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Kampfer was the defense version of Alexander Fallstrom at camp: he had a very good performance that didn't go unnoticed, but didn't generate a lot of attention, either. He's got nice wheels and you could see him taking advantage of openings to jump up into the play and bring the offense. Kampfer scored a nice goal on a long clearing pass from Tyler Seguin in one scrimmage, zooming up the left side of the ice, then making a nice oblique cut to his right before wiring a low wrister into the net.
Projection
Like Bodnarchuk, the odds for Kampfer are long, but he does bring the requisite skill level to make a run at an NHL job at some point. He looked good in his late-season audition with Providence, so it will be interesting to see how he performs over the course of a full season. College players often have trouble adjusting to the longer schedule and grind, so that may be Kampfer's biggest challenge as a rookie pro. The trade (originally drafted in the fourth round in 2007 by Anaheim- missed being eligible for the 2006 draft by 10 days) originally didn't look all that great on paper, but Kampfer has been better than advertised and is a player to watch this season.
Quotable
“I think it helped me out a lot. I was excited to get out there, I was excited to sign with the Bruins. Going out there and playing with guys of that level and starting my development going forward was a big help.”- Steve Kampfer to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
“I need to work on my defensive game. It was something that we talked about at the end of the year, just positioning, stickwork and just getting stronger in the corners and moving guys out of the way. Overall, I gotta get better in every aspect of the game, but those are the things I gotta keep working on.”- Steve Kampfer to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"It was a year of hell. With everything I went through, you take things for granted and you want to make sure you're not missing out on certain aspects of life and you're not taking things for granted. So when I came into this year, I was excited, I was happy to play hockey. It was a second chance to get back and play hockey, and I wanted to make it everything I could."- Steven Kampfer to Ann Arbor.com; March, 2010
Here's a link to a very good story by Jeff Arnold of Ann Arbor.com which chronicles Kampfer's college career and controversy that dogged him:
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/michigan-hockey-defenseman-steve-kampfer-leaves-the-past-behind-to-enjoy-the-fruits-of-the-present/
The Final Word
He's never been a point producer at any level, but Kampfer has the tools to be an NHL player eventually. How far he goes and whether he can get it done in the Boston organization remains to be seen, but he's been impressive in limited viewing since the team traded for him at the March deadline. He provides the Bruins with a more mature, pro-ready player to help Boston's farm team in Providence and gives them more of an emergency option as opposed to what they would have likely drafted in the June draft's fourth round.
Boston Bruins Prospects Series: #17 Andrew Bodnarchuk
Andrew Bodnarchuk, D
5-11, 200
July 11, 1988
Shoots: Left
Boston's 5th choice, 128th overall in 2006 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Another member of Boston's sub-6-feet brigade on 'D', Bodnarchuk is a dedicated gym rat who has done very well at building his strength, but will always face a mismatch when going up against the biggest, strongest of the NHL's ever-growing legion of power forwards. Plus-skater who has very good acceleration, speed, quickness and lateral mobility. Solid passer and shooter, but has become more of a stay-at-home, defensive player in the pros after putting up solid offensive numbers in junior. Plays bigger than his size; likes to initiate contact and will take the hit to make the play. Low center of gravity allows him to get up under bigger, stronger players to separate them from pucks. Pound-for-pound, one of the most rugged prospects in Boston's system. Overall defensive game and positioning needs work.
Intangibles: Hard worker and good teammate who was one of Rob Murray's go-to guys in Providence last season and was rewarded with a late-season callup, playing in all of Boston's final five regular season contests. Tenacious and learns from mistakes; settled in after a rocky start in Boston against Toronto and was a solid defensive performer to close out the season. Lacks the elite instincts needed to be a top defender at the next level, but has the desire and intensity to make something of himself.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend.
Projection
Bodnarchuk looks like a bottom-pairing/extra defender at the NHL level, but he could improve enough to play more of a role in time. He's a wolverine on skates; not all that big, but plays with an edge and keeps himself in the best shape possible. Like Don Sweeney, he comes from the Maritimes and went to St. Paul's Academy in Concord, NH before opting away from the NCAA track and staying at home to play major junior. Also like Sweeney, he understands his size is a major obstacle and will likely need to make the most of any chance he gets in Boston when spots are opened up because of injuries. He's going to be a very solid AHL defenseman, but how far he can go at the highest level is a tossup because of the organization's other undersized players at the position who have a little more upside.
Quotable
“I talked to (Murray) quick, and he sort of gave me the, ‘Congratulations; good work, good luck.’ But, I know I put in my work this year and I’m glad it’s been noticed, so I’ll just go from here now.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to hockeyjournal.com; April, 2010
“It’s unbelievable; it’s a dream come true. It feels like the jitters are out now that the first game’s gone. My mind was going a little quicker than I wanted to during the first game, but as the game went on, I saw it slow down. (I’m) just more comfortable around the room comfortable around the guys.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to hockeyjournal.com; April, 2010
“(It sends) a really strong message. I saw it last year too, with the guys being called up: the Boychuks, Lashoffs and Karsums, guys getting a sniff and getting a chance. So, it’s really encouraging for the young guys in Providence to know that Boston does like to call up and work with what they’ve drafted. For the younger guys down there, take a look, put in the work and it’ll pay off.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to hockeyjournal.com; April, 2010
Bodnarchuk, Marchand on this ride together
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/news/2010/04/13_bodnarchuk.php
“You look at their roster and you pretty well know who their top six (defencemen) are, just by looking at their contracts. There are three or four players, neck-and-neck, battling for that (seventh) spot … I’m looking forward to it.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to Metro Halifax; July, 2010
“Hopefully, this year is going to be another step toward being a full-time NHLer. It tends to take a little bit longer for defencemen, especially for a shorter guy. I’m just looking to make more and more strides as the year goes on.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to Metro Halifax, July, 2010
The Final Word
Although skilled enough, Bodnarchuk's lack of size and upside pushes him further down the depth chart, especially with the infusion of talent via the draft and trades. He's a good kid and hard worker, but the one-year contract extension he signed this month speaks for itself in terms of how he's viewed by the team right now and what his realistic chances of making an impact in Boston this year are. He'll be a valuable veteran in Providence for Murray if nothing else, and his small taste of the NHL life will put him on the short list for recall if needed, but he's got a tough challenge ahead of him to establish himself as a big league regular as anything more than a fringe/depth guy.
5-11, 200
July 11, 1988
Shoots: Left
Boston's 5th choice, 128th overall in 2006 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Another member of Boston's sub-6-feet brigade on 'D', Bodnarchuk is a dedicated gym rat who has done very well at building his strength, but will always face a mismatch when going up against the biggest, strongest of the NHL's ever-growing legion of power forwards. Plus-skater who has very good acceleration, speed, quickness and lateral mobility. Solid passer and shooter, but has become more of a stay-at-home, defensive player in the pros after putting up solid offensive numbers in junior. Plays bigger than his size; likes to initiate contact and will take the hit to make the play. Low center of gravity allows him to get up under bigger, stronger players to separate them from pucks. Pound-for-pound, one of the most rugged prospects in Boston's system. Overall defensive game and positioning needs work.
Intangibles: Hard worker and good teammate who was one of Rob Murray's go-to guys in Providence last season and was rewarded with a late-season callup, playing in all of Boston's final five regular season contests. Tenacious and learns from mistakes; settled in after a rocky start in Boston against Toronto and was a solid defensive performer to close out the season. Lacks the elite instincts needed to be a top defender at the next level, but has the desire and intensity to make something of himself.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend.
Projection
Bodnarchuk looks like a bottom-pairing/extra defender at the NHL level, but he could improve enough to play more of a role in time. He's a wolverine on skates; not all that big, but plays with an edge and keeps himself in the best shape possible. Like Don Sweeney, he comes from the Maritimes and went to St. Paul's Academy in Concord, NH before opting away from the NCAA track and staying at home to play major junior. Also like Sweeney, he understands his size is a major obstacle and will likely need to make the most of any chance he gets in Boston when spots are opened up because of injuries. He's going to be a very solid AHL defenseman, but how far he can go at the highest level is a tossup because of the organization's other undersized players at the position who have a little more upside.
Quotable
“I talked to (Murray) quick, and he sort of gave me the, ‘Congratulations; good work, good luck.’ But, I know I put in my work this year and I’m glad it’s been noticed, so I’ll just go from here now.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to hockeyjournal.com; April, 2010
“It’s unbelievable; it’s a dream come true. It feels like the jitters are out now that the first game’s gone. My mind was going a little quicker than I wanted to during the first game, but as the game went on, I saw it slow down. (I’m) just more comfortable around the room comfortable around the guys.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to hockeyjournal.com; April, 2010
“(It sends) a really strong message. I saw it last year too, with the guys being called up: the Boychuks, Lashoffs and Karsums, guys getting a sniff and getting a chance. So, it’s really encouraging for the young guys in Providence to know that Boston does like to call up and work with what they’ve drafted. For the younger guys down there, take a look, put in the work and it’ll pay off.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to hockeyjournal.com; April, 2010
Bodnarchuk, Marchand on this ride together
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/news/2010/04/13_bodnarchuk.php
“You look at their roster and you pretty well know who their top six (defencemen) are, just by looking at their contracts. There are three or four players, neck-and-neck, battling for that (seventh) spot … I’m looking forward to it.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to Metro Halifax; July, 2010
“Hopefully, this year is going to be another step toward being a full-time NHLer. It tends to take a little bit longer for defencemen, especially for a shorter guy. I’m just looking to make more and more strides as the year goes on.”- Andrew Bodnarchuk to Metro Halifax, July, 2010
The Final Word
Although skilled enough, Bodnarchuk's lack of size and upside pushes him further down the depth chart, especially with the infusion of talent via the draft and trades. He's a good kid and hard worker, but the one-year contract extension he signed this month speaks for itself in terms of how he's viewed by the team right now and what his realistic chances of making an impact in Boston this year are. He'll be a valuable veteran in Providence for Murray if nothing else, and his small taste of the NHL life will put him on the short list for recall if needed, but he's got a tough challenge ahead of him to establish himself as a big league regular as anything more than a fringe/depth guy.
