Colby Cohen, D
6-2, 205
April 25, 1989
Shoots: Right
Acquired from Colorado for Matt Hunwick; November, 2010
Signing status: Signed through 2013
Talent Analysis
Physical: Excellent size with a big frame and long reach. Has a long, fluid stride and the ability to cover a lot of ground when he gets up to speed. Footwork and change of direction average. Big, booming shot- has real power and he keeps it low and on net. Needs to work on getting it off a little faster and mixing up the options a bit. The opposition seems to anticipate the big drive at times and gets into the shooting lanes. Good passer/puck-mover- has a soft touch and is able to make the crisp outlets and long lead passes with ease. Also capable of looking one way and making the back door pass in the other direction. Still working on his positional play. Not a devastating or punishing hitter, but keeps opponents honest by initiating contact and pinning guys against the boards. A willing fighter going back to his USHL days in Lincoln, but not a major staple of his game, as he lacks experience and technique.
Intangibles: Sees the ice well to advance the puck effectively in transition. Smoked the winning goal at the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four, so he has some major clutch ability and poise in him. Scouts question his defensive awareness; gets to running around in his own end and doesn't demonstrate the same kind of instinctive feel in his own end that he does when the puck is on his stick. Work ethic and consistency has been an issue going back to his draft season (06-07), when Central Scouting made note of it in their final ranking (25th) scouting report. Has big game ability, but doesn't always do the little things coaches demand.
Boston Bruins 2011 Development Camp assessment
Did not attend.
Projection
From a purely physical attributes standpoint, Cohen is a lock for the NHL. He has the size, skating, passing and shot to be an effective 4/5/6 at the highest level. However, the effort and overall feel for the game is what could hold him back, especially on a deep championship team like Boston. The former second-round pick got into three NHL games with Colorado last season before his trade, but the fact that he was dealt at such a young age in just his first full season with the team makes you wonder what prompted it. There is no denying that Cohen has a swagger about him and the supreme confidence of a player who won the 2009 NCAA national championship with a screamer of a shot in sudden death overtime. The Philadelphia-area native has all the tools to be an effective NHL defenseman, but he has to prove it to the coaching staff that his intensity and drive can match his myriad natural gifts.
Colby Cohen in action
Click here to see YouTube Cohen '09 FF overtime goal posted by beatladurham20
Quotable
“He’s a big, strong kid; right-handed shot. We’ve tracked him for a while. He’s been on our interest list.”- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli; November 29, 2010
"When the Colorado GM called me and he’s like ‘We just traded you,’I was praying. I had a few cities in mind, but I was praying it wasn’t Edmonton and when he said Boston, I was like, ‘Wow, this couldn’t be any better!’”- Colby Cohen; November 29, 2010
“Coach (Jack) Parker and Coach (David) Quinn, the way they taught me over the last few years just made it pretty easy for me to transition in (to the AHL). Obviously I was fortunate enough to get to play a couple NHL games this season already. And I felt like what they did for me really helped me in those games.”- Cohen; November, 2010
*(Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the New England Hockey Journal)
At least he has the physical attributes to perform well. me and Host Pay Per Head hope that he can get into Bosto
ReplyDelete