Here is a recap of the final summer Bruins prospect rollup, plus the guys at the low-end to close out the list.
This subjective list will change again at mid-season, when New England Hockey Journal publishes the annual B's prospect roundup in the January 2012 issue.
1. Dougie Hamilton, D
2. Jared Knight, RW
3. Ryan Spooner, C
4. Alexander Khokhlachev, C
5. Max Sauve, LW
6. Jordan Caron, RW
7. Steve Kampfer, D
8. Jamie Arniel, C
9. Matt Bartkowski, D
10. Ryan Button, D
11. Tommy Cross, D
12. Anton Khudobin, G
13. David Warsofsky, D
14. Michael Hutchinson, G
15. Yury Alexandrov, D
16. Zach Hamill, C
17. Anthony Camara, LW
18. Carter Camper, C
19. Colby Cohen, D
20. Craig Cunnningham, C/W
21. Brian Ferlin, RW
22. Zach Trotman, D
23. Marc Cantin, D
24. Lane MacDermid, LW
25. Maxim Chudinov, D
26. Tyler Randell, RW
27. Justin Florek, LW
28. Zane Gothberg, G
29. Rob O'Gara, D
30. Alexander Fallstrom, RW
31. Lars Volden, G
32. Andrew Bodnarchuk, D
33. Stefan Chaput, C
34. Ben Sexton, C- Battled injuries, but had a solid freshman season at Clarkson. Not a great deal of upside, but skates well and plays an effective two-way game.
35. Nick Tremblay, C- Tremendous skater, but lacks the puck skills and offensive hockey sense to capitalize on his pure speed.
36. Zach McKelvie, D- After two years in the active duty Army, the West Point grad with outstanding wheels is very raw and behind in his development, but gets one year to show what he can do.
37. Yannick Riendeau, LW- Undrafted free agent and 2009 QMJHL MVP is small and not a great skater- has yet to make much of a pro impact.
38. Adam Courchaine, G- Helped the ECHL's Alaska Aces win the Kelly Cup championship last season, but will be hard-pressed to see much action in Providence. Should play closer to Boston for Reading Royals, at least.
39. Alain Goulet, D- 2007 5th-rounder has bounced between AHL and ECHL, but doesn't look like much beyond a minor league journeyman at this point.
40. Carl Soderberg, C- Former St. Louis 2nd-rounder acquired for Hannu Toivonen way back in 2007 is just about used up, but still makes list by virtue of being a legitimate talent and not quite 26. Appears content to stay in Sweden for the rest of his career, however.
41. Mark Goggin, C- Dartmouth player and team's last pick in 2008 does not figure to be in the picture.
That wraps up the Bruins prospect coverage and the 2011 NHL draft altogether.
It has been a fun journey going back to a year ago and I hope you found this blog to be a good companion resource out there for your hockey draft needs.
As always, thanks for the support!
*(Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the New England Hockey Journal)
Showing posts with label Rob O'Gara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rob O'Gara. Show all posts
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Bruins prospect profile #29: Rob O'Gara
Rob O'Gara, D
6-3, 185
July 6, 1993
Shoots: Left
Boston's 5th choice, 151st overall (fifth round) in 2011 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Fine size; tall, lanky frame with long limbs and plenty of room to grow/add muscle mass. Strength and conditioning will be O'Gara's biggest priority over the next several years, as he's a beanpole right now. Strong skater with long, fluid stride and the ability to gain the blue line with speed. Crisp footwork and solid coordination for a big kid who just turned 18 the day before he reported to development camp. Fine passer and puck-mover who keeps his head up and hits the breakouts with ease. Big, powerful shot that he is still working on in terms of getting off faster and making more accurate. Generates real velocity and torque on his drive if he gets all of it. Not a thundering hitter, but understands body leverage and angling rubs guys out along the boards and pins them to the wall. Active stick and exhibits good gap control. Defensively sound and just needs more experience at higher competition levels to bring out the best in his physical attributes. Plays lacrosse in the spring to further hone his physical edge and athleticism.
Intangibles: Smart, hard working kid who came from out of nowhere this past season with Milton Academy after playing junior in his native Long Island. Rough and raw- only played one year in prep and will get one more year at that level before he moves onto the NCAA. At his best when he keeps it simple. A leader who will captain the Mustangs this season. High character kid who has a natural feel for the game and brings a good level of humility to the mix as well.
Boston Bruins 2011 Development Camp assessment
Although raw, clearly impressed with his physical tools and willingness to work. Made numerous instinctive plays with and without the puck that were visible when studying him closely. As he gains more experience and confidence, he'll likely spread his wings more and try to improve the creativity. Underrated puck-mover: defense is his strong suit, but he has the wheels and head to advance the puck and join the play. He did so at the right moments and while he wasn't flashy, kept things simple and corrected his mistakes. O'Gara is a talent who could pay nice dividends in time: where he's lacking isn't due to a dearth of ability but because he hasn't played at all that high a level.
Development Camp interview with Rob O'Gara
Projection
O'Gara's low ranking is much more reflective of the deep Bruins system and how far away he is from competing for a job with the big club than any lack of upside on his part. He has one more year at Milton, and then will take his game to Yale University in 2012. Has top-four potential but could just as well settle in as a solid No. 5 defenseman at the highest level given his size and skill package. He understands he's behind the developmental curve a little bit in terms of where he grades out against his peers and elite competition, but as a late bloomer is in a good spot to open some eyes in the next 2-4 years. Although he grew up a diehard New York Islanders fan (he was born the summer after the Isles' longest playoff run since the 1984 Stanley Cup final), he's thrilled to be a Bruin because of his time spent in the Bay State surrounded by B's fans at Milton. Comes from a real good family and will put in the work he must to put himself into the Boston mix when the time comes.