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #16 Alexander Fallstrom
Alexander Fallstrom, RW
6-2, 192
September 15, 1990
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Minnesota with a 2011 second-round selection for Chuck Kobasew in October, 2009
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Tall and lanky build; needs to add significant mass and strength in the next few years of his development. Improving his upper body power and drive will be his biggest challenge between now and when he turns pro. Adequate skater; first few steps are mediocre, but decent speed and quickness gets him where he needs to go. Will never be a burner, but his skating flaws are easily correctable and don't stand out in competition. Very good hands and a quick stick; able to work effectively with limited time and space. Good, heavy shot that he can release quickly. Will drive hard to the net and bang in the rebounds. Able to get his stick on pucks for deflections and redirections. Shields the puck well from defenders and is serviceable down low and on the cycle. Very good defensive player who understands positioning and his responsibilities. Finishes his checks; plays more of a North American-style game given his time spent playing prep and in the NCAA. Ripped it up for 87 points in 40 games his final prep season at Shattuck, so the kid can score. It's just a matter of figuring out how much of his scoring touch at the lower levels will translate at Harvard and in the pro ranks.
Intangibles: Heady winger works hard and is diligent in his approach to on- and off-ice work. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden but raised in Stockholm and eschewed the traditional route most Swedes take by going through the pro development system via junior teams in favor of going to Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota at age 16, earning the captaincy as a senior in 08-09. Has a nose for the net; seems to recognize scoring opportunities and then place himself in areas where he can impact the play. Intelligent and well spoken; understands his role and plays it well. Another character kid who took a lesser-traveled road than most of his peers but appears on track to succeed.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Fallstrom had one of the more underrated performances in Wilmington this month. Nothing he does jumps out at you, but when the puck ended up in the back of the net on some nice plays in scrimmages or drills, Fallstrom was often times the culprit (and beneficiary of some great passes from Joe Colborne). He's a smart kid who paid attention to what was going on and displayed a strong showing in all zones, but flew under the radar for much of the week. Many of his higher-profile teammates garnered the lion's share of the attention and headlines, but in retrospect, Fallstrom was one of the more complete and productive players on the ice during the scrimmages. He and Colborne made life very tough on the defenders who went up against them, using their size and skill to move the puck through traffic and generate myriad scoring chances.
Projection
Solid third-line player with the intelligence and hands to make a modest contribution on offense at the NHL level. He had more of an adjustment period in the ECAC with the Crimson last season, but watch for him to bump his points up significantly this season, as he has the tools to be a productive player for Ted Donato's squad. Like some of the other prospects in Boston's system, Fallstrom is in a good situation where he can take his time to round out his game and the pressure will not be on him to contribute right away. He's an atypical Swede in that he isn't the greatest skater, but unlike former B's prospect Anton Hedman, Fallstrom's mobility is not a major drawback, and by the time he's ready to progress to the next level, the skating should be fine. Could be a high-end scorer in the minors before he makes a run at regular NHL employment, but at worst, should be an effective 50-point defensive forward who can play in all situations and will earn the trust of his coaches to play in big moments.
Quotable
"I'm having a lot of fun for sure. This is a very good experience and my first time working with the Boston coaches, so I'm just trying to learn what I can and bring it back with me to Harvard for the upcoming season."- Alexander Fallstrom to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"Fallstrom's not the most exciting player to come out of Shattuck (St. Mary's), but he did very well there. I remember watching him and not noticing him much, and then I'd look at the score sheet afterwards and he had three or four points. He's the kind of player who keeps it simple, but goes hard to the net and is an opportunistic scorer. Maybe not a high-end offensive player at the next level, but he plays an honest two-way game and has the skills to put up some points with the right linemates."- NHL scout to hockeyjournal.com; May, 2010.
The Final Word
It is intriguing that the Wild gave up Fallstrom so soon after drafting him (ironically with the '09 fourth-round selection the Bruins sent to them as part of the Manny Fernandez trade), but he appears to be a legitimate NHL prospect, albeit one who is on the long-term plan after completing his freshman season at Harvard. He's a poor man's Jordan Caron; doesn't have great feet, but is instinctive, hard working and brings a solid two-way game to the table to go with nice finishing skills. He's not going to be a star, but he's smart, physical and brings his 'A' game to the trenches. If he can get the offense going at Harvard, he'll move up the prospect depth chart quickly because he does so many other things well and has the desire to be more than the sum of his parts.
6-2, 192
September 15, 1990
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Minnesota with a 2011 second-round selection for Chuck Kobasew in October, 2009
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Tall and lanky build; needs to add significant mass and strength in the next few years of his development. Improving his upper body power and drive will be his biggest challenge between now and when he turns pro. Adequate skater; first few steps are mediocre, but decent speed and quickness gets him where he needs to go. Will never be a burner, but his skating flaws are easily correctable and don't stand out in competition. Very good hands and a quick stick; able to work effectively with limited time and space. Good, heavy shot that he can release quickly. Will drive hard to the net and bang in the rebounds. Able to get his stick on pucks for deflections and redirections. Shields the puck well from defenders and is serviceable down low and on the cycle. Very good defensive player who understands positioning and his responsibilities. Finishes his checks; plays more of a North American-style game given his time spent playing prep and in the NCAA. Ripped it up for 87 points in 40 games his final prep season at Shattuck, so the kid can score. It's just a matter of figuring out how much of his scoring touch at the lower levels will translate at Harvard and in the pro ranks.
Intangibles: Heady winger works hard and is diligent in his approach to on- and off-ice work. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden but raised in Stockholm and eschewed the traditional route most Swedes take by going through the pro development system via junior teams in favor of going to Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota at age 16, earning the captaincy as a senior in 08-09. Has a nose for the net; seems to recognize scoring opportunities and then place himself in areas where he can impact the play. Intelligent and well spoken; understands his role and plays it well. Another character kid who took a lesser-traveled road than most of his peers but appears on track to succeed.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Fallstrom had one of the more underrated performances in Wilmington this month. Nothing he does jumps out at you, but when the puck ended up in the back of the net on some nice plays in scrimmages or drills, Fallstrom was often times the culprit (and beneficiary of some great passes from Joe Colborne). He's a smart kid who paid attention to what was going on and displayed a strong showing in all zones, but flew under the radar for much of the week. Many of his higher-profile teammates garnered the lion's share of the attention and headlines, but in retrospect, Fallstrom was one of the more complete and productive players on the ice during the scrimmages. He and Colborne made life very tough on the defenders who went up against them, using their size and skill to move the puck through traffic and generate myriad scoring chances.
Projection
Solid third-line player with the intelligence and hands to make a modest contribution on offense at the NHL level. He had more of an adjustment period in the ECAC with the Crimson last season, but watch for him to bump his points up significantly this season, as he has the tools to be a productive player for Ted Donato's squad. Like some of the other prospects in Boston's system, Fallstrom is in a good situation where he can take his time to round out his game and the pressure will not be on him to contribute right away. He's an atypical Swede in that he isn't the greatest skater, but unlike former B's prospect Anton Hedman, Fallstrom's mobility is not a major drawback, and by the time he's ready to progress to the next level, the skating should be fine. Could be a high-end scorer in the minors before he makes a run at regular NHL employment, but at worst, should be an effective 50-point defensive forward who can play in all situations and will earn the trust of his coaches to play in big moments.
Quotable
"I'm having a lot of fun for sure. This is a very good experience and my first time working with the Boston coaches, so I'm just trying to learn what I can and bring it back with me to Harvard for the upcoming season."- Alexander Fallstrom to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"Fallstrom's not the most exciting player to come out of Shattuck (St. Mary's), but he did very well there. I remember watching him and not noticing him much, and then I'd look at the score sheet afterwards and he had three or four points. He's the kind of player who keeps it simple, but goes hard to the net and is an opportunistic scorer. Maybe not a high-end offensive player at the next level, but he plays an honest two-way game and has the skills to put up some points with the right linemates."- NHL scout to hockeyjournal.com; May, 2010.
The Final Word
It is intriguing that the Wild gave up Fallstrom so soon after drafting him (ironically with the '09 fourth-round selection the Bruins sent to them as part of the Manny Fernandez trade), but he appears to be a legitimate NHL prospect, albeit one who is on the long-term plan after completing his freshman season at Harvard. He's a poor man's Jordan Caron; doesn't have great feet, but is instinctive, hard working and brings a solid two-way game to the table to go with nice finishing skills. He's not going to be a star, but he's smart, physical and brings his 'A' game to the trenches. If he can get the offense going at Harvard, he'll move up the prospect depth chart quickly because he does so many other things well and has the desire to be more than the sum of his parts.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #15 Michael Hutchinson
Michael Hutchinson, G
6-3, 190
March 2, 1990
Catches: Right
Boston's 3rd choice, 77th overall in 2008 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2013 (unless he returns to junior for another season; 2014)
Talent Analysis
Physical: Big, lean frame takes up a lot of the net. Excellent size and athleticism for the position. Still adding muscle and mass to his body, but will be able to stand up well to net-crashers and heavy traffic outside his crease. Quick, instinctive goalie who is a prototype player for the modern age. Moves well laterally and goes down into a compact butterfly. Recovery from the down position is very good. Quick pads; stays square to the shooter and is tough to beat down low. Could stand to improve economy of motion and positioning. The rare right-handed catcher; pretty good glove hand. Good puckhandler who can clear the puck himself or move it up to the 'D' quickly. An all-around physical specimen who has the look of a good, solid NHL netminder one day but who still needs to tweak and refine his game. He had a solid, productive year with the Knights, but might return to junior for an overage year if Boston can't find room for him on the farm.
6-3, 190
March 2, 1990
Catches: Right
Boston's 3rd choice, 77th overall in 2008 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2013 (unless he returns to junior for another season; 2014)
Talent Analysis
Physical: Big, lean frame takes up a lot of the net. Excellent size and athleticism for the position. Still adding muscle and mass to his body, but will be able to stand up well to net-crashers and heavy traffic outside his crease. Quick, instinctive goalie who is a prototype player for the modern age. Moves well laterally and goes down into a compact butterfly. Recovery from the down position is very good. Quick pads; stays square to the shooter and is tough to beat down low. Could stand to improve economy of motion and positioning. The rare right-handed catcher; pretty good glove hand. Good puckhandler who can clear the puck himself or move it up to the 'D' quickly. An all-around physical specimen who has the look of a good, solid NHL netminder one day but who still needs to tweak and refine his game. He had a solid, productive year with the Knights, but might return to junior for an overage year if Boston can't find room for him on the farm.
