We posted Boston assistant GM Jim Benning's recap of the 2011 draft picks, but here's a quick video of his commentary on the overall state of the organization and what the team is building.
*(Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the New England Hockey Journal)
Showing posts with label 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Show all posts
Thursday, June 30, 2011
NHL draft video: Shane Prince
Here's some video of Shane Prince after the Ottawa Senators made him the 61st overall pick on Saturday.
Good move by the Sens- they get him with the pick the Bruins traded them for Chris Kelly. With a Stanley Cup in tow, not a bad deal, but had the B's ended up with Dougie Hamilton, Alexander Khokhlachev AND Prince, they would have some serious skill in their organization right now.
Good move by the Sens- they get him with the pick the Bruins traded them for Chris Kelly. With a Stanley Cup in tow, not a bad deal, but had the B's ended up with Dougie Hamilton, Alexander Khokhlachev AND Prince, they would have some serious skill in their organization right now.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Grading the Boston Bruins 2011 draft (From New England Hockey Journal)
The following is an article I wrote posted on the New England Hockey Journal website. The draft grades on each Boston Bruins draft pick are out, but the reality is that every one of them is an "incomplete" for another 3-5 years until we see how they ultimately turn out.
To read the rest of the grades, and for more coverage on the Boston Bruins and anything New England hockey-related, be sure to check out the website.
Making The Grade- The 2011 Boston Bruins draft
By Kirk Luedeke
Full story at hockeyjournal.com
Although trying to pick winners and losers the day after the NHL Entry Draft is often an exercise in futility, grading a team’s prospect haul based on current projections has become an annual tradition.
While walking back to the hotel with members of the Anaheim Ducks scouting staff from the shuttle drop-off point, one scout declared: “Everyone is a winner on draft day- 30 winners and no losers.”
That sentiment reflects the euphoria and optimism that often permeates the atmosphere right after a team invests a big portion of its future in the seven or so young players who comprise a normal NHL draft class. However, once the next several seasons progress, the clear-cut winners and losers only truly emerge.
The Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks and yes- the Detroit Red Wings once again- all seemed to have the drafts that can lay a solid foundation for a team for years to come. Short of a crystal ball to see into the future, it certainly seems as if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and David Musil could have a course-altering impact on the Oilers in time. The Senators worked the draft effectively, taking skilled and passionate players who should be able to inject the kind of talent and energy needed to get the former 2007 Stanley Cup runners up into contention. As for Chicago and Detroit, the 2011 draft was all about value, as both teams made an art out of landing name players with lower selections.
But what about the Boston Bruins?
The 2011 Stanley Cup champions would have picked 30th and 61st overall in this draft if not for deals involving Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew nearly two years ago that allowed the B’s to pick ninth and 40th.
When the team came away with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Khokhlachev, they appeared to position themselves perfectly to keep in place teams capable of contending for NHL championships well into this decade. While the other selections the Bruins made are not particularly exciting, they all seem to fit the mold of what the club values: character, commitment and potential.
Time will tell whether Hamilton, Khokhlachev and the rest of the Boston draft class manages to become impact players in the Black and Gold, but for now, this looks like a pretty impressive haul.
Dougie Hamilton, D Niagara (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A+
The scoop: How does a player of Hamilton’s size and skill set drop to ninth overall? A lot of times it has to do with luck and just hoping that other teams value others more. New England Hockey Journal learned that the Bruins did not expect Hamilton to be there at nine and were fully intending on drafting Ryan Murphy as the projected player to fall to them at nine. However, when the Winnipeg Jets made Mark Scheifele an off-the-board pick, the B’s were given the rare opportunity to choose between the big, rangy two-way defenseman in Hamilton or the undersized but dynamic playmaker in Murphy. Boston opted for the former and it will be interesting to follow the career progression of both players.
Quotable: “Well I’ve grown a lot in the last few years and haven’t really filled into my body yet, I think I’m working hard right now in the gym, I need to work a lot harder and get bigger and that will help with my physical game as well. I think you have to improve everything because the guys in the NHL are a lot better than OHL players.”- Dougie Hamilton
Alexander Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A
The scoop: This dynamic offensive Russian center was available to the Bruins at 40 for another outstanding value pick. He had 34 goals with the Spitfires in just his first North American season and is primed for a big breakout year. New England Hockey Journal spoke to Windsor President and GM Warren Rychel in Minnesota and Rychel praised “KoKo’s” skill and passion for the game, calling him a “Godsend” for Windsor after the team gambled a bit by bringing him over in the CHL Import Draft. The youngster plays with a lot of passion and should energize the crowds at Bruins development camp in early July with his speed and puck wizardry. The thought of a possible d-camp line of KoKo, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight there must have Bruins fans eagerly checking their calendars. Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning was emphatic in stating that signing Khokhlachev will not be an issue, stating his commitment and desire to play in the NHL.