Quotable
"[Rob] O’Gara who we talked about, or [Bruins Assistant GM] Donny [Sweeney] talked about him yesterday, I think he’s going to be a good player, provided he gets some strength and gets his feet under him. He’s got a good head, good stick, good sense. "- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli; July 11, 2011
"Robby O’Gara, I know that you’ve commented like he maybe looks like he’s baby faced and won a lottery ticket to be a Bruin or something but he does not look out of place in any way, shape or form. He’s a nice piece of clay right now that we all get to go to work with. And he’s a great kid and he’s really excited to be part of our group."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney; July 11, 2011
"You obviously have to have a feel for the (prep) league and guys that have come out of there and how their trajectory has gone. It’s a harder route. I went that path. It’s definitely a harder route. You don’t play as many games. Level of competition, I mean, it’s still hockey. There’s games in any league that teams are on a rebuilding mode. You go into buildings that aren’t necessarily up to par for where that team is. So I don’t want to put down the Prep School Hockey League overall. Will I tell you they’re producing a lot of NHL players? No, they’re not. But it’s still good hockey and Rob’s at a stage where he’s coming out of an area that probably isn’t known for producing a lot of players. So things are kind of new to him and you can tell he’s a little wide-eyed and trying to get himself up to pace. But that’s a good thing from where we sit."- Sweeney; July 9, 2011
"He’s got the next four, five, whatever years, whatever he needs to develop into the player we think he can become. He’s not getting any smaller and, you know, hopefully he only continues to get bigger and he could be like Tommy Cross here, coming back for four or five of these camps and you just see him continue to grow and develop as a player before we even think about him turning pro. That’ll map itself out, as I said, there’s no course of action laid out for each and every one of them, they’ll set their own course. But him being in our backyard, I think gives us the ability now to dial in a little bit even better through the course of the season when I go see him play. I didn’t talk to him at all until we interviewed him. But now, I’ll be getting to pull him aside and say, ‘X, Y and Z,’ and be very specific about things."- Sweeney; July 9, 2011
"Robby [O’Gara]’s a piece of clay right now, albeit it’s a big piece. At 6’4” it can change. Things have come at him here a little quicker in the last, I’d say, eight months. But we got a chance, I did in particular and other people got a chance to see him a lot. He’s in our backyard. We went down and spoke to him and he’s excited. This is probably catching him a little off guard in terms of the preparation aspect of it. As I mentioned, you come from the prep school ranks and you know, there’s a lot to digest here in a short period of time."- Sweeney; July 7, 2011
"The good thing is there’s no timetable for him. He’s not going to get any smaller. He’s only going to fill out and continue to get better. And he’s going to be right in our backyard for another year then on to a real good program in Yale. So I think that he’ll learn a lot. He’ll be one of those kids that walks out of here, hopefully, and learns an awful lot and takes some of this stuff going forward."- Sweeney; July 7, 2011
6-3, 185
July 6, 1993
Shoots: Left
Boston's 5th choice, 151st overall (fifth round) in 2011 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical: Fine size; tall, lanky frame with long limbs and plenty of room to grow/add muscle mass. Strength and conditioning will be O'Gara's biggest priority over the next several years, as he's a beanpole right now. Strong skater with long, fluid stride and the ability to gain the blue line with speed. Crisp footwork and solid coordination for a big kid who just turned 18 the day before he reported to development camp. Fine passer and puck-mover who keeps his head up and hits the breakouts with ease. Big, powerful shot that he is still working on in terms of getting off faster and making more accurate. Generates real velocity and torque on his drive if he gets all of it. Not a thundering hitter, but understands body leverage and angling rubs guys out along the boards and pins them to the wall. Active stick and exhibits good gap control. Defensively sound and just needs more experience at higher competition levels to bring out the best in his physical attributes. Plays lacrosse in the spring to further hone his physical edge and athleticism.
Intangibles: Smart, hard working kid who came from out of nowhere this past season with Milton Academy after playing junior in his native Long Island. Rough and raw- only played one year in prep and will get one more year at that level before he moves onto the NCAA. At his best when he keeps it simple. A leader who will captain the Mustangs this season. High character kid who has a natural feel for the game and brings a good level of humility to the mix as well.
Boston Bruins 2011 Development Camp assessment
Although raw, clearly impressed with his physical tools and willingness to work. Made numerous instinctive plays with and without the puck that were visible when studying him closely. As he gains more experience and confidence, he'll likely spread his wings more and try to improve the creativity. Underrated puck-mover: defense is his strong suit, but he has the wheels and head to advance the puck and join the play. He did so at the right moments and while he wasn't flashy, kept things simple and corrected his mistakes. O'Gara is a talent who could pay nice dividends in time: where he's lacking isn't due to a dearth of ability but because he hasn't played at all that high a level.
Development Camp interview with Rob O'Gara
Projection
O'Gara's low ranking is much more reflective of the deep Bruins system and how far away he is from competing for a job with the big club than any lack of upside on his part. He has one more year at Milton, and then will take his game to Yale University in 2012. Has top-four potential but could just as well settle in as a solid No. 5 defenseman at the highest level given his size and skill package. He understands he's behind the developmental curve a little bit in terms of where he grades out against his peers and elite competition, but as a late bloomer is in a good spot to open some eyes in the next 2-4 years. Although he grew up a diehard New York Islanders fan (he was born the summer after the Isles' longest playoff run since the 1984 Stanley Cup final), he's thrilled to be a Bruin because of his time spent in the Bay State surrounded by B's fans at Milton. Comes from a real good family and will put in the work he must to put himself into the Boston mix when the time comes.
Quotable
"[Rob] O’Gara who we talked about, or [Bruins Assistant GM] Donny [Sweeney] talked about him yesterday, I think he’s going to be a good player, provided he gets some strength and gets his feet under him. He’s got a good head, good stick, good sense. "- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli; July 11, 2011
"Robby O’Gara, I know that you’ve commented like he maybe looks like he’s baby faced and won a lottery ticket to be a Bruin or something but he does not look out of place in any way, shape or form. He’s a nice piece of clay right now that we all get to go to work with. And he’s a great kid and he’s really excited to be part of our group."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney; July 11, 2011
"You obviously have to have a feel for the (prep) league and guys that have come out of there and how their trajectory has gone. It’s a harder route. I went that path. It’s definitely a harder route. You don’t play as many games. Level of competition, I mean, it’s still hockey. There’s games in any league that teams are on a rebuilding mode. You go into buildings that aren’t necessarily up to par for where that team is. So I don’t want to put down the Prep School Hockey League overall. Will I tell you they’re producing a lot of NHL players? No, they’re not. But it’s still good hockey and Rob’s at a stage where he’s coming out of an area that probably isn’t known for producing a lot of players. So things are kind of new to him and you can tell he’s a little wide-eyed and trying to get himself up to pace. But that’s a good thing from where we sit."- Sweeney; July 9, 2011
"He’s got the next four, five, whatever years, whatever he needs to develop into the player we think he can become. He’s not getting any smaller and, you know, hopefully he only continues to get bigger and he could be like Tommy Cross here, coming back for four or five of these camps and you just see him continue to grow and develop as a player before we even think about him turning pro. That’ll map itself out, as I said, there’s no course of action laid out for each and every one of them, they’ll set their own course. But him being in our backyard, I think gives us the ability now to dial in a little bit even better through the course of the season when I go see him play. I didn’t talk to him at all until we interviewed him. But now, I’ll be getting to pull him aside and say, ‘X, Y and Z,’ and be very specific about things."- Sweeney; July 9, 2011
"Robby [O’Gara]’s a piece of clay right now, albeit it’s a big piece. At 6’4” it can change. Things have come at him here a little quicker in the last, I’d say, eight months. But we got a chance, I did in particular and other people got a chance to see him a lot. He’s in our backyard. We went down and spoke to him and he’s excited. This is probably catching him a little off guard in terms of the preparation aspect of it. As I mentioned, you come from the prep school ranks and you know, there’s a lot to digest here in a short period of time."- Sweeney; July 7, 2011
"The good thing is there’s no timetable for him. He’s not going to get any smaller. He’s only going to fill out and continue to get better. And he’s going to be right in our backyard for another year then on to a real good program in Yale. So I think that he’ll learn a lot. He’ll be one of those kids that walks out of here, hopefully, and learns an awful lot and takes some of this stuff going forward."- Sweeney; July 7, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Bruins 2011 Development Camp recaps
To keep your interest until the profiles go up, here are some teasers on the recently completed Bruins development camp (Monday) over at the New England Hockey Journal website.
75 Lars Volden
Vitals: 6-3, 198
Acquired: 6th round in 2011 (181st overall)
2010-11 team: Espoo Blues (Finland Jr.)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive showing for late-round pick in last month’s draft who is a classic butterfly-style netminder from Norway. Takes up a large portion of the net and stays square to the shooter. Got more comfortable as the week went on and he began to adjust to shooters. Big, fast, athletic. Showed some real potential as a long-term option. Expected to play on the senior team for Espoo this season in Finland.