Intangibles: One of the nicest kids you'll meet; relaxed and personable-- genuinely enjoys playing the position. Can get into a zone and is nearly unbeatable when he does. Earned a third-round draft grade when he stoned the heavily-favored Brampton Battalion in the '08 playoffs while a member of the Barrie Colts. Handled the pressure of playing in London last season well enough, but consistency is still the biggest shortcoming in his game. Needs to find an element of intensity and focus and build on it, as he's skilled enough to be a player at the next level.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Hutch was the best of Boston's four goalies at the D-Camp, but in all honesty, that isn't saying a great deal. He got much better as the week went along, which is reflective in the challenge that the goalies face in terms of coming into camp cold, without having had the benefit of facing a lot of shots, getting down their timing and having had months since facing game situations. He was shaky early, but by the second and third day of scrimmages, was on his game pretty well and showed off some promise.
Projection
As things stand right now, it appears that Hutchinson has the makings of a solid backup at the NHL level. His fundamentals are sound, but he is still a long way off from seriously competing for an NHL job and could see another year in the OHL (as an overager) followed by several more in the minors after that. One factor that could influence whether the Bruins to bring Hutchinson to the pros or keep him in the OHL is that London spent a pick on a goaltender (Anaheim '09 third-rounder) in Russian Igor Bobkov during last month's CHL Import Draft. Splitting the duties in London probably isn't the best situation for both goalies or with last year's backup Michael Houser in the mix, so there could be another trade looming. If he can address some of the consistency that's been lacking in his game over the past couple of seasons, he has a chance to open some eyes, because there are no real physical flaws there. He's a middle-tier prospect who has the potential to move up on the depth chart because of the things he does so well, but after seeing Tuukka Rask in the Boston system over the past several years, there is a clear distinction with Hutchinson in terms of ability and upside: he's a cut below.
Quotable
“I think that each year coming to these I feel more relaxed. This year I came in and right from the start, I felt really comfortable with the speed of the shots and the speed of everything, so I didn’t have that adjustment period for the first couple of days this year. I feel really good about the progress I’ve made so far.”- Michael Hutchinson to hockeyjournal.com, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
“My goal is not to be back in junior hockey next year. So I’m going to do everything I can this summer to help me take the step to the next level.”- Michael Hutchinson to hockeyjournal.com, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
“They’re at the biggest disadvantage. They’ve been off their teams and haven’t seen shots n game situations for an extended period of time. They have to knock some rust off. The shooters have the advantage.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
The Final Word
A long-term developmental project for the Bruins, Hutch has a shot at playing one day so long as he's willing to be patient. He was not a highly-touted prospect in his draft year, but came off the board pretty early because of the kind of potential he showed in stoning the Cody Hodgson-led Battalion that spring. He's had to overcome a pretty mediocre 08-09 season, where he split the work pretty evenly with Peter Di Salvo, and he did that by winning 32 games as a Knight and posting his best goals against average (2.86) as an OHL regular. Hutchinson is an interesting prospect to watch, but he doesn't have the kind of pure potential that Rask did, and so he'll have a lot of work ahead of him if he's going to make it to the NHL and stay there.
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #14 Tommy Cross
Tommy Cross, D
6-3, 210
September 12, 1989
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 35th overall in 2007 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Possesses excellent size and functional strength for the defense position. Has had three major surgical procedures on his right knee (meniscus) since being drafted by the Bruins (he was picked after suffering the first injury to the meniscus playing baseball) and plays with a brace on it. Very good skater with a long stride and able to generate power with each step. Solid when moving backwards and laterally; able to keep opponents to the outside and has the quickness to jump up into the play at times. First pass ability is good; has the physical tools to outlet rapidly and lead the rush if need be. Big, powerful shot; he takes a little bit of time to get it off, but it is hard and heavy. Needs to work on his shot's accuracy. A shutdown defender who effectively uses his size and strength to pin opponents against the boards. Can play the game with a physical edge, but doesn't always bring the kind of sheer power that he's capable of.
Intangibles: Outstanding character player and leader who was named an assistant captain of the '10-11 Eagles squad by his teammates, and also captained the USA Under-18 select team at the 2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Exudes confidence and professionalism; a very mature, respectful, well-spoken player who leads by example and is a vocal presence in the dressing room. Some scouts questioned his hockey sense in his draft year; has all the tools to be a two-way defender at the next level, but may be more of a stay-at-homer in the mold of Mark Stuart if he reaches the NHL. Could stand to show more fire and aggressiveness at times on the ice-- can play a bit passively when the situation calls for more physicality and nastiness.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
The fact that Cross was able to fully participate in the recent development camp was a success in itself, as he was on crutches in 2008 and then had only limited on-ice participation (as Max Sauve did this month) in 2009. For once, Cross was able to show off his skill set and he managed to impress, keeping things relatively simple while demonstrating his smooth skating and big shot. Even with the knee brace, he showed none of the ill-effects of the multiple surgeries at camp. After watching him in that setting, you can come to appreciate what the Bruins saw in Cross when they moved up three spots to pluck him in '07, but the impressive physical attributes alone are not enough to see him as a high-end prospect because of so many questions that linger about the strength of his knee and the fact that he simply has not come all that far in his development since being picked as one of the class's youngest players three years ago. He was very good defensively all week, and seemed to be genuinely happy to be out there every day and a part of the action. He didn't do anything to really stand out offensively, but he delivered the goods as advertised on 'D' and it will be interesting to see how he does in his junior year at BC wth renewed confidence and coming off a championship season.
Projection
Cross has the tools to be a solid second-pairing defender in the NHL, but where the questions come in are whether he has the proverbial toolbox and durability to do it. He's an intelligent, hard-working guy, but the hockey sense is going to be critical, especially if you factor in the possibility that the numerous setbacks and surgeries have affected his psyche. Nobody but Cross knows for sure, but you wonder if he's thinking about the possibility of being one skate blade caught in a rut away from oblivion and how that impacts his play and approach. His time and space will become much less at the next level, so instinct will have to trump over self-preservation. It's a big question that lingers and can only be addressed by Cross continuing to play at a high level for Boston College and then seeing how he does when he turns pro.
Quotable
“I don’t know if there’s any way to necessarily tell, without the injuries, where he’d be. But we feel good about the progress he has made because of the injuries, and the setbacks and the adversities he’s faced. He has been dealt an awful lot.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass; July 6-10, 2010
"I feel great; I'm ready to go. Both legs feel fine and I'm just skating as much as I can and enjoying being here where I can continue to develop my game and improve in all areas."- Tommy Cross to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass; July 6-10, 2010
"Just being here and able to participate this week is huge for me. I've had some setbacks and have had to work hard to get back to this point where I feel good about my game, so I'm just excited to be able to be around the coaches and players and soak it all in and learn what I can."- Tommy Cross to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10
The Final Word
On talent alone, Cross probably belongs in the top-10 of the Bruins prospect list. However, he needs to do a lot more than a strong showing a D-camp to gain some real upward mobility. You want to pull for the guy because he's shown the commitment and dedication to go through significant rehabilitation and suffer the pain in order to keep playing the game at a high level. Cross has some intriguing potential, but the fact of the matter is, his playing status may be "day to day for life," meaning that if he continues to progress and works his way through the Bruins system and up the depth chart, then he could be a nice player. But as of right now, he's not shown enough in the years since he was picked pretty high by the team (who gave up a third-round pick in the process to move just three spots) to justify that move. He's a hard enough worker that he can overcome the injury, but in his case, making it to the NHL will truly be a case of mind over matter. Therefore, he's out of the top-10 for now, but this is a big year for his development and staying on the right track.
6-3, 210
September 12, 1989
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 35th overall in 2007 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Possesses excellent size and functional strength for the defense position. Has had three major surgical procedures on his right knee (meniscus) since being drafted by the Bruins (he was picked after suffering the first injury to the meniscus playing baseball) and plays with a brace on it. Very good skater with a long stride and able to generate power with each step. Solid when moving backwards and laterally; able to keep opponents to the outside and has the quickness to jump up into the play at times. First pass ability is good; has the physical tools to outlet rapidly and lead the rush if need be. Big, powerful shot; he takes a little bit of time to get it off, but it is hard and heavy. Needs to work on his shot's accuracy. A shutdown defender who effectively uses his size and strength to pin opponents against the boards. Can play the game with a physical edge, but doesn't always bring the kind of sheer power that he's capable of.
Intangibles: Outstanding character player and leader who was named an assistant captain of the '10-11 Eagles squad by his teammates, and also captained the USA Under-18 select team at the 2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Exudes confidence and professionalism; a very mature, respectful, well-spoken player who leads by example and is a vocal presence in the dressing room. Some scouts questioned his hockey sense in his draft year; has all the tools to be a two-way defender at the next level, but may be more of a stay-at-homer in the mold of Mark Stuart if he reaches the NHL. Could stand to show more fire and aggressiveness at times on the ice-- can play a bit passively when the situation calls for more physicality and nastiness.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
The fact that Cross was able to fully participate in the recent development camp was a success in itself, as he was on crutches in 2008 and then had only limited on-ice participation (as Max Sauve did this month) in 2009. For once, Cross was able to show off his skill set and he managed to impress, keeping things relatively simple while demonstrating his smooth skating and big shot. Even with the knee brace, he showed none of the ill-effects of the multiple surgeries at camp. After watching him in that setting, you can come to appreciate what the Bruins saw in Cross when they moved up three spots to pluck him in '07, but the impressive physical attributes alone are not enough to see him as a high-end prospect because of so many questions that linger about the strength of his knee and the fact that he simply has not come all that far in his development since being picked as one of the class's youngest players three years ago. He was very good defensively all week, and seemed to be genuinely happy to be out there every day and a part of the action. He didn't do anything to really stand out offensively, but he delivered the goods as advertised on 'D' and it will be interesting to see how he does in his junior year at BC wth renewed confidence and coming off a championship season.
Projection
Cross has the tools to be a solid second-pairing defender in the NHL, but where the questions come in are whether he has the proverbial toolbox and durability to do it. He's an intelligent, hard-working guy, but the hockey sense is going to be critical, especially if you factor in the possibility that the numerous setbacks and surgeries have affected his psyche. Nobody but Cross knows for sure, but you wonder if he's thinking about the possibility of being one skate blade caught in a rut away from oblivion and how that impacts his play and approach. His time and space will become much less at the next level, so instinct will have to trump over self-preservation. It's a big question that lingers and can only be addressed by Cross continuing to play at a high level for Boston College and then seeing how he does when he turns pro.