Quotable: “Well, he’s thick like a [Montreal center Scott] Gomez, but he’ll, he likes to score, he’s more of a shooter and a scorer. But he’s elusive like that and strong, but that’s kind of a comparison to him, but it’s different that KoKo likes to shoot the puck and to score, I would say, more.”- Jim Benning
Anthony Camara, LW Saginaw (OHL)
NEHJ grade: B-
The scoop: One tough nut, but there isn’t a lot to get excited about with this guy skill-wise. Or is there? Camara is one of those “pet” picks the Bruins scout out and make seemingly every year. Milan Lucic was one in 2006, and Camara was buried on a deep team up front. He plays bigger than his size (6-feet, 194 pounds) and may end up being more than the sum of his parts.
Quotable: “Yeah, he’s a typical Boston Bruin-type player. He’s a good skater, he plays a north-south game, he’ll fight anybody, he’ll take anybody on, he hits on the forecheck, so he, when he was there in the third round, it was a good fit for his style of game to the way we play. So, you know, he’s not big but, well, tall, but he’s thick and he’s a fearless player, kind of like a Shawn Thornton-type for us.”- Benning
To read the rest of the grades, and for more coverage on the Boston Bruins and anything New England hockey-related, be sure to check out the website.
Making The Grade- The 2011 Boston Bruins draft
By Kirk Luedeke
Full story at hockeyjournal.com
Although trying to pick winners and losers the day after the NHL Entry Draft is often an exercise in futility, grading a team’s prospect haul based on current projections has become an annual tradition.
While walking back to the hotel with members of the Anaheim Ducks scouting staff from the shuttle drop-off point, one scout declared: “Everyone is a winner on draft day- 30 winners and no losers.”
That sentiment reflects the euphoria and optimism that often permeates the atmosphere right after a team invests a big portion of its future in the seven or so young players who comprise a normal NHL draft class. However, once the next several seasons progress, the clear-cut winners and losers only truly emerge.
The Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks and yes- the Detroit Red Wings once again- all seemed to have the drafts that can lay a solid foundation for a team for years to come. Short of a crystal ball to see into the future, it certainly seems as if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and David Musil could have a course-altering impact on the Oilers in time. The Senators worked the draft effectively, taking skilled and passionate players who should be able to inject the kind of talent and energy needed to get the former 2007 Stanley Cup runners up into contention. As for Chicago and Detroit, the 2011 draft was all about value, as both teams made an art out of landing name players with lower selections.
But what about the Boston Bruins?
The 2011 Stanley Cup champions would have picked 30th and 61st overall in this draft if not for deals involving Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew nearly two years ago that allowed the B’s to pick ninth and 40th.
When the team came away with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Khokhlachev, they appeared to position themselves perfectly to keep in place teams capable of contending for NHL championships well into this decade. While the other selections the Bruins made are not particularly exciting, they all seem to fit the mold of what the club values: character, commitment and potential.
Time will tell whether Hamilton, Khokhlachev and the rest of the Boston draft class manages to become impact players in the Black and Gold, but for now, this looks like a pretty impressive haul.
Dougie Hamilton, D Niagara (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A+
The scoop: How does a player of Hamilton’s size and skill set drop to ninth overall? A lot of times it has to do with luck and just hoping that other teams value others more. New England Hockey Journal learned that the Bruins did not expect Hamilton to be there at nine and were fully intending on drafting Ryan Murphy as the projected player to fall to them at nine. However, when the Winnipeg Jets made Mark Scheifele an off-the-board pick, the B’s were given the rare opportunity to choose between the big, rangy two-way defenseman in Hamilton or the undersized but dynamic playmaker in Murphy. Boston opted for the former and it will be interesting to follow the career progression of both players.