76 Rob O’Gara
Vitals: 6-3, 185
Acquired: 5th round in 2011 (151st overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Milton Mustangs (ISL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Two-way blueliner with size and hockey sense is a Yale recruit for 2012. Raw and inexperienced having only played one season in the ISL (Independent School League) before beig drafted by Boston. Has a long, fluid stride and fine footwork for someone who just turned 18 in July. Thinks the game well in terms of diagramming plays and being able to make the breakouts to get the puck up the ice. Calm and composed defender who is only going to get better as he is challenged more and continues to develop. Named captain of his Milton team for 2011-12.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE GOALIES AND DEFENSEMEN HERE
50 Alexander Khokhlachev, Center
Vitals: 5-10, 184
Acquired: 2nd round, 2011 draft (40th overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Highly skilled offensive player showed off his high-end scoring potential in flashes, but was overwhelmed at times with the physical demands of camp and environment. Good skater with effective first-step quickness, elusiveness and the ability to rapidly change direction. Not tall, but strong on his skates and gets under would-be checkers, using body leverage to gain position and maintain puck possession. Elite hands and stickhandling skills. Quick shot with rapid release and nice accuracy. Plays with passion and exuberance. Was not in the kind of shape he needed to be, but should improve on that when main camp rolls around in September and a year from now (assuming he returns to development camp). English skills are raw, but improving- he showed a willingness to take on any interviews and did his level best with a smile. Has future rock star potential in Boston if he can continue his upward developmental curve. Youngest player in the 2011 draft, just making the Sep. 15, 1993 cutoff by six days.
51 Anthony Camara, Left Wing
Vitals: 6-0, 194
Acquired: 3rd round, 2011 draft (81st overall)
2010-11 Amateur Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive individual showing from a player who was initially thought to be a reach. The Toronto native isn’t all that tall at about 6-foot, but is around 195 pounds and is built like a fire hydrant. He skates well, with quick jump and good straight-line speed. Camara also has above average puck skills and a hard shot. While at camp, he showed a penchant for shooting often and scored from the outside as well as in close. Plays a physical game, finishing checks and relishing contact. Has a reputation as willing and fearless fighter. Won’t turn 18 until Sep. 4- just five days older than Alexander Khokhlachev, the youngest player in the NHL draft in June. Former 1st-round OHL pick (15th overall) in 2009.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE FORWARDS HERE
75 Lars Volden
Vitals: 6-3, 198
Acquired: 6th round in 2011 (181st overall)
2010-11 team: Espoo Blues (Finland Jr.)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive showing for late-round pick in last month’s draft who is a classic butterfly-style netminder from Norway. Takes up a large portion of the net and stays square to the shooter. Got more comfortable as the week went on and he began to adjust to shooters. Big, fast, athletic. Showed some real potential as a long-term option. Expected to play on the senior team for Espoo this season in Finland.
76 Rob O’Gara
Vitals: 6-3, 185
Acquired: 5th round in 2011 (151st overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Milton Mustangs (ISL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Two-way blueliner with size and hockey sense is a Yale recruit for 2012. Raw and inexperienced having only played one season in the ISL (Independent School League) before beig drafted by Boston. Has a long, fluid stride and fine footwork for someone who just turned 18 in July. Thinks the game well in terms of diagramming plays and being able to make the breakouts to get the puck up the ice. Calm and composed defender who is only going to get better as he is challenged more and continues to develop. Named captain of his Milton team for 2011-12.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE GOALIES AND DEFENSEMEN HERE
50 Alexander Khokhlachev, Center
Vitals: 5-10, 184
Acquired: 2nd round, 2011 draft (40th overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Highly skilled offensive player showed off his high-end scoring potential in flashes, but was overwhelmed at times with the physical demands of camp and environment. Good skater with effective first-step quickness, elusiveness and the ability to rapidly change direction. Not tall, but strong on his skates and gets under would-be checkers, using body leverage to gain position and maintain puck possession. Elite hands and stickhandling skills. Quick shot with rapid release and nice accuracy. Plays with passion and exuberance. Was not in the kind of shape he needed to be, but should improve on that when main camp rolls around in September and a year from now (assuming he returns to development camp). English skills are raw, but improving- he showed a willingness to take on any interviews and did his level best with a smile. Has future rock star potential in Boston if he can continue his upward developmental curve. Youngest player in the 2011 draft, just making the Sep. 15, 1993 cutoff by six days.
51 Anthony Camara, Left Wing
Vitals: 6-0, 194
Acquired: 3rd round, 2011 draft (81st overall)
2010-11 Amateur Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive individual showing from a player who was initially thought to be a reach. The Toronto native isn’t all that tall at about 6-foot, but is around 195 pounds and is built like a fire hydrant. He skates well, with quick jump and good straight-line speed. Camara also has above average puck skills and a hard shot. While at camp, he showed a penchant for shooting often and scored from the outside as well as in close. Plays a physical game, finishing checks and relishing contact. Has a reputation as willing and fearless fighter. Won’t turn 18 until Sep. 4- just five days older than Alexander Khokhlachev, the youngest player in the NHL draft in June. Former 1st-round OHL pick (15th overall) in 2009.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE FORWARDS HERE
Sunday, July 10, 2011
2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp: Day 4 recap
Last day for B2011DW in Wilmington, and Sunday was a chance to see the players scrimmage for the first time since the Bruins prospects convened here on Thursday.
They did one more hour-long drills and skills session, resurfaced the ice, and then went to it in a 4-on-4 "Sunday Funday scrimmy" as defenseman Ryan Button put it.
Team Black battled White and after Anthony Camara scored on Zane Gothberg right off the bat to take a 1-0 lead for White, Justin Florek tallied twice, Brian Ferlin pumped in a goal and the "Black Aces" triumphed over the "White Spaders" by a 3-1 score.
Here are the observations and thoughts of the specific players
Black Aces
Ryan Spooner: He didn't get a lot done in terms of finishing, but he was the fulcrum for wingers Florek and Ferlin. Man, is this kid ever slick. He did snipe a memorable shot on Mike Hutchinson during the drills portion of the day and continued to show off his speed and high-end puck skills. He hit a tiny window on the short side with his shot (Hutch is a right-catching goalie so Spooner beat him high to the blocker side). Spooner is a dual threat- he can score and set up the play. Offense is what excites most people the most, so it isn't any real surprise that the kid who grew up a huge Montreal Canadiens fan (thanks to his dad, Brad) is the most popular B's prospect right now with the folks who have taken the time to come out to rookie games a year ago and the development camps.
Zach Trotman: One of the more impressive defenders this week given his size, agile skating and a big shot. Trotman looked a lot more comfortable this time around and he activates smartly, jumping up into the play and holding the blue line well on the point. The Michigander turns 21 later this summer, and he's still on the raw side, but for the last pick of the 2010 draft, this guy is worth keeping an eye on.
Justin Florek: Scored two goals- one was an absolute snipe from the outside, where he showed a real penchant all week during the drills, unloading his hard, heavy shot to beat goalies top shelf. Gothberg was the victim on this one, but Tim Thomas may have had a hard time stopping it. Florek has a fast release and a heavy wrister that he can pick the corners with. He's a nice skater for his size and looks like he's spreading his wings offensively from what we saw a year ago. He could score 30 goals this year for Northern Michigan as a senior, though not sure what his pro upside is yet.