Quotable
“I don’t know if there’s any way to necessarily tell, without the injuries, where he’d be. But we feel good about the progress he has made because of the injuries, and the setbacks and the adversities he’s faced. He has been dealt an awful lot.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass; July 6-10, 2010
"I feel great; I'm ready to go. Both legs feel fine and I'm just skating as much as I can and enjoying being here where I can continue to develop my game and improve in all areas."- Tommy Cross to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass; July 6-10, 2010
"Just being here and able to participate this week is huge for me. I've had some setbacks and have had to work hard to get back to this point where I feel good about my game, so I'm just excited to be able to be around the coaches and players and soak it all in and learn what I can."- Tommy Cross to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10
The Final Word
On talent alone, Cross probably belongs in the top-10 of the Bruins prospect list. However, he needs to do a lot more than a strong showing a D-camp to gain some real upward mobility. You want to pull for the guy because he's shown the commitment and dedication to go through significant rehabilitation and suffer the pain in order to keep playing the game at a high level. Cross has some intriguing potential, but the fact of the matter is, his playing status may be "day to day for life," meaning that if he continues to progress and works his way through the Bruins system and up the depth chart, then he could be a nice player. But as of right now, he's not shown enough in the years since he was picked pretty high by the team (who gave up a third-round pick in the process to move just three spots) to justify that move. He's a hard enough worker that he can overcome the injury, but in his case, making it to the NHL will truly be a case of mind over matter. Therefore, he's out of the top-10 for now, but this is a big year for his development and staying on the right track.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #13 Jamie Arniel
Jamie Arniel, C
5-11, 190
November 16, 1989
Shoots: Right
Boston's 4th choice, 97th overall in 2008 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Average-sized player whose number one challenge right now is to get stronger and continue to add muscle mass to his slight frame. Above average skater with good jump and the quickness and agility to get things done in all zones. Solid puckhandler who can advance the puck in traffic and has quick enough hands to finish in close. Good passer and shooter who scored 30 goals in junior and could hit 20 in the right situation eventually. Plays with a little grit and jam, but doesn't have the size or temperament to bring a consistent physical presence and mean streak.
Intangibles: Very good defensive hockey sense and the ability to read the developing play effectively. His uncle, Scott Arniel, was a solid NHL two-way forward (known mostly for his time with the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres) who had a brief stint with the Bruins and is now the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Involved in an ugly off-ice incident after he was drafted, but to his credit, Arniel seems to have put the problem behind him and has been a model pro since.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Graduated from development status-- did not attend. Socred 12 goals, 28 points in 67 AHL games with Providence as a rookie; won AHL Rookie of the Month honors in November.
Projection
As it stands right now, Arniel's upside appears to be as a third-line pivot. He's got good bloodlines and was a solid value pick for the Bruins two years ago. Not ready for primetime yet, Arniel nevertheless could see time in Boston this season if injuries decimate the forward group as it happened last year. He's solid across the board and can play special teams, so in time, Arniel might be the kind of ideal option in terms of ability and salary cap hit to play on the lower lines and work him into the NHL. He was a standout player at last year's B's Rookie Camp and tourneyin Kitchener, so it will be interesting to see how he's progressed since then. Like Brad Marchand, he'll have to guard against complacency and taking a step back after making a good impression on the Boston coaches and brass a year ago.
Quotable
“Jamie is pretty multidimensional in terms of where he can play and the kinds of things he’s able to do. I don’t know that he’ll be that No. 1 center in the NHL, but he’ll be the kind of dependable guy that the coach feels comfortable putting out there to play a lot of different roles for the team.”- Providence head coach Rob Murray to New England Hockey Journal; December, 2009
The Final Word
The term "jack of all trades, master of none" certainly applies to Arniel, who doesn't have elite hockey skills nor does he score in bunches, but just seems to have all the attributes that solid, longtime NHL players possess. He's not all that big, but should be okay so long as he continues to work on his strength. He's not a blazing skater, but he's quick enough. He doesn't score a lot of goals, but he's capable of getting some big ones. This isn't the kind of player who will garner a lot of headlines, but he's on a steady path of progression which should end up in Boston eventually. Just don't expect him to be a top-six forward who comes out of nowhere to be an NHL star-- this is a player you win with in the trenches...nothing more, nothing less.
5-11, 190
November 16, 1989
Shoots: Right
Boston's 4th choice, 97th overall in 2008 Draft
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Average-sized player whose number one challenge right now is to get stronger and continue to add muscle mass to his slight frame. Above average skater with good jump and the quickness and agility to get things done in all zones. Solid puckhandler who can advance the puck in traffic and has quick enough hands to finish in close. Good passer and shooter who scored 30 goals in junior and could hit 20 in the right situation eventually. Plays with a little grit and jam, but doesn't have the size or temperament to bring a consistent physical presence and mean streak.
Intangibles: Very good defensive hockey sense and the ability to read the developing play effectively. His uncle, Scott Arniel, was a solid NHL two-way forward (known mostly for his time with the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres) who had a brief stint with the Bruins and is now the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Involved in an ugly off-ice incident after he was drafted, but to his credit, Arniel seems to have put the problem behind him and has been a model pro since.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Graduated from development status-- did not attend. Socred 12 goals, 28 points in 67 AHL games with Providence as a rookie; won AHL Rookie of the Month honors in November.
Projection
As it stands right now, Arniel's upside appears to be as a third-line pivot. He's got good bloodlines and was a solid value pick for the Bruins two years ago. Not ready for primetime yet, Arniel nevertheless could see time in Boston this season if injuries decimate the forward group as it happened last year. He's solid across the board and can play special teams, so in time, Arniel might be the kind of ideal option in terms of ability and salary cap hit to play on the lower lines and work him into the NHL. He was a standout player at last year's B's Rookie Camp and tourneyin Kitchener, so it will be interesting to see how he's progressed since then. Like Brad Marchand, he'll have to guard against complacency and taking a step back after making a good impression on the Boston coaches and brass a year ago.
Quotable
“Jamie is pretty multidimensional in terms of where he can play and the kinds of things he’s able to do. I don’t know that he’ll be that No. 1 center in the NHL, but he’ll be the kind of dependable guy that the coach feels comfortable putting out there to play a lot of different roles for the team.”- Providence head coach Rob Murray to New England Hockey Journal; December, 2009
The Final Word
The term "jack of all trades, master of none" certainly applies to Arniel, who doesn't have elite hockey skills nor does he score in bunches, but just seems to have all the attributes that solid, longtime NHL players possess. He's not all that big, but should be okay so long as he continues to work on his strength. He's not a blazing skater, but he's quick enough. He doesn't score a lot of goals, but he's capable of getting some big ones. This isn't the kind of player who will garner a lot of headlines, but he's on a steady path of progression which should end up in Boston eventually. Just don't expect him to be a top-six forward who comes out of nowhere to be an NHL star-- this is a player you win with in the trenches...nothing more, nothing less.
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #12 Adam McQuaid
Adam McQuaid, D
6-3, 210
October 12, 1986
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Columbus for a fifth-round selection (2007) in May, 2007
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Big and strong as an ox, McQuaid is the prototypical stay-at-home shutdown defender with some snarl. Still filling out his big frame and will play closer to 220-225 when all is said and done. Has a wide wingspan and uses it to try and keep forwards to the outside. Skating is average, with OK frontward (straight line) mobility, but below average ability to pivot and turn smoothly; he's continuing to work on that, but we've seen him susceptible to getting beaten wide with speed, or by smallish agile forwards who can exploit his footwork deficiencies. Positionally sound; keeps himself between the net and the puck and maintains his coverage well. Still working on gap control against the rush, but does a good job of keeping the middle of the ice and the front of his net clear. Relishes physical play and is an effective open ice hitter. Staples his man to the boards and doesn't let him loose; very difficult to beat along the wall. A good, solid fighter who will drop the gloves and handles himself well. He's a borderline heavyweight but a real force when fighting players more in his class, using his upper body strength and sizeable reach to good effect.
Intangibles: Eager and highly coachable, McQuaid worked hard in junior to earn a second-round draft grade (55th overall by the Blue Jackets in '05) out of the OHL's Sudbury Wolves, and then worked even more to address his skating shortcomings as a pro, showing marked improvement in each of his first three seasons after being acquired and signed by Boston. He's a good guy who leads by example and was an anchor in Providence for Rob Murray last season; his callups to Boston had a pretty detrimental effect on the Baby B's season, as he was a stabilizing force for the AHL club and even chipped in with some offense for the first time in his pro career. Disciplined player: doesn't take bad penalties or let emotions get the best of him. Had as many fights (3) as he did minor penalties last season with the B's, which speaks to his maturity and understanding that there's a time to sit in the box, and a time to play it smart and help your team. Some players of his type never get that, and drive their coaches nuts in the process.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Graduated from development status- did not attend; played 19 regular season games in Boston plus nine more in the 2010 postseason.
Projection
McQuaid is never going to be a first-pairing guy, but his upside may be as a solid, unspectacular No. 4 in time, which isn't a bad thing. Of course, some would argue that the fact that he was a late second-round pick means he should be more, but you're getting a physical, tough, defensive player who brings a mean streak and a willingness to defend his teammates. In other words, he's a player you win with. He proved he can handle the speed and skill of the NHL last season, and even if he doesn't win a job in Boston out of camp, he'll be the first guy they look to in the event of any injury. He's on a two-way deal this season, and that will become a one-way for the 2011-12 season, so expect him to split time between Providence and Boston this season.
Quotable
“He’s maturing as a player. He showed a lot of compete, he’s close. I think he has a real chance to be a regular in that 5-6 pair and, then, who knows? That’s what we strive for in developing these guys.”- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli via conference call; July 15, 2010
“Year after year Adam has improved (since turning pro) and there hasn’t been a drop-off. This year, he’s brought it up a level and is contributing offensively and is a plus-14. For him to post that kind of a stat after being out there every night against the other teams’ top lines speaks volumes for how far he’s come as an NHL prospect.”- Providence head coach Rob Murray to New England Hockey Journal; December, 2009
The Final Word
He's a meat-and-potatoes defender; what you see is what you get with him. But, he proved in his almost 30 NHL games (including the playoffs) that he can be effective at this level, even if it is more likely to happen as a third-pairing, hard-nosed Sean O'Donnell type of player. Some may not be happy that he's as high as #12 on the list, but here's the deal: it isn't always about the upside. Sometimes, you just have to take a step back and look at what a player brings to the table. McQuaid may be safe, but he was a good value for the B's (acquired for a fifth rounder) and has put in the work to develop himself into a legitimate option for this team. Because the B's have several defensemen under 6-feet, players like McQuaid are valuable even if it is in a limited capacity at a little under 11 minutes of ice time per game.