Quotable: “Well I’ve grown a lot in the last few years and haven’t really filled into my body yet, I think I’m working hard right now in the gym, I need to work a lot harder and get bigger and that will help with my physical game as well. I think you have to improve everything because the guys in the NHL are a lot better than OHL players.”- Dougie Hamilton
Alexander Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A
The scoop: This dynamic offensive Russian center was available to the Bruins at 40 for another outstanding value pick. He had 34 goals with the Spitfires in just his first North American season and is primed for a big breakout year. New England Hockey Journal spoke to Windsor President and GM Warren Rychel in Minnesota and Rychel praised “KoKo’s” skill and passion for the game, calling him a “Godsend” for Windsor after the team gambled a bit by bringing him over in the CHL Import Draft. The youngster plays with a lot of passion and should energize the crowds at Bruins development camp in early July with his speed and puck wizardry. The thought of a possible d-camp line of KoKo, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight there must have Bruins fans eagerly checking their calendars. Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning was emphatic in stating that signing Khokhlachev will not be an issue, stating his commitment and desire to play in the NHL.
Quotable: “Well, he’s thick like a [Montreal center Scott] Gomez, but he’ll, he likes to score, he’s more of a shooter and a scorer. But he’s elusive like that and strong, but that’s kind of a comparison to him, but it’s different that KoKo likes to shoot the puck and to score, I would say, more.”- Jim Benning
Anthony Camara, LW Saginaw (OHL)
NEHJ grade: B-
The scoop: One tough nut, but there isn’t a lot to get excited about with this guy skill-wise. Or is there? Camara is one of those “pet” picks the Bruins scout out and make seemingly every year. Milan Lucic was one in 2006, and Camara was buried on a deep team up front. He plays bigger than his size (6-feet, 194 pounds) and may end up being more than the sum of his parts.
Quotable: “Yeah, he’s a typical Boston Bruin-type player. He’s a good skater, he plays a north-south game, he’ll fight anybody, he’ll take anybody on, he hits on the forecheck, so he, when he was there in the third round, it was a good fit for his style of game to the way we play. So, you know, he’s not big but, well, tall, but he’s thick and he’s a fearless player, kind of like a Shawn Thornton-type for us.”- Benning
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Bruins Assistant GM Jim Benning recaps Bruins draft
Bruins assistant GM (and scouting guru) Jim Benning met with the media after the Bruins selected Lars Volden in the sixth round to break down the events from the last two days.
Warning- this video is more than 9 minutes long, so only the hardest of the hardcore draftniks will likely have the attention span to sit through it. Wish I had broken it up into two segments, but here is Benning's remarks in their entirety from Alex Khokhlachev (and he recaps Hamilton later on) to Volden.
Warning- this video is more than 9 minutes long, so only the hardest of the hardcore draftniks will likely have the attention span to sit through it. Wish I had broken it up into two segments, but here is Benning's remarks in their entirety from Alex Khokhlachev (and he recaps Hamilton later on) to Volden.
Bruins grab Ferlin in 4th round
Indiana Ice (USHL) forward Brian Ferlin was Boston's fourth-round selection, 121st overall. The 1992 birthdate from Jacksonville, Florida was eligible for the 2010 draft but passed over.
Red Line Report's Max Giese said that the Florida native is a big kid with good hands. "He's an awkward skater- he skates with a weird style but is more quick and agile than fast. He has a wide base, but is hunched-over when he moves."
In 55 games, Ferlin had 25 goals, 73 points and 26 penalty minutes.
Red Line Report's Max Giese said that the Florida native is a big kid with good hands. "He's an awkward skater- he skates with a weird style but is more quick and agile than fast. He has a wide base, but is hunched-over when he moves."
In 55 games, Ferlin had 25 goals, 73 points and 26 penalty minutes.
Bruins grab Camara in 3rd round
The Boston Bruins picked Saginaw left winger Anthony Camara with their third-round selection, 81st overall.
Although undersized by a physical forward standpoint, Camara is a big hitter who will take on any comers.
He cited a tough upbringing with an older sister who beat on him when younger as the impetus for his hockey toughness.
He doesn't have a lot of points, but could evolve into a lower-line energy player with some hands/upside.
Although undersized by a physical forward standpoint, Camara is a big hitter who will take on any comers.
He cited a tough upbringing with an older sister who beat on him when younger as the impetus for his hockey toughness.
He doesn't have a lot of points, but could evolve into a lower-line energy player with some hands/upside.
Bruins open 2nd day with Alexander Khokhlachev
The Boston Bruins got tremendous value with the selection of Windsor Spitfires forward Alexander Khokhlachev with the 40th overall selection in the 2011 NHL Draft.
With the selection of the dynamic scoring forward, the Bruins get a serious upgrade at forward.