Brian Ferlin: He showed why he was the USHL's third-leading scorer this week. He doesn't have textbook technique in his skating, but he has some real speed. He blew past Dougie Hamilton on one play and went in alone on Gothberg, getting robbed by the Minnesotan's glove hand on what would have been a goal to bring the fans out of their seats. He's got a quick snap shot and you can see some real instincts for the offensive side of things. Ferlin is just one of a growing crop of big league prospects coming out of Florida- you would have pegged him for a Michigander or Minnesotan the way he performed this week and in that scrimmage. Ferlin is looking like a solid value for the fourth round, but we'll withhold any further judgment until we see him at Cornell this winter.
Ben Sexton: Not a lot to report on the '09 seventh-rounder. He skates well and got himself in position a few times but either missed the net or wasn't able to generate much in the way of a scoring chance.
Ryan Button: Excellent performance all week from one of the veterans in his third development camp. We're probably not going to see a lot of points from Button, but he's such a good skater, smart defender and hard worker that he's going to be something in the pro ranks. He makes good decisions, can carry the puck on his own and has a quick acceleration and jump in his step that allows him to be effective in small spaces. On one sequence, he did several spin-o-rama moves at the offensive blue line to avoid Camara's forecheck and then got it over to David Warsofsky, who got a low shot on net that Ferlin converted on the rebound. He's also a gym rat who takes his conditioning seriously, and his physical maturation from 2009 when the B's draft him to now is significant. The upside is the issue with Button, but he's a solid performer and person and should become one of Bruce Cassidy's go-to guys in Providence despite his youth.
Robby O'Gara: Raw, yes. But anyone who watched O'Gara this week has to be encouraged by the Milton Academy captain's performance in Wilmington. He has such a long, fluid stride that will only get better as he fills out and develops his physical maturity. But he has the two things you cannot teach: size and hockey sense. At one point, he skated through several players in the neutral zone, gained the line and while looking one way, made a crisp pass in the opposite direction to an open teammate down near the right corner to set up the cycle. The puck ended up in the net shortly thereafter. That's the kind of play that won't end up in the box score, but it was essential to his team eventually finding the back of the net. This fifth-round pick could end up being a player, but the wait is going to be a long one.
David Warsofsky: The guy's an athlete. Even though he's smaller than his listed size of 5-9, 170, he's an agile, elusive skater. He lacks the explosiveness and dynamic element of a player like Ryan Murphy, but there is some potential here for the pugnacious defender. He wasn't a high-end performer this week, but you can see that he has the skill to be effective at the AHL level, at least. Warsofsky has managed to silence the critics thus far in his career, and seems to relish doing so. Whether he can do enough to develop into an NHL regular remains to be seen, but Cassidy intimated that he envisions Warsofsky in a key two-way role for him in Providence this season and he could one day force his way into the mix in Boston.
Alexander Fallstrom: The Harvard junior is quicker this year and stronger. He also showed off some nice hands and has some legitimate potential as an NHL fourth-liner one day (may not be with Boston, though). When he has the puck on his stick anywhere near the net, he's a threat to score. Hasn't done much for the Crimson, but this could be a breakout year for him.
White Spaders
Jared Knight: No points in the scrimmage, but Knight was one of white's most consistent and dangerous threats. If there is even a sniff of an offensive chance, Knight kicks it into high gear. We never thought he was all that explosive a skater, but he's obviously worked on it, because he showed an ability to separate from defenders. He has a preternatural sense for when there's an opening and he goes for it. Underrated in his passing skills and defensive play. The most complete prospect as far as forwards go in Boston's system right now- without question.
Alexander Khokhlachev: His conditioning was lagging a bit, but Koko showed flashes of his high-end offensive skills in the scrimmage. He is highly effective when coming out of the corners and off the halfwall with the puck. He just missed on several well-placed shots that Gothberg and/or Lars Volden got pieces of. He's not a blazer and looked lethargic (he admitted to being very sore on Day 2) at times during drills, but he came alive during the scrimmage. He has sublime hands and we expect much bigger things from him a year from now when he'll know exactly what to expect. He's going to be a good one, but he's going to need some time to develop. That's good news for Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner and the good folks at Windsor, who should have him back this season and possibly beyond. Real solid kid, who took on every interview with a smile on his face despite lacking a prolific English vocabulary.
Dougie Hamilton: It was a pretty mediocre performance from Dougie in the scrimmage, but he still showed off his impressive skill set and competed hard. Like most top picks, the expectations surrounding him were enormous, so it was disappointing to hear some folks banging on him like I did (some people chirping us on Twitter, even). We suppose that these "experts" expected Hamilton to fly over the action and simultaneously cure cancer. In all seriousness, Hamilton's talent is undeniable, but like most youngsters, he was taken out of his comfort zone this week and struggled at times with it. Watch him next year- we expect a much more comfortable, settled and skilled two-way defender. All the tools are there.
Anthony Camara: A pleasant surprise, but not really. B's Director of Player Personnel Scott Bradley told us at the draft how underrated Camara's wheels and hands were, but he proved it at development camp. He scored a nice goal to start the scrimmage by taking a Craig Cunningham pass and then waiting for Gothberg to open himself up before slipping it past him. Camara skated well all week, driving to the net hard and making some good body contact. Like Koko, he won't even turn 18 until September and was buried behind skill guys in Saginaw, but with an increased role, look for him to break out a bit. He's not a high-end scoring type, but could be a third-line staple in the NHL one day. Just an impressive overall showing from the guy who looked like a reach at first glance, but who could end up being much more.
Craig Cunningham: One of the most active, and hardest-working guys at camp all week. We're not sure how his offensive numbers will translate in the pros, but he always keeps his feet moving and is a smart two-way guy with high-end character. He's a bit of a stealth player in that you don't notice him all that much until a big play is made and then you realize he's in the middle of it. He's a good, not great skater, but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time. We think he's going to be a very good AHL player in time, but not sure where he fits into the NHL picture yet.
Tyler Randell: His skating is only average and he needs to pick up a step coming out of the gate, but his hands are NHL-caliber. Randell was sniping goals all week, and his shootout move on Volden was a sight to behold, as he moved in, deked at least 6-7 times getting the goalie to commit and go down before skying a backhander up under the crossbar. We're intrigued as to what Randell will do in the AHL this year. He can technically go back to Kitchener for an overage season, but Providence would do well to add his grit, snarl and potential to hit some goals. An effective bottom-six forward with some modest offensive upside.
Marc Cantin: Impressive as an invite to Boston d-camp a year ago, Cantin continued his run of steady, solid play. He looks a bit like Mark Stuart out there, but a better skating version of the former Boston stalwart. Cantin was the most physical presence among the prospects this week, looking to make big hits and never passing up a chance to staple an opponent against the boards whether in drills or in the scrimmage. He's a smart guy who plays well positionally and is an interesting prospect as a lower-pairing D. Not much upside with this guy, but he's solid. Watch for him to earn a lot of ice time in Providence this season despite being a rookie pro.
Tommy Cross: Sharp and composed, he looked and acted the part of Boston's most senior prospect in attendance and the captain of the Boston College Eagles for the upcoming season. Skates well and plays a physical but disciplined game. The main concern with Cross is with his overall offensive hockey sense, which is limited despite having a big point bomb, and with his right knee. He's healthy now, but like Gord Kluzak, will be day-to-day for life, meaning that you hope and pray he'll have a long pro hockey career, but wonder how much he thinks about it and whether he can be as effective at the pro ranks.