6-3, 210
October 12, 1986
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Columbus for a fifth-round selection (2007) in May, 2007
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Big and strong as an ox, McQuaid is the prototypical stay-at-home shutdown defender with some snarl. Still filling out his big frame and will play closer to 220-225 when all is said and done. Has a wide wingspan and uses it to try and keep forwards to the outside. Skating is average, with OK frontward (straight line) mobility, but below average ability to pivot and turn smoothly; he's continuing to work on that, but we've seen him susceptible to getting beaten wide with speed, or by smallish agile forwards who can exploit his footwork deficiencies. Positionally sound; keeps himself between the net and the puck and maintains his coverage well. Still working on gap control against the rush, but does a good job of keeping the middle of the ice and the front of his net clear. Relishes physical play and is an effective open ice hitter. Staples his man to the boards and doesn't let him loose; very difficult to beat along the wall. A good, solid fighter who will drop the gloves and handles himself well. He's a borderline heavyweight but a real force when fighting players more in his class, using his upper body strength and sizeable reach to good effect.
Intangibles: Eager and highly coachable, McQuaid worked hard in junior to earn a second-round draft grade (55th overall by the Blue Jackets in '05) out of the OHL's Sudbury Wolves, and then worked even more to address his skating shortcomings as a pro, showing marked improvement in each of his first three seasons after being acquired and signed by Boston. He's a good guy who leads by example and was an anchor in Providence for Rob Murray last season; his callups to Boston had a pretty detrimental effect on the Baby B's season, as he was a stabilizing force for the AHL club and even chipped in with some offense for the first time in his pro career. Disciplined player: doesn't take bad penalties or let emotions get the best of him. Had as many fights (3) as he did minor penalties last season with the B's, which speaks to his maturity and understanding that there's a time to sit in the box, and a time to play it smart and help your team. Some players of his type never get that, and drive their coaches nuts in the process.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Graduated from development status- did not attend; played 19 regular season games in Boston plus nine more in the 2010 postseason.
Projection
McQuaid is never going to be a first-pairing guy, but his upside may be as a solid, unspectacular No. 4 in time, which isn't a bad thing. Of course, some would argue that the fact that he was a late second-round pick means he should be more, but you're getting a physical, tough, defensive player who brings a mean streak and a willingness to defend his teammates. In other words, he's a player you win with. He proved he can handle the speed and skill of the NHL last season, and even if he doesn't win a job in Boston out of camp, he'll be the first guy they look to in the event of any injury. He's on a two-way deal this season, and that will become a one-way for the 2011-12 season, so expect him to split time between Providence and Boston this season.
Quotable
“He’s maturing as a player. He showed a lot of compete, he’s close. I think he has a real chance to be a regular in that 5-6 pair and, then, who knows? That’s what we strive for in developing these guys.”- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli via conference call; July 15, 2010
“Year after year Adam has improved (since turning pro) and there hasn’t been a drop-off. This year, he’s brought it up a level and is contributing offensively and is a plus-14. For him to post that kind of a stat after being out there every night against the other teams’ top lines speaks volumes for how far he’s come as an NHL prospect.”- Providence head coach Rob Murray to New England Hockey Journal; December, 2009
The Final Word
He's a meat-and-potatoes defender; what you see is what you get with him. But, he proved in his almost 30 NHL games (including the playoffs) that he can be effective at this level, even if it is more likely to happen as a third-pairing, hard-nosed Sean O'Donnell type of player. Some may not be happy that he's as high as #12 on the list, but here's the deal: it isn't always about the upside. Sometimes, you just have to take a step back and look at what a player brings to the table. McQuaid may be safe, but he was a good value for the B's (acquired for a fifth rounder) and has put in the work to develop himself into a legitimate option for this team. Because the B's have several defensemen under 6-feet, players like McQuaid are valuable even if it is in a limited capacity at a little under 11 minutes of ice time per game.
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #11 David Warsofsky
David Warsofsky, D
5-9, 170
May 30, 1990
Shoots: Left
Acquired from St. Louis for C Vladimir Sobotka; June 26, 2010
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Very undersized for the defense position, but has high-end skating and hockey skills, which help to offset the physical mismatches he's bound to face in the pros. A sublime skater; explodes to top speed from a stop in just a few strides and exhibits outstanding four-way directional mobility. Tremendous backwards mobility and lateral/crossover ability. Very good puckhandler who can make the effective clearing pass and loves to jump up into the play using his speed and puck skills to motor through the neutral zone and back defenders up. Soft hands for on target passes in the offensive zone, and he's more of a puck distributor than an actual triggerman when playing the point. Possesses a big shot despite the lack of big size, but is a more effective scorer from the high slot, when he can rip off wrist and snap shots through screens. At a disadvantage physically because of his lack of size, but will initiate contact and is willing to take the hit to make plays. It's not the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog with Warsofsky: he proved that adage correct when he manhandled the much bigger Tommy Cross during a scrum in the BU-BC Fenway game. Has a high panic threshold, meaning he'll hold onto the puck as long as possible to wait for an opening, knowing he's going to get blown up when the nearest opponent finishes his check. Refining his defensive play: solid positionally, but still prone to trying to do too much in his own end and getting to running around. A bit of an agitator; will yap a bit and get under the skin of opposing players. Productive in all the right ways as a sophomore last season: finished second on the team in goal scoring by defensemen with 12, but tied for the NCAA lead with four shorthanded markers, including a highlight reel end-to-end beauty against BC during the Beanpot tourney in February. A standout at Cushing Academy before joining the NTDP, he racked up 83 points from the blue line in two seasons in Ashburnham.
Intangibles: Has overcome the doubters and naysayers at every level so far; captained the 2008 U.S. NTDP Under-18 team and played in all 45 games as a freshman at Boston University in 08-09, earning a national championship and Beanpot trophy in the process. Very good vision and offensive hockey sense. Defensive awareness and decision-making need work; will try to carry the puck out of the zone from in front of his net or make low percentage passes that beg for turnovers. A good, solid character guy who is from the South Shore (Marshfield) and always dreamed of playing for the Bruins-- now will have his chance after being acquired by the team on the draft's second day. A winner; won the 2009 Frozen Four in Washington, a gold medal at the 2010 World Jr. Championship in Saskatoon last winter and a bronze medal at the 2008 World U-18 Championship. Roomed with '09 NY Rangers third-round pick Ryan Bourque at Cushing and was coached on defense by Bourque's father, Boston legend Ray Bourque while the two played there.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Warsofsky had a solid performance at camp this month, showing off his natural talent and ability at times, while also demonstrating that he's best served by continuing his development in the NCAA this season. A memorable highlight was the shootout goal he scored in the final scrimmage, where he was one of the few B's prospects to find the back of the net. He made a bevy of moves before roofing a backhander over a prone (and helpless) Mike Hutchinson after Warsofsky got him to bite on the first of several fakes. On the downside, he made repeated attempts to walk the puck out from in front of his own net, and on the second attempt, Tyler Seguin stole it away and got off a very nice scoring chance (Zane Gothberg made an even better save). But overall, Warsofsky did exactly what was expected: used his skating and puck skills to move the puck and be a going concern on offense. He also had a memorable one-on-one defensive stop on Jordan Caron early in the camp during a drill, when he used his quickness and savvy to block the bigger, stronger Caron from bulling his way to the net, while at the same time, maintaining net coverage so that the power winger couldn't even get a shot off.
Projection
Warsofsky is one more small, but skilled defender the Bruins have added to the prospect stable (where he joins Andrew Bodnarchuk, Steven Kampfer, Jeff Penner and Maxim Chudinov as blue liners all under 6-feet) but it's hard to predict where he will play at the NHL if he gets there. Of that group, the Terrier standout is the most skilled and has the most offensive upside, which is why he's just outside the top-10. However, because of the lack of size, he's going to have to keep building his strength and will likely need a couple more years of NCAA play and apprenticeship in the minors before he'll be ready to seriously challenge for an NHL job. Warsofsky could be a top-four in the NHL, but realistically, he's probably a third-pairing guy who will see time on special teams on the PK and PP units. He's a long-term project, but Warsofsky is both skilled and tenacious; except for the lack of size, he'd be a high-end prospect, so he could overcome the modest expectations to be more than the sum of his parts in time. It's all about the upside with this guy. Is he going to be a big-time scorer from the blue line in the NHL? Probably not. But Don Sweeney had a gleam in his eye whenever he talked about Warsofsky at camp, so one can only imagine that the former rearguard who logged more than 1,000 big league games with the B's sees a good bit of himself in the BU standout.
Quotable
"It's unbelievable to be a part of the Bruins organization and to be given the chance to fulfill a dream I've had for a good many years. Obviously, there are going to be some fans who are sad to see (Vladimir) Sobotka go, so I've got to show them that I can play this game and will one day hopefully be doing a lot to help Boston win a lot of hockey games. That would be a dream come true for me."- David Warsofsky to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"I know that I'm not going to grow another two or three inches, but I am going to hit the weights hard to keep building my strength and give everything I have. I can't do anything about my height, but there are other factors I can control, so I'm all about learning as much as I can here this week, and then continuing to do the things I have to in order to play at the next level."- David Warsofsky, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
“We did scout to potentially draft David. It just so happened that a team took him in front of us.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6, 2010
“I’m envious of the position he’s in, to be honest. David has challenges, but he’s got a skill set that will afford him the opportunity to go out and play. The smaller man does have a bit more leeway in the game now, as it’s composed, if he has the courage to go into areas and be smart enough and quick enough to take advantage of the skills he has.”- Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6, 2010
The Final Word
You have to like this guy: he's a local who grew up a fanatical Bruins supporter, has made himself into a legitimate NHL prospect despite the fact that 10 years ago his size would have scared all 30 teams away. Warsofsky's a bulldog on skates, and if you've followed his career progression to date, there is no reason to think that he won't succeed in his bid to make the team some day. The problem for Warsofsky is going to be that he falls into a category that the B's have a surplus of, so for him to win a spot is going to be a difficult challenge and he may have to hope for management to clear out some of the competition along the way. Because he's going back to school for his junior year at a minimum, and could very well return to Commonwealth Ave. for his senior season, it might not become an issue for the Bruins until 2012, but he'll still have his work cut out for him.
5-9, 170
May 30, 1990
Shoots: Left
Acquired from St. Louis for C Vladimir Sobotka; June 26, 2010
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Very undersized for the defense position, but has high-end skating and hockey skills, which help to offset the physical mismatches he's bound to face in the pros. A sublime skater; explodes to top speed from a stop in just a few strides and exhibits outstanding four-way directional mobility. Tremendous backwards mobility and lateral/crossover ability. Very good puckhandler who can make the effective clearing pass and loves to jump up into the play using his speed and puck skills to motor through the neutral zone and back defenders up. Soft hands for on target passes in the offensive zone, and he's more of a puck distributor than an actual triggerman when playing the point. Possesses a big shot despite the lack of big size, but is a more effective scorer from the high slot, when he can rip off wrist and snap shots through screens. At a disadvantage physically because of his lack of size, but will initiate contact and is willing to take the hit to make plays. It's not the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog with Warsofsky: he proved that adage correct when he manhandled the much bigger Tommy Cross during a scrum in the BU-BC Fenway game. Has a high panic threshold, meaning he'll hold onto the puck as long as possible to wait for an opening, knowing he's going to get blown up when the nearest opponent finishes his check. Refining his defensive play: solid positionally, but still prone to trying to do too much in his own end and getting to running around. A bit of an agitator; will yap a bit and get under the skin of opposing players. Productive in all the right ways as a sophomore last season: finished second on the team in goal scoring by defensemen with 12, but tied for the NCAA lead with four shorthanded markers, including a highlight reel end-to-end beauty against BC during the Beanpot tourney in February. A standout at Cushing Academy before joining the NTDP, he racked up 83 points from the blue line in two seasons in Ashburnham.
Intangibles: Has overcome the doubters and naysayers at every level so far; captained the 2008 U.S. NTDP Under-18 team and played in all 45 games as a freshman at Boston University in 08-09, earning a national championship and Beanpot trophy in the process. Very good vision and offensive hockey sense. Defensive awareness and decision-making need work; will try to carry the puck out of the zone from in front of his net or make low percentage passes that beg for turnovers. A good, solid character guy who is from the South Shore (Marshfield) and always dreamed of playing for the Bruins-- now will have his chance after being acquired by the team on the draft's second day. A winner; won the 2009 Frozen Four in Washington, a gold medal at the 2010 World Jr. Championship in Saskatoon last winter and a bronze medal at the 2008 World U-18 Championship. Roomed with '09 NY Rangers third-round pick Ryan Bourque at Cushing and was coached on defense by Bourque's father, Boston legend Ray Bourque while the two played there.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Warsofsky had a solid performance at camp this month, showing off his natural talent and ability at times, while also demonstrating that he's best served by continuing his development in the NCAA this season. A memorable highlight was the shootout goal he scored in the final scrimmage, where he was one of the few B's prospects to find the back of the net. He made a bevy of moves before roofing a backhander over a prone (and helpless) Mike Hutchinson after Warsofsky got him to bite on the first of several fakes. On the downside, he made repeated attempts to walk the puck out from in front of his own net, and on the second attempt, Tyler Seguin stole it away and got off a very nice scoring chance (Zane Gothberg made an even better save). But overall, Warsofsky did exactly what was expected: used his skating and puck skills to move the puck and be a going concern on offense. He also had a memorable one-on-one defensive stop on Jordan Caron early in the camp during a drill, when he used his quickness and savvy to block the bigger, stronger Caron from bulling his way to the net, while at the same time, maintaining net coverage so that the power winger couldn't even get a shot off.
Projection
Warsofsky is one more small, but skilled defender the Bruins have added to the prospect stable (where he joins Andrew Bodnarchuk, Steven Kampfer, Jeff Penner and Maxim Chudinov as blue liners all under 6-feet) but it's hard to predict where he will play at the NHL if he gets there. Of that group, the Terrier standout is the most skilled and has the most offensive upside, which is why he's just outside the top-10. However, because of the lack of size, he's going to have to keep building his strength and will likely need a couple more years of NCAA play and apprenticeship in the minors before he'll be ready to seriously challenge for an NHL job. Warsofsky could be a top-four in the NHL, but realistically, he's probably a third-pairing guy who will see time on special teams on the PK and PP units. He's a long-term project, but Warsofsky is both skilled and tenacious; except for the lack of size, he'd be a high-end prospect, so he could overcome the modest expectations to be more than the sum of his parts in time. It's all about the upside with this guy. Is he going to be a big-time scorer from the blue line in the NHL? Probably not. But Don Sweeney had a gleam in his eye whenever he talked about Warsofsky at camp, so one can only imagine that the former rearguard who logged more than 1,000 big league games with the B's sees a good bit of himself in the BU standout.
Quotable
"It's unbelievable to be a part of the Bruins organization and to be given the chance to fulfill a dream I've had for a good many years. Obviously, there are going to be some fans who are sad to see (Vladimir) Sobotka go, so I've got to show them that I can play this game and will one day hopefully be doing a lot to help Boston win a lot of hockey games. That would be a dream come true for me."- David Warsofsky to B2010DW, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
"I know that I'm not going to grow another two or three inches, but I am going to hit the weights hard to keep building my strength and give everything I have. I can't do anything about my height, but there are other factors I can control, so I'm all about learning as much as I can here this week, and then continuing to do the things I have to in order to play at the next level."- David Warsofsky, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6-10, 2010
“We did scout to potentially draft David. It just so happened that a team took him in front of us.”- Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6, 2010
“I’m envious of the position he’s in, to be honest. David has challenges, but he’s got a skill set that will afford him the opportunity to go out and play. The smaller man does have a bit more leeway in the game now, as it’s composed, if he has the courage to go into areas and be smart enough and quick enough to take advantage of the skills he has.”- Don Sweeney, Wilmington, Mass.; July 6, 2010
The Final Word
You have to like this guy: he's a local who grew up a fanatical Bruins supporter, has made himself into a legitimate NHL prospect despite the fact that 10 years ago his size would have scared all 30 teams away. Warsofsky's a bulldog on skates, and if you've followed his career progression to date, there is no reason to think that he won't succeed in his bid to make the team some day. The problem for Warsofsky is going to be that he falls into a category that the B's have a surplus of, so for him to win a spot is going to be a difficult challenge and he may have to hope for management to clear out some of the competition along the way. Because he's going back to school for his junior year at a minimum, and could very well return to Commonwealth Ave. for his senior season, it might not become an issue for the Bruins until 2012, but he'll still have his work cut out for him.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Boston Bruins Prospect Series Recap: 1-10
The blog's Boston Bruins prospects top-10 is done. I'll be cranking out the rest of the prospects this week (hopefully) and we'll take it from there.
Here they are:
1. Tyler Seguin, C
2. Joe Colborne, C
3. Jordan Caron, RW
4. Maxime Sauve, C/LW
5. Jared Knight, RW
6. Ryan Button, D
7. Brad Marchand, RW
8. Ryan Spooner, C/W
9. Yuri Alexandrov, D
10. Zach Hamill, C
Here they are:
1. Tyler Seguin, C
2. Joe Colborne, C
3. Jordan Caron, RW
4. Maxime Sauve, C/LW
5. Jared Knight, RW
6. Ryan Button, D
7. Brad Marchand, RW
8. Ryan Spooner, C/W
9. Yuri Alexandrov, D
10. Zach Hamill, C
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #10 Zach Hamill
Zach Hamill, C
5-10, 180
September 23, 1988
Shoots: Right
Boston's 1st choice, eighth overall in 2007
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Another of Boston's undersized players who has struggled to build strength and add mass since the team spent a top-10 pick on him three years ago. He's listed at 5-11, 190 in some areas, but the height and weight measurements are highly generous, as he's progressed slowly in terms of adding the weight and being able to keep it on over the course of a season. Average skater who lacks a quick first step and high-end speed, although he's a better skater than he gets credit for simply because of his lack of size; if he were 6-1 or 6-2, he'd get high marks for his skating. Agility and lateral movement are fine; Hamill shows very good balance and is able to shake off hits and maintain puck control. Very good passer who has the ability to feather pucks through a maze of bodies and hit teammates in stride. Good stickhandler who slows the play down in order to set the table effectively. Can shoot the puck, but does not do so nearly enough, and that has shown in his AHL stats to date where he has tended to be a streaky finisher who scores in bunches only to go long stretches without finding the back of the net. Defensive game is coming along, but still needs work and will never be a strength of his.
Intangibles: Hamill's offensive hockey sense is first-rate, and is what got him drafted so high, when he led the WHL in scoring (albeit with just 93 points- one of the lowest totals in league history). He sees the ice better than just about any prospect in Boston's system not named Seguin or Colborne, and instinctively is able to sense the flow in the offensive end and make plays (see his participation in a Michael Ryder strike to earn his first NHL point in last season's finale against Washington). His compete levels are up and down: he had a sterling reputation coming out of junior, but his intensity has at times wavered in Providence. Hamill's challenges go beyond the physical, and he's had to work at getting comfortable in the AHL. His late-season callup to Boston does speak well to his progress, but he could be the odd-man out once again this year, as the Bruins seem to have too much depth at center in terms of talent and one-way contracts for him to have a legitimate chance of breaking camp with the team barring a rash of injuries. He will play hurt, and may have damaged his standing in his first pro season because he tried to soldier through after suffering a serious thumb injury he kept quiet. After making it worse, he had surgery that cost him the first couple of months of the 08-09 season and may have done lasting damage. Although showing a pain threshold and courage that was clearly admirable, a playmaker's best attributes are his head and hands, and it is not quite known if his thumb has degraded his ability to be the kind of scoring presence he was before the injury.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Graduated from development status; did not attend.
Projection
Hamill is clearly at a crossroads within the Bruins organization, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him dealt as part of a package at some point. He got off to a terrible start in his first full pro season because of the thumb injury and his confidence is always something the team has to take into account (his success last season noticeably coincided with when Providence brought junior linemate and close friend John Lammers on board). I've also heard rumors that the Bruins have already tried to trade him, so unless he has some kind of terrific showing out of left field, the chance of Hamill becoming the player the team envisioned when they drafted him is on the wane. At the same time, he's in the top-10 here, because having seen the way he played in that last (meaningless for both teams) regular season game, Hamill did not look out of place and he still has NHL potential. I still believe he has top-six upside because of the things he does so well that can't be taught, but that's more the heart talking to be honest. The head, after seeing him in action at the AHL and NHL levels, says that's going to be a real stretch barring some major sea change, and he may be more of a third- or fourth-liner and special teamer in the NHL if at all.
Quotable
“I thought he was pretty poised with the puck, and he competed hard in our own end. He was pretty good; he was in the right position, I though the focus was good. Obviously, he got a helper there on that one goal and that’s what we wanted to see. We wanted to put him in some positions there where he had an opportunity to showcase his talent, and the power play was a part of it, and I thought he did well.”- Bruins head coach Claude Julien on Hamill, Washington, D.C.; April, 2010
“I was keeping it more simple, not forcing plays in the second half (of last season). Just kind of playing my game, keeping things simple and as plays opened up, I made them.”- Zach Hamill to hockeyjournal.com; April 2010
Hamill Makes Most of Callup to B's
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/news/2010/04/11_hamill.php
The Final Word
I thought about having David Warsofsky here at 10, but in the end went with the former first-rounder because when subjectively comparing the two in terms of overall skill, the former WHL scoring champ is a nose better. Hamill is the most polarizing prospect in Boston's system, but because of the recent draft and trades, he's fallen down the list a bit, which should make his critics happy (although I know some will complain that he's not low enough-- I can deal, though). Admittedly it's a tough call even having him in the top-10, but in the end, it comes down to the fact that I saw him in a live NHL setting and believe that he can be a player in this league, he's just not going to be an elite scorer. The problem with Hamill from a Bruins standpoint, is that because of where he is and who he is in terms of his development and size/style, he's more of a JAG (just another guy) vying for a spot that has to be filled by players ahead of him in the pecking order because of the economics of the game dictates that they'll be in Boston before Hamill unless he outplays them by such a wide margin as to force the team's hand into keeping him. He's got the skills to be something more than just a minor leaguer, so the question therefore becomes: will he get his shot in the Boston organization? My belief is probably not, but it is in GM Peter Chiarelli's best interest to keep showcasing him, which is what the cynical types will say happened in mid-April with his one NHL shot (to date).
I remember talking to him last fall and he told me he added seven pounds to his light frame in the offseason. One of my journalist colleagues overheard the discussion and later quipped to me, "The problem is, (Hamill's) actually proud of that," which underscores the problem he's had making a real impact in both the NHL and AHL thus far. If you're an undersized guy who isn't the best skater, then you'd better produce consistently. Hamill has yet to do that in Providence, so it looks like this could be the time to grant him a change of scenery (especially if it works as part of a package to unload one of the team's less desireable veteran player/contracts). Hamill is a good kid who's had to overcome a lot (read Fluto Shinzawa's post '07 draft article for more on that) in his young life, but it looks like he may simply be up against too much to make those bones in Boston.
To close out, he'll turn 22 just a few weeks before the start of the regular season, so to hear some folks writing him off heading into his third pro try is simply ridiculous. Hamill may make it, he may not. But his ultimate NHL future is not going to be decided this year, so regardless of what happens, he's still a player to watch. Fair is fair, and while he's not set the world on fire, judging Hamill simply because he was the eighth overall pick in a weak draft is an argument lacking in the proper context. Pragmatically speaking, however, he simply may not get the kind of opportunity he needs to make a statement in Boston, and therein lies the conundrum in ranking this player.
5-10, 180
September 23, 1988
Shoots: Right
Boston's 1st choice, eighth overall in 2007
Signing status: Signed through 2011
Talent Analysis
Physical: Another of Boston's undersized players who has struggled to build strength and add mass since the team spent a top-10 pick on him three years ago. He's listed at 5-11, 190 in some areas, but the height and weight measurements are highly generous, as he's progressed slowly in terms of adding the weight and being able to keep it on over the course of a season. Average skater who lacks a quick first step and high-end speed, although he's a better skater than he gets credit for simply because of his lack of size; if he were 6-1 or 6-2, he'd get high marks for his skating. Agility and lateral movement are fine; Hamill shows very good balance and is able to shake off hits and maintain puck control. Very good passer who has the ability to feather pucks through a maze of bodies and hit teammates in stride. Good stickhandler who slows the play down in order to set the table effectively. Can shoot the puck, but does not do so nearly enough, and that has shown in his AHL stats to date where he has tended to be a streaky finisher who scores in bunches only to go long stretches without finding the back of the net. Defensive game is coming along, but still needs work and will never be a strength of his.
Intangibles: Hamill's offensive hockey sense is first-rate, and is what got him drafted so high, when he led the WHL in scoring (albeit with just 93 points- one of the lowest totals in league history). He sees the ice better than just about any prospect in Boston's system not named Seguin or Colborne, and instinctively is able to sense the flow in the offensive end and make plays (see his participation in a Michael Ryder strike to earn his first NHL point in last season's finale against Washington). His compete levels are up and down: he had a sterling reputation coming out of junior, but his intensity has at times wavered in Providence. Hamill's challenges go beyond the physical, and he's had to work at getting comfortable in the AHL. His late-season callup to Boston does speak well to his progress, but he could be the odd-man out once again this year, as the Bruins seem to have too much depth at center in terms of talent and one-way contracts for him to have a legitimate chance of breaking camp with the team barring a rash of injuries. He will play hurt, and may have damaged his standing in his first pro season because he tried to soldier through after suffering a serious thumb injury he kept quiet. After making it worse, he had surgery that cost him the first couple of months of the 08-09 season and may have done lasting damage. Although showing a pain threshold and courage that was clearly admirable, a playmaker's best attributes are his head and hands, and it is not quite known if his thumb has degraded his ability to be the kind of scoring presence he was before the injury.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment
Graduated from development status; did not attend.
Projection
Hamill is clearly at a crossroads within the Bruins organization, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him dealt as part of a package at some point. He got off to a terrible start in his first full pro season because of the thumb injury and his confidence is always something the team has to take into account (his success last season noticeably coincided with when Providence brought junior linemate and close friend John Lammers on board). I've also heard rumors that the Bruins have already tried to trade him, so unless he has some kind of terrific showing out of left field, the chance of Hamill becoming the player the team envisioned when they drafted him is on the wane. At the same time, he's in the top-10 here, because having seen the way he played in that last (meaningless for both teams) regular season game, Hamill did not look out of place and he still has NHL potential. I still believe he has top-six upside because of the things he does so well that can't be taught, but that's more the heart talking to be honest. The head, after seeing him in action at the AHL and NHL levels, says that's going to be a real stretch barring some major sea change, and he may be more of a third- or fourth-liner and special teamer in the NHL if at all.
Quotable
“I thought he was pretty poised with the puck, and he competed hard in our own end. He was pretty good; he was in the right position, I though the focus was good. Obviously, he got a helper there on that one goal and that’s what we wanted to see. We wanted to put him in some positions there where he had an opportunity to showcase his talent, and the power play was a part of it, and I thought he did well.”- Bruins head coach Claude Julien on Hamill, Washington, D.C.; April, 2010
“I was keeping it more simple, not forcing plays in the second half (of last season). Just kind of playing my game, keeping things simple and as plays opened up, I made them.”- Zach Hamill to hockeyjournal.com; April 2010
Hamill Makes Most of Callup to B's
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/news/2010/04/11_hamill.php
The Final Word
I thought about having David Warsofsky here at 10, but in the end went with the former first-rounder because when subjectively comparing the two in terms of overall skill, the former WHL scoring champ is a nose better. Hamill is the most polarizing prospect in Boston's system, but because of the recent draft and trades, he's fallen down the list a bit, which should make his critics happy (although I know some will complain that he's not low enough-- I can deal, though). Admittedly it's a tough call even having him in the top-10, but in the end, it comes down to the fact that I saw him in a live NHL setting and believe that he can be a player in this league, he's just not going to be an elite scorer. The problem with Hamill from a Bruins standpoint, is that because of where he is and who he is in terms of his development and size/style, he's more of a JAG (just another guy) vying for a spot that has to be filled by players ahead of him in the pecking order because of the economics of the game dictates that they'll be in Boston before Hamill unless he outplays them by such a wide margin as to force the team's hand into keeping him. He's got the skills to be something more than just a minor leaguer, so the question therefore becomes: will he get his shot in the Boston organization? My belief is probably not, but it is in GM Peter Chiarelli's best interest to keep showcasing him, which is what the cynical types will say happened in mid-April with his one NHL shot (to date).
I remember talking to him last fall and he told me he added seven pounds to his light frame in the offseason. One of my journalist colleagues overheard the discussion and later quipped to me, "The problem is, (Hamill's) actually proud of that," which underscores the problem he's had making a real impact in both the NHL and AHL thus far. If you're an undersized guy who isn't the best skater, then you'd better produce consistently. Hamill has yet to do that in Providence, so it looks like this could be the time to grant him a change of scenery (especially if it works as part of a package to unload one of the team's less desireable veteran player/contracts). Hamill is a good kid who's had to overcome a lot (read Fluto Shinzawa's post '07 draft article for more on that) in his young life, but it looks like he may simply be up against too much to make those bones in Boston.
To close out, he'll turn 22 just a few weeks before the start of the regular season, so to hear some folks writing him off heading into his third pro try is simply ridiculous. Hamill may make it, he may not. But his ultimate NHL future is not going to be decided this year, so regardless of what happens, he's still a player to watch. Fair is fair, and while he's not set the world on fire, judging Hamill simply because he was the eighth overall pick in a weak draft is an argument lacking in the proper context. Pragmatically speaking, however, he simply may not get the kind of opportunity he needs to make a statement in Boston, and therein lies the conundrum in ranking this player.
Boston Bruins Prospect Series: #9 Yuri Alexandrov
Yuri Alexandrov, D
6-0, 185
June 24, 1988
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 37th overall in 2006
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Lacks ideal size for a defenseman at the NHL level with average height and below average strength at this stage of his development. Overall conditioning needs work prior to the start of rookie and main camps in September. Good, not great skater. Accelerates out of the blocks well, but does not possess the kind of straight-line speed (forwards or backwards) or the lateral quickness to rate him as a "plus" skater. Very good passer; makes a crisp first pass and can transition the play from defense to the attack very well with his ability to put the puck on a player's tape and spring the jail break. Excellent in puck distribution, especially on the power play, where time and space is opened up in the offensive zone. Shot is only average; lacks the kind of power and heaviness that distinguishes other top point shooters from their peers. Positional defensive game is solid; understands where he needs to be and has a quick stick to clog up passing lanes or create turnovers if the puck carrier gets within his reach. Physical game is below average; will use his body to leverage players off the puck, but does not make big open ice hits and has problems moving big, strong power forwards from the front of his net.
Intangibles: Smart and experienced; has been playing against men since age 17, so no player in Boston's system has done more at a high level than Alexandrov has. Relies on his hockey IQ to make plays at both ends of the ice, though is more of an offensive presence/puck-moving defender than he is a shutdown presence. Was named captain of the Russian WJC team at age 19, so he does bring good immeasurables like leadership to the mix. Even though his English skills are limited, he showed a willingness to try and talk and seemed to fit in well with the other prospects at camp, making an effort to overcome the cultural barrier; seems to have an impressive attitude that could carry him far. Showed none of a sense of entitlement that other Russians who have preceded him to Boston have.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment:
Overall, Alexandrov's performance in Wilmington was a disappointment, but the camp itself did not play to his strengths and the format did not allow the experienced Russian pro to show off what he does best. His conditioning was not what it should have been, and Assistant GM Don Sweeney made mention of that. Alexandrov spent a lot of time hunched over, gathering his breath in between drills. During the drills themselves, he seemed to have trouble picking them up and executing at as high a level as others, likely because of the challenge of communication. His shot isn;t anything to write home about, and he wasn't able to do much with it, either from the outside or in close when conducting drills. He showed flashes of what he can do in the scrimmages, but didn't do a lot to stand out either positively or negatively. Given his draft standing and the fact that he's been a solid performer in Russia's top pro league (the Kontinental Hockey League since 2008) for the past five seasons, I can't indict him for his mediocre/up and down showing this month.
Projection
On talent alone, Alexandrov has the look of a second-pairing defender and low-end No. 3 or solid No. 4. However, the fact that he's evolved steadily with his production over the past three years and has put up statistics comparable to several top offensive Russian d-men (Sergei Zubov and Sergei Gonchar) when they were near the same age, leads to believe that he has the hockey sense and intangibles to possibly become a solid No. 2 at the NHL level if he's willing to put in the time to develop in the AHL and gain more strength and experience with the North American style. After having seen him at camp, Alexandrov does not appear to be the kind of finished product who can immediately jump in and lay claim to a roster spot in Boston in a few months, but he should get an extended look in the preseason by virtue of his age and experience. It will be interesting to see how he looks in game situations.
Quotable
“Obviously, there’s a language barrier there and [there's] cultural differences. Once he’s on the ice, he feels most comfortable and that’s a good thing. But there’ll be systematic things and nuances he’ll have to figure out. We’ve tried to attack that communication and tried to get better at it because there is a gap there. And the onus falls on him a little bit to understand that and immerse himself in that.”- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney on Alexandrov, Wilmington, Mass.; July 10, 2010
“You can tell when the game starts, his positional play, his understanding and his stick positioning is very, very good,” Sweeney said. “You can tell that’s been taught and built into his game. When you play against bigger and stronger players, you have to develop those techniques and he’s done that."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney on Alexandrov, Wilmington, Mass.; July 10, 2010
“To be honest with you, and something we’re communicating with him, I didn’t think he was in quite as good a shape as he was the year before so that’s got to be something he’ll have to attack and address between now and September to realize that he continues to push forward. I would tell all the kids that. I’m not going to single him out for any particular reason, except that the facts are what they are.”- Don Sweeney, July 10, 2010
6-0, 185
June 24, 1988
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 37th overall in 2006
Signing status: Signed through 2012
Talent Analysis
Physical: Lacks ideal size for a defenseman at the NHL level with average height and below average strength at this stage of his development. Overall conditioning needs work prior to the start of rookie and main camps in September. Good, not great skater. Accelerates out of the blocks well, but does not possess the kind of straight-line speed (forwards or backwards) or the lateral quickness to rate him as a "plus" skater. Very good passer; makes a crisp first pass and can transition the play from defense to the attack very well with his ability to put the puck on a player's tape and spring the jail break. Excellent in puck distribution, especially on the power play, where time and space is opened up in the offensive zone. Shot is only average; lacks the kind of power and heaviness that distinguishes other top point shooters from their peers. Positional defensive game is solid; understands where he needs to be and has a quick stick to clog up passing lanes or create turnovers if the puck carrier gets within his reach. Physical game is below average; will use his body to leverage players off the puck, but does not make big open ice hits and has problems moving big, strong power forwards from the front of his net.
Intangibles: Smart and experienced; has been playing against men since age 17, so no player in Boston's system has done more at a high level than Alexandrov has. Relies on his hockey IQ to make plays at both ends of the ice, though is more of an offensive presence/puck-moving defender than he is a shutdown presence. Was named captain of the Russian WJC team at age 19, so he does bring good immeasurables like leadership to the mix. Even though his English skills are limited, he showed a willingness to try and talk and seemed to fit in well with the other prospects at camp, making an effort to overcome the cultural barrier; seems to have an impressive attitude that could carry him far. Showed none of a sense of entitlement that other Russians who have preceded him to Boston have.
Boston Bruins 2010 Development Camp assessment:
Overall, Alexandrov's performance in Wilmington was a disappointment, but the camp itself did not play to his strengths and the format did not allow the experienced Russian pro to show off what he does best. His conditioning was not what it should have been, and Assistant GM Don Sweeney made mention of that. Alexandrov spent a lot of time hunched over, gathering his breath in between drills. During the drills themselves, he seemed to have trouble picking them up and executing at as high a level as others, likely because of the challenge of communication. His shot isn;t anything to write home about, and he wasn't able to do much with it, either from the outside or in close when conducting drills. He showed flashes of what he can do in the scrimmages, but didn't do a lot to stand out either positively or negatively. Given his draft standing and the fact that he's been a solid performer in Russia's top pro league (the Kontinental Hockey League since 2008) for the past five seasons, I can't indict him for his mediocre/up and down showing this month.
Projection
On talent alone, Alexandrov has the look of a second-pairing defender and low-end No. 3 or solid No. 4. However, the fact that he's evolved steadily with his production over the past three years and has put up statistics comparable to several top offensive Russian d-men (Sergei Zubov and Sergei Gonchar) when they were near the same age, leads to believe that he has the hockey sense and intangibles to possibly become a solid No. 2 at the NHL level if he's willing to put in the time to develop in the AHL and gain more strength and experience with the North American style. After having seen him at camp, Alexandrov does not appear to be the kind of finished product who can immediately jump in and lay claim to a roster spot in Boston in a few months, but he should get an extended look in the preseason by virtue of his age and experience. It will be interesting to see how he looks in game situations.
Quotable
“Obviously, there’s a language barrier there and [there's] cultural differences. Once he’s on the ice, he feels most comfortable and that’s a good thing. But there’ll be systematic things and nuances he’ll have to figure out. We’ve tried to attack that communication and tried to get better at it because there is a gap there. And the onus falls on him a little bit to understand that and immerse himself in that.”- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney on Alexandrov, Wilmington, Mass.; July 10, 2010
“You can tell when the game starts, his positional play, his understanding and his stick positioning is very, very good,” Sweeney said. “You can tell that’s been taught and built into his game. When you play against bigger and stronger players, you have to develop those techniques and he’s done that."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney on Alexandrov, Wilmington, Mass.; July 10, 2010
“To be honest with you, and something we’re communicating with him, I didn’t think he was in quite as good a shape as he was the year before so that’s got to be something he’ll have to attack and address between now and September to realize that he continues to push forward. I would tell all the kids that. I’m not going to single him out for any particular reason, except that the facts are what they are.”- Don Sweeney, July 10, 2010
The Final Word
Alexandrov is an intriguing prospect. Like Ryan Button, he brings some real positive traits to the table, but at the same time, whether those can translate into a top-three player or better at the highest level remains to be seen. The Bruins have neglected drafting and developing high-end talents on defense for some time now, and that shows in the raw projectability of their two "best" prospects at the position (and you can certainly argue whether David Warsofsky grades out ahead of either Button or Alexandrov, and in making that case, it underscores the dearth of talent on 'D'). Alexandrov can't be truly judged until we see where he stands in preseason action and then likely at the AHL level, where he should at least begin the 10-11 campaign even if he does see some time in Boston this season at some point. He's not a player who is really going to jump out at you if you're expecting grand things from him, but if you look closely at Alexandrov, you'll see the high-end passing and smart decision-making. Unfortunately, there simply wasn't enough of that kind of a condition at camp, so he's fallen off in the rankings a bit.
Remember, though, that the B2010DW Bruins prospect list is highly subjective. We're all likely to have differing opinions on these guys and what their potential is, and because I don't have a crystal ball, I'm probably going to get more of these wrong than right. At the end of the day, all of the praise or criticism for these prospects doesn't mean much. And, nobody's going to remember whether Alexandrov was 9th or 2nd on some internet list. If he's able to win an NHL job and become a solid contributor to Boston's fortunes for a long time, that's going to be the payoff. But, Alexandrov has a tough road ahead of him: he's not very strong, doesn't speak the language and his real desire to play in the NHL will be tested because unless he has some kind of monster performance in September, it doesn't appear that he's going to be able to beat out the established (and might I say much higher paid) options ahead of him. Playing for Rob Murray in Providence will benefit him, but he'll need to check the ego at the door and be ready to combat the homesickness that could occur as Rhode Island is a long way from Cherepovets (which is the sister city of my hometown of Hudson, N.H., btw. My close childhood friend, Tim, traveled as a teenager to Cherepovets in 1988 to play a U.S.-U.S.S.R. basketball tournament as part of that community outreach, btw). Until Alexandrov proves himself, there's a skepticism factor with him. We watched Sergei Zinovjev crash and burn as a Boston Bruin six years ago because he wasn't willing to pay his dues and found it much easier to return to Russia and the good life rather than work at the flaws in his game.
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