With the selection of the dynamic scoring forward, the Bruins get a serious upgrade at forward.
Friday, June 24, 2011
2011 NHL Draft video: Peter Chiarelli weighs in on Boston 1st round
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli discussed the Dougie Hamilton pick with Boston media Friday at the Xcel Energy Center.
Dougie Hamilton to the Bruins
We've skipped over some of the picks, but since this is a Bruins-centric blog, we'll bring you the post-pick video of newest Boston defender Dougie Hamilton.
To be honest, we didn't expect Hamilton to be there at ninth overall, but when the Winnipeg Jets went off the board to pick Barrie center Mark Scheifele seventh overall, the Flyers took Sean Couturier eighth, leaving the Bruins the choice between dynamic, undersized Kitchener defender Ryan Murphy and the bigger, offensively-savvy blueliner Hamilton who weighs in at 6-4.
Here's the video of Hamilton, but remember that B2011DW made the case for Dougie in Boston way back in January. We lost sight of him a bit because Toronto's pick fell from fifth at the time to ninth, but the B's got their man.
To be honest, we didn't expect Hamilton to be there at ninth overall, but when the Winnipeg Jets went off the board to pick Barrie center Mark Scheifele seventh overall, the Flyers took Sean Couturier eighth, leaving the Bruins the choice between dynamic, undersized Kitchener defender Ryan Murphy and the bigger, offensively-savvy blueliner Hamilton who weighs in at 6-4.
Here's the video of Hamilton, but remember that B2011DW made the case for Dougie in Boston way back in January. We lost sight of him a bit because Toronto's pick fell from fifth at the time to ninth, but the B's got their man.
Strome goes 5th overall to Islanders
Love this pick for the New York Islanders. Ryan Strome is one of the more talented offensive centers in all of the draft and he will eventually make John Tavares that much more dangerous.
Excellent pick for Isles.
Excellent pick for Isles.
Givng the Devil his due: Adam Larsson off the board at #4 to Jersey
New Jersey Devils got themselves a tremendous value in Swedish defender Adam Larsson, who dropped down to them at four.
We've always loved his skill and poise, and you heard it would happen- not surprised it did. But, that's the victor getting the spoils- Devils won the draft lottery and did a Jeffersons-like move on up to grab the skilled puck mover.
We've always loved his skill and poise, and you heard it would happen- not surprised it did. But, that's the victor getting the spoils- Devils won the draft lottery and did a Jeffersons-like move on up to grab the skilled puck mover.
J-Money a Panther
The Florida Panthers followed the script and took Saint John ace Jonathan Huberdeau. Can't go wrong with this player- parlayed his talent into a productive season and Memorial Cup MVP performance.
The Sunshine State is going to love this kid. We called him J-Money after he put on a clinic in the QMJHL playoffs and Mem Cup tourney, and he'll be making a splash for the Panthers real soon.
The Sunshine State is going to love this kid. We called him J-Money after he put on a clinic in the QMJHL playoffs and Mem Cup tourney, and he'll be making a splash for the Panthers real soon.
Nugent-Hopkikns and Landeskog go 1-2
These two picks make perfect sense.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the top talent and if Edmonton had passed on him, the second-guessing would have been immense. Stud forward and high-end talent who deserved to be No.1 and will be a good fit for the Oil.
Kudos to Colorado for taking Gabriel Landeskog, whom we don't think gets enough credit for his skills. His physical talents, leadership/maturity are second to none. Hard to go wrong with Gabe- he will play next year and make an impact as a player who can perform any role for the rebuilding Avs.
Florida now up.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the top talent and if Edmonton had passed on him, the second-guessing would have been immense. Stud forward and high-end talent who deserved to be No.1 and will be a good fit for the Oil.
Kudos to Colorado for taking Gabriel Landeskog, whom we don't think gets enough credit for his skills. His physical talents, leadership/maturity are second to none. Hard to go wrong with Gabe- he will play next year and make an impact as a player who can perform any role for the rebuilding Avs.
Florida now up.
2011 NHL Draft video: Peter Chiarelli
Had a chance to do a media scrum with Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli about an hour before the draft got underway. The quality isn't the greatest, but he weighs in on Tomas Kaberle near the end. He also confirmed Matt Dalton would not return and that Anton Khudobin has an offer in place for the KHL. Looks like goaltending will be a position of interest in 2011. He did say (after the video ends) that the Bruins use a separate list to rank their goaltenders and they will integrate that list and look for value as the draft rolls on.
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