Mike Hutchinson: The best goalie in camp this week by far, and opened some eyes with his size and quickness. He didn't allow a single goal in the first scrimmage, and he was tough to beat during the shootout portion. One of the true good guys in any room- Hutch always has a smile on his face, but is also a legitimate competitor who hates to be beaten. Jared Knight revealed some insights about his former London teammate, which leads us to believe that Hutch will be an NHL goalie one day. Unfortunately for him, Boston is going to be a tough nut to crack, but he has an opportunity to earn some playing time in Providence. Consistency has been his biggest challenge thus far, but as far is physical tools and puckstopping skills go, he's a legit NHL prospect.
Zane Gothberg: He doesn't turn 19 until August, but we thought that Gothberg had a solid week. He wasn't Hutch, and his technique has more refining to do than that of Volden, but he's a big guy who battles like Thomas does. He was at fault on the Camara goal, but the Florek shot was a bomb and Gothberg was excellent the rest of the way. At times, he looked unsettled, while at others, he was a rock this week. Gothberg's attitude and competitiveness are strong suits of his, and as a long-term project, he can continue to address his style and build confidence. He's back in the USHL for one more year and will then be in Grand Forks at the University of North Dakota in 2012. We still think that Gothberg is a diamond-in-the-rough and is in the catbird's seat, with no pressure on him whatsoever right now. The Bruins will be patient with him and see where it leads them.
Lars Volden: Wow. We banged him for his performance in the WJC, but it was one game and he showed some legitimate upside this week. He's big, quick and a classic butterfly goalie. He didn't play as well in the scrimmage as he had in the drills the previous three days, but there's something there. He stays square to the shooter, takes up a lot of the net and has the look of a guy who could play in the AHL right away. He'll try and make the Espoo Blues senior team this season and see where it takes him, but for a sixth-rounder, this guy looks like a player. Like Gothberg, Volden is a long-term project, but worth keeping tabs on.
The invites:
Brett Olson- The Michigan Tech senior is the oldest guy there with a 1987 birthdate, but worked hard and appreciated the opportunity. He grew up with Devils prospect and former UNH standout Mike Sislo, the two skating on a line together throughout their minor hockey days.
Josh Jooris- Union College playmaker is a good skater and passer; not all that tall, but strong and showed flashes of talent. From Burlington, Ontario- skated in the OJHL for his hometown team before going to the NCAA.
Steve Spinell- Carter Camper's teammate at Miami University is from Illinois. Has good size and mobility, though doesn't have much upside. Along with Cantin, was the most physical player in camp. Reminds us of a Matt Bartkowksi-type guy.
They did one more hour-long drills and skills session, resurfaced the ice, and then went to it in a 4-on-4 "Sunday Funday scrimmy" as defenseman Ryan Button put it.
Team Black battled White and after Anthony Camara scored on Zane Gothberg right off the bat to take a 1-0 lead for White, Justin Florek tallied twice, Brian Ferlin pumped in a goal and the "Black Aces" triumphed over the "White Spaders" by a 3-1 score.
Here are the observations and thoughts of the specific players
Black Aces
Ryan Spooner: He didn't get a lot done in terms of finishing, but he was the fulcrum for wingers Florek and Ferlin. Man, is this kid ever slick. He did snipe a memorable shot on Mike Hutchinson during the drills portion of the day and continued to show off his speed and high-end puck skills. He hit a tiny window on the short side with his shot (Hutch is a right-catching goalie so Spooner beat him high to the blocker side). Spooner is a dual threat- he can score and set up the play. Offense is what excites most people the most, so it isn't any real surprise that the kid who grew up a huge Montreal Canadiens fan (thanks to his dad, Brad) is the most popular B's prospect right now with the folks who have taken the time to come out to rookie games a year ago and the development camps.
Zach Trotman: One of the more impressive defenders this week given his size, agile skating and a big shot. Trotman looked a lot more comfortable this time around and he activates smartly, jumping up into the play and holding the blue line well on the point. The Michigander turns 21 later this summer, and he's still on the raw side, but for the last pick of the 2010 draft, this guy is worth keeping an eye on.
Justin Florek: Scored two goals- one was an absolute snipe from the outside, where he showed a real penchant all week during the drills, unloading his hard, heavy shot to beat goalies top shelf. Gothberg was the victim on this one, but Tim Thomas may have had a hard time stopping it. Florek has a fast release and a heavy wrister that he can pick the corners with. He's a nice skater for his size and looks like he's spreading his wings offensively from what we saw a year ago. He could score 30 goals this year for Northern Michigan as a senior, though not sure what his pro upside is yet.
Brian Ferlin: He showed why he was the USHL's third-leading scorer this week. He doesn't have textbook technique in his skating, but he has some real speed. He blew past Dougie Hamilton on one play and went in alone on Gothberg, getting robbed by the Minnesotan's glove hand on what would have been a goal to bring the fans out of their seats. He's got a quick snap shot and you can see some real instincts for the offensive side of things. Ferlin is just one of a growing crop of big league prospects coming out of Florida- you would have pegged him for a Michigander or Minnesotan the way he performed this week and in that scrimmage. Ferlin is looking like a solid value for the fourth round, but we'll withhold any further judgment until we see him at Cornell this winter.
Ben Sexton: Not a lot to report on the '09 seventh-rounder. He skates well and got himself in position a few times but either missed the net or wasn't able to generate much in the way of a scoring chance.
Ryan Button: Excellent performance all week from one of the veterans in his third development camp. We're probably not going to see a lot of points from Button, but he's such a good skater, smart defender and hard worker that he's going to be something in the pro ranks. He makes good decisions, can carry the puck on his own and has a quick acceleration and jump in his step that allows him to be effective in small spaces. On one sequence, he did several spin-o-rama moves at the offensive blue line to avoid Camara's forecheck and then got it over to David Warsofsky, who got a low shot on net that Ferlin converted on the rebound. He's also a gym rat who takes his conditioning seriously, and his physical maturation from 2009 when the B's draft him to now is significant. The upside is the issue with Button, but he's a solid performer and person and should become one of Bruce Cassidy's go-to guys in Providence despite his youth.
Robby O'Gara: Raw, yes. But anyone who watched O'Gara this week has to be encouraged by the Milton Academy captain's performance in Wilmington. He has such a long, fluid stride that will only get better as he fills out and develops his physical maturity. But he has the two things you cannot teach: size and hockey sense. At one point, he skated through several players in the neutral zone, gained the line and while looking one way, made a crisp pass in the opposite direction to an open teammate down near the right corner to set up the cycle. The puck ended up in the net shortly thereafter. That's the kind of play that won't end up in the box score, but it was essential to his team eventually finding the back of the net. This fifth-round pick could end up being a player, but the wait is going to be a long one.
David Warsofsky: The guy's an athlete. Even though he's smaller than his listed size of 5-9, 170, he's an agile, elusive skater. He lacks the explosiveness and dynamic element of a player like Ryan Murphy, but there is some potential here for the pugnacious defender. He wasn't a high-end performer this week, but you can see that he has the skill to be effective at the AHL level, at least. Warsofsky has managed to silence the critics thus far in his career, and seems to relish doing so. Whether he can do enough to develop into an NHL regular remains to be seen, but Cassidy intimated that he envisions Warsofsky in a key two-way role for him in Providence this season and he could one day force his way into the mix in Boston.
Alexander Fallstrom: The Harvard junior is quicker this year and stronger. He also showed off some nice hands and has some legitimate potential as an NHL fourth-liner one day (may not be with Boston, though). When he has the puck on his stick anywhere near the net, he's a threat to score. Hasn't done much for the Crimson, but this could be a breakout year for him.
White Spaders
Jared Knight: No points in the scrimmage, but Knight was one of white's most consistent and dangerous threats. If there is even a sniff of an offensive chance, Knight kicks it into high gear. We never thought he was all that explosive a skater, but he's obviously worked on it, because he showed an ability to separate from defenders. He has a preternatural sense for when there's an opening and he goes for it. Underrated in his passing skills and defensive play. The most complete prospect as far as forwards go in Boston's system right now- without question.
Alexander Khokhlachev: His conditioning was lagging a bit, but Koko showed flashes of his high-end offensive skills in the scrimmage. He is highly effective when coming out of the corners and off the halfwall with the puck. He just missed on several well-placed shots that Gothberg and/or Lars Volden got pieces of. He's not a blazer and looked lethargic (he admitted to being very sore on Day 2) at times during drills, but he came alive during the scrimmage. He has sublime hands and we expect much bigger things from him a year from now when he'll know exactly what to expect. He's going to be a good one, but he's going to need some time to develop. That's good news for Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner and the good folks at Windsor, who should have him back this season and possibly beyond. Real solid kid, who took on every interview with a smile on his face despite lacking a prolific English vocabulary.
Dougie Hamilton: It was a pretty mediocre performance from Dougie in the scrimmage, but he still showed off his impressive skill set and competed hard. Like most top picks, the expectations surrounding him were enormous, so it was disappointing to hear some folks banging on him like I did (some people chirping us on Twitter, even). We suppose that these "experts" expected Hamilton to fly over the action and simultaneously cure cancer. In all seriousness, Hamilton's talent is undeniable, but like most youngsters, he was taken out of his comfort zone this week and struggled at times with it. Watch him next year- we expect a much more comfortable, settled and skilled two-way defender. All the tools are there.
Anthony Camara: A pleasant surprise, but not really. B's Director of Player Personnel Scott Bradley told us at the draft how underrated Camara's wheels and hands were, but he proved it at development camp. He scored a nice goal to start the scrimmage by taking a Craig Cunningham pass and then waiting for Gothberg to open himself up before slipping it past him. Camara skated well all week, driving to the net hard and making some good body contact. Like Koko, he won't even turn 18 until September and was buried behind skill guys in Saginaw, but with an increased role, look for him to break out a bit. He's not a high-end scoring type, but could be a third-line staple in the NHL one day. Just an impressive overall showing from the guy who looked like a reach at first glance, but who could end up being much more.
Craig Cunningham: One of the most active, and hardest-working guys at camp all week. We're not sure how his offensive numbers will translate in the pros, but he always keeps his feet moving and is a smart two-way guy with high-end character. He's a bit of a stealth player in that you don't notice him all that much until a big play is made and then you realize he's in the middle of it. He's a good, not great skater, but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time. We think he's going to be a very good AHL player in time, but not sure where he fits into the NHL picture yet.
Tyler Randell: His skating is only average and he needs to pick up a step coming out of the gate, but his hands are NHL-caliber. Randell was sniping goals all week, and his shootout move on Volden was a sight to behold, as he moved in, deked at least 6-7 times getting the goalie to commit and go down before skying a backhander up under the crossbar. We're intrigued as to what Randell will do in the AHL this year. He can technically go back to Kitchener for an overage season, but Providence would do well to add his grit, snarl and potential to hit some goals. An effective bottom-six forward with some modest offensive upside.
Marc Cantin: Impressive as an invite to Boston d-camp a year ago, Cantin continued his run of steady, solid play. He looks a bit like Mark Stuart out there, but a better skating version of the former Boston stalwart. Cantin was the most physical presence among the prospects this week, looking to make big hits and never passing up a chance to staple an opponent against the boards whether in drills or in the scrimmage. He's a smart guy who plays well positionally and is an interesting prospect as a lower-pairing D. Not much upside with this guy, but he's solid. Watch for him to earn a lot of ice time in Providence this season despite being a rookie pro.
Tommy Cross: Sharp and composed, he looked and acted the part of Boston's most senior prospect in attendance and the captain of the Boston College Eagles for the upcoming season. Skates well and plays a physical but disciplined game. The main concern with Cross is with his overall offensive hockey sense, which is limited despite having a big point bomb, and with his right knee. He's healthy now, but like Gord Kluzak, will be day-to-day for life, meaning that you hope and pray he'll have a long pro hockey career, but wonder how much he thinks about it and whether he can be as effective at the pro ranks.
Mike Hutchinson: The best goalie in camp this week by far, and opened some eyes with his size and quickness. He didn't allow a single goal in the first scrimmage, and he was tough to beat during the shootout portion. One of the true good guys in any room- Hutch always has a smile on his face, but is also a legitimate competitor who hates to be beaten. Jared Knight revealed some insights about his former London teammate, which leads us to believe that Hutch will be an NHL goalie one day. Unfortunately for him, Boston is going to be a tough nut to crack, but he has an opportunity to earn some playing time in Providence. Consistency has been his biggest challenge thus far, but as far is physical tools and puckstopping skills go, he's a legit NHL prospect.
Zane Gothberg: He doesn't turn 19 until August, but we thought that Gothberg had a solid week. He wasn't Hutch, and his technique has more refining to do than that of Volden, but he's a big guy who battles like Thomas does. He was at fault on the Camara goal, but the Florek shot was a bomb and Gothberg was excellent the rest of the way. At times, he looked unsettled, while at others, he was a rock this week. Gothberg's attitude and competitiveness are strong suits of his, and as a long-term project, he can continue to address his style and build confidence. He's back in the USHL for one more year and will then be in Grand Forks at the University of North Dakota in 2012. We still think that Gothberg is a diamond-in-the-rough and is in the catbird's seat, with no pressure on him whatsoever right now. The Bruins will be patient with him and see where it leads them.
Lars Volden: Wow. We banged him for his performance in the WJC, but it was one game and he showed some legitimate upside this week. He's big, quick and a classic butterfly goalie. He didn't play as well in the scrimmage as he had in the drills the previous three days, but there's something there. He stays square to the shooter, takes up a lot of the net and has the look of a guy who could play in the AHL right away. He'll try and make the Espoo Blues senior team this season and see where it takes him, but for a sixth-rounder, this guy looks like a player. Like Gothberg, Volden is a long-term project, but worth keeping tabs on.
The invites:
Brett Olson- The Michigan Tech senior is the oldest guy there with a 1987 birthdate, but worked hard and appreciated the opportunity. He grew up with Devils prospect and former UNH standout Mike Sislo, the two skating on a line together throughout their minor hockey days.
Josh Jooris- Union College playmaker is a good skater and passer; not all that tall, but strong and showed flashes of talent. From Burlington, Ontario- skated in the OJHL for his hometown team before going to the NCAA.
Steve Spinell- Carter Camper's teammate at Miami University is from Illinois. Has good size and mobility, though doesn't have much upside. Along with Cantin, was the most physical player in camp. Reminds us of a Matt Bartkowksi-type guy.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp: Day 1 recap
The first day is in the books and things were a little discombobulated today with travel and touching base with folks hadn't seen in a while.
Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney told me that center Carter Camper, who signed as a free agent with Boston last spring, is not in attendance because he is still recovering from a recent procedure on his hip. No word on whether he'll be ready to go for the start of rookie camp in the fall.
Tomorrow will bring a better, more cohesive report, but for now, here are the highlights from today:
Ryan Spooner: Absolutely flying around the ice and doing his high-end puck work. Was lighting up Zane Gothberg pretty good at first (but I still thought Gothberg had a solid day overall though some disagree). Spooner is a puck wizard and he looks like his off-ice work is paying off- he's added some mass to his small frame and is getting there. Didn't cost him any in the speed department. The more I look at Spooner, the more I think he was a steal with the 45th overall pick a year ago.
Jared Knight: His competitiveness shines through in everything he does. He was lasering shots up under the crossbar all day and then he blew up goalie Mike Hutchinson in a huge collision when he took the puck to the net. For a smaller guy, Knight packs a lot of power in his lower leg drive and when he gets up under bigger defensemen with a higher center of gravity, he's able to drive them back. Impressive. And, Hutch wasn't hurt. Knight went right to him after the session was over to apologize and make sure his former London mate was OK. Once again, Knighter proves the old adage: it isn't the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog that counts.
Alexander Khokhlachev: Skill. He has it. And as slick and dynamic as he looked, little Koko is still a work in progress. He got turned inside out by Alexander Fallstrom on one drill who then beat him to the puck and rifled it past Lars Volden while Koko was several steps behind him. But after it all, the kid had a huge smile plastered on his face in the locker room and truly relished the chance to be out there with a spoked-B on. He's likely missing something in translation when it comes to the drills, so no one is going to kill him for getting turned around. The real proof will be in the pudding when he gets to speak the international language of hockey in the scrimmages and preseason games (possibly) in the fall.
Dougie Hamilton: He moves well, but noticed that he has an upright stance. The B's top pick didn't do anything really flashy today, but that's his game. He had an active stick and stayed with his man in the drills. He was shooting the puck with good velocity. It was an OK day for Dougie, and like Tyler Seguin last year, I heard rumblings of people being disappointed because he didn't dominate. Sometimes I don't know what people expect from these kids, but Hamilton looked like a first-rounder today.
Robby O'Gara: Turned 18 just yesterday and his skating really came to the fore today. He's tall, but a stringbean. But, have to keep going back to the fluid stride and quick, agile footwork. Had he spent two years at Milton Academy before the draft instead of just the one, I'm convinced that he would have been as high as a third-round pick, but solid at least a solid fourth-rounder. I don't think enough NHL teams knew about this kid going in, but Boston did because he plays in their backyard. Long-term project, but O'Gara could be a steal. Size + mobility + intelligence + character almost always = player.
Josh Jooris: Camp invite from Union College, but I saw some good wheels and a real smart passer. He's the one guy who really stood out among the camp invites. It was just one session, but going to watch him closely and see where he takes things this week.
Brian Ferlin: He does skate like he's carrying a baby grand piano on his back, but he has some speed to him. Was getting shots off from all over the ice. Put on a whale of a hit in the offensive zone on one drill that woke everyone up. For a guy not known as a big hitter, he eliminated his man along the boards and rattled the glass. Here's some video from some of the guys
Jared Knight
Zach Trotman
Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney told me that center Carter Camper, who signed as a free agent with Boston last spring, is not in attendance because he is still recovering from a recent procedure on his hip. No word on whether he'll be ready to go for the start of rookie camp in the fall.
Tomorrow will bring a better, more cohesive report, but for now, here are the highlights from today:
Ryan Spooner: Absolutely flying around the ice and doing his high-end puck work. Was lighting up Zane Gothberg pretty good at first (but I still thought Gothberg had a solid day overall though some disagree). Spooner is a puck wizard and he looks like his off-ice work is paying off- he's added some mass to his small frame and is getting there. Didn't cost him any in the speed department. The more I look at Spooner, the more I think he was a steal with the 45th overall pick a year ago.
Jared Knight: His competitiveness shines through in everything he does. He was lasering shots up under the crossbar all day and then he blew up goalie Mike Hutchinson in a huge collision when he took the puck to the net. For a smaller guy, Knight packs a lot of power in his lower leg drive and when he gets up under bigger defensemen with a higher center of gravity, he's able to drive them back. Impressive. And, Hutch wasn't hurt. Knight went right to him after the session was over to apologize and make sure his former London mate was OK. Once again, Knighter proves the old adage: it isn't the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog that counts.
Alexander Khokhlachev: Skill. He has it. And as slick and dynamic as he looked, little Koko is still a work in progress. He got turned inside out by Alexander Fallstrom on one drill who then beat him to the puck and rifled it past Lars Volden while Koko was several steps behind him. But after it all, the kid had a huge smile plastered on his face in the locker room and truly relished the chance to be out there with a spoked-B on. He's likely missing something in translation when it comes to the drills, so no one is going to kill him for getting turned around. The real proof will be in the pudding when he gets to speak the international language of hockey in the scrimmages and preseason games (possibly) in the fall.
Dougie Hamilton: He moves well, but noticed that he has an upright stance. The B's top pick didn't do anything really flashy today, but that's his game. He had an active stick and stayed with his man in the drills. He was shooting the puck with good velocity. It was an OK day for Dougie, and like Tyler Seguin last year, I heard rumblings of people being disappointed because he didn't dominate. Sometimes I don't know what people expect from these kids, but Hamilton looked like a first-rounder today.
Robby O'Gara: Turned 18 just yesterday and his skating really came to the fore today. He's tall, but a stringbean. But, have to keep going back to the fluid stride and quick, agile footwork. Had he spent two years at Milton Academy before the draft instead of just the one, I'm convinced that he would have been as high as a third-round pick, but solid at least a solid fourth-rounder. I don't think enough NHL teams knew about this kid going in, but Boston did because he plays in their backyard. Long-term project, but O'Gara could be a steal. Size + mobility + intelligence + character almost always = player.
Josh Jooris: Camp invite from Union College, but I saw some good wheels and a real smart passer. He's the one guy who really stood out among the camp invites. It was just one session, but going to watch him closely and see where he takes things this week.
Brian Ferlin: He does skate like he's carrying a baby grand piano on his back, but he has some speed to him. Was getting shots off from all over the ice. Put on a whale of a hit in the offensive zone on one drill that woke everyone up. For a guy not known as a big hitter, he eliminated his man along the boards and rattled the glass. Here's some video from some of the guys
Jared Knight
Zach Trotman
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.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Catching up to...Shane Prince and Rob O'Gara
Bruins 2011 Draft Watch recently had chats with a couple of solid draft prospects out of the Empire State, winger Shane Prince and defenseman Rob O'Gara.
Prince's season ended in disappointing fashion last month when his No. 2 seed (in the OHL) Ottawa 67's were swept at the hands of the surprising Sudbury Wolves (who got tremendous performances from Michael Sgarbossa and Josh Leivo, a 2011 prospect). Since then, he's had a chance to return to Spencerport, catch a Buffalo Sabres playoff game at HSBC Arena and has been getting his body and mind ready for the NHL Draft Combine early next month.
"I'm training real hard in the gym getting ready to go," Prince said this week. "I'm working on my bench press- improving my upper body strength and doing the bike sprint (VO2 Max) and getting ready to all the tests overall. I always have the combine in the back of my mind when I'm working out, and that pushes me to try and get those extra reps in."
O'Gara, who hails from the Long Island town of Nesconset, hasn't played hockey since early March. That's because on his last shift, he slid a pass over to a streaking forward who got it on net where teammate Sean Okita buried the rebound for what was the prep championship-winning goal in Salem, NH.
"That was just amazing; I have trouble putting it into words sometimes just how awesome it was to be part of such a great team here," O'Gara said recently from his Milton Academy dorm room, where he is finishing up the semester and playing lacrosse to keep his body in peak form. "We went back and watched the DVD of that game (3-2 win over Kent School) and the tempo was unbelievable- the fast pace of that game and how everything was up-and-down the whole time. We went into that third period with the score 2-2 and knowing that we had 18 minutes. It was do or die time and we pulled it off."
Prince is a slashing, playmaking winger who relies on his slippery elusiveness and extreme hockey smarts to pile up the points. He finished second on the 67's in scoring with 88 points behind linemate and Kings prospect Tyler Toffoli, whose 108 points led the entire OHL (tied with Kitchener's Jason Akeson) He's only about 5-11, 180 pounds, and did take some pops this year that caused him to miss 9 games with shoulder ailments and a concussion. He asserts that he's fine and dedicating himself to getting himself in the best possible shape for the combine and then whatever potential development camp opportunity awaits him for whichever NHL club calls his name.
"It's an exciting time for me and my family," he said. "I can't thank them enough for all the support they've given me over the years, and it's neat to think that as the draft approaches, I'm one step closer to that dream of playing in the NHL some day."
O'Gara was not invited to the combine, but said that he's already begun interviewing with NHL teams and is also looking forward to a possible big league destination on draft day.
"It's a little surreal," he said of the attention he's gotten from scouts this season as a big defender with a fluid stride and solid two-way potential. "It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NHL and the possibility of it coming true is pretty incredible. But I have to keep things in perspective. Even if I do get drafted in June, it means that the work is only beginning. Nobody makes an NHL roster just because they get drafted- they have to go out and earn a spot. If that was easy, then everyone who ever got picked in the draft would make it."
O'Gara, who grew up an Islanders fan and still is one despite the hard times, and Prince, an avowed Sabres supporter, would no doubt love to hear their hometown teams call their names. In the end, the draft is about the singular honor of getting an opportunity. No matter where that NHL team calls home, both players are excited about what the future holds.
Prince will likely be back in the OHL to try and avenge the first-round sweep with the 67's while O'Gara will return to Milton for one more season before he takes his game to Yale University in 2012.
In the meantime, however, there's the matter of the NHL draft and the first tentative steps toward future pro hockey careers that need to get settled.
Prince's season ended in disappointing fashion last month when his No. 2 seed (in the OHL) Ottawa 67's were swept at the hands of the surprising Sudbury Wolves (who got tremendous performances from Michael Sgarbossa and Josh Leivo, a 2011 prospect). Since then, he's had a chance to return to Spencerport, catch a Buffalo Sabres playoff game at HSBC Arena and has been getting his body and mind ready for the NHL Draft Combine early next month.
"I'm training real hard in the gym getting ready to go," Prince said this week. "I'm working on my bench press- improving my upper body strength and doing the bike sprint (VO2 Max) and getting ready to all the tests overall. I always have the combine in the back of my mind when I'm working out, and that pushes me to try and get those extra reps in."
O'Gara, who hails from the Long Island town of Nesconset, hasn't played hockey since early March. That's because on his last shift, he slid a pass over to a streaking forward who got it on net where teammate Sean Okita buried the rebound for what was the prep championship-winning goal in Salem, NH.
"That was just amazing; I have trouble putting it into words sometimes just how awesome it was to be part of such a great team here," O'Gara said recently from his Milton Academy dorm room, where he is finishing up the semester and playing lacrosse to keep his body in peak form. "We went back and watched the DVD of that game (3-2 win over Kent School) and the tempo was unbelievable- the fast pace of that game and how everything was up-and-down the whole time. We went into that third period with the score 2-2 and knowing that we had 18 minutes. It was do or die time and we pulled it off."
Prince is a slashing, playmaking winger who relies on his slippery elusiveness and extreme hockey smarts to pile up the points. He finished second on the 67's in scoring with 88 points behind linemate and Kings prospect Tyler Toffoli, whose 108 points led the entire OHL (tied with Kitchener's Jason Akeson) He's only about 5-11, 180 pounds, and did take some pops this year that caused him to miss 9 games with shoulder ailments and a concussion. He asserts that he's fine and dedicating himself to getting himself in the best possible shape for the combine and then whatever potential development camp opportunity awaits him for whichever NHL club calls his name.
"It's an exciting time for me and my family," he said. "I can't thank them enough for all the support they've given me over the years, and it's neat to think that as the draft approaches, I'm one step closer to that dream of playing in the NHL some day."
O'Gara was not invited to the combine, but said that he's already begun interviewing with NHL teams and is also looking forward to a possible big league destination on draft day.
"It's a little surreal," he said of the attention he's gotten from scouts this season as a big defender with a fluid stride and solid two-way potential. "It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NHL and the possibility of it coming true is pretty incredible. But I have to keep things in perspective. Even if I do get drafted in June, it means that the work is only beginning. Nobody makes an NHL roster just because they get drafted- they have to go out and earn a spot. If that was easy, then everyone who ever got picked in the draft would make it."
O'Gara, who grew up an Islanders fan and still is one despite the hard times, and Prince, an avowed Sabres supporter, would no doubt love to hear their hometown teams call their names. In the end, the draft is about the singular honor of getting an opportunity. No matter where that NHL team calls home, both players are excited about what the future holds.
Prince will likely be back in the OHL to try and avenge the first-round sweep with the 67's while O'Gara will return to Milton for one more season before he takes his game to Yale University in 2012.
In the meantime, however, there's the matter of the NHL draft and the first tentative steps toward future pro hockey careers that need to get settled.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
2011 NHL Draft Combine list released
Adam Kimmelman of NHL.com has the goods here.
The list features the top-100 hockey prospects from North America and Europe (combined), and there are always some deserving guys who get omitted. Case in point last year: Jared Knight, whose agent got smart and did a combine-like video and sent it to NHL teams/put it on You Tube. The result? 32nd overall to Boston. Granted, Knight did it mostly on the strength of his hockey skills and 36-goal season, but the innovative approach certainly impressed teams like the Bruins, who were able to get a look at his physical prowess off-ice.
Among the invites we're pleased to see is Swiss forward Gregory Hofmann, a B2011DW favorite since the WJC. Hofmann is a skilled, intelligent forward who was one of Switzerland's top performers in Buffalo and stands out for his energy and opportunistic scoring chops.
We talked to Milton Academy defenseman Robby O'Gara recently, and while he did not make the Combine cut, did say that he's begun the interview process with at least five teams who have talked to him already with many more to come.
The players like O'Gara who don't get to travel to Toronto as official combine invitees will still get a chance to interact and interview with teams, and the Ontario kids will be brought in at various times by teams and their agents, so these things will happen behind the scenes from now up until the big event on June 24-25.
Given the recent accident defenseman Myles Bell was involved in, don't know that he will participate given his injuries or situation. Nor is it known whether someone will replace him at the event in Toronto.
The New England Hockey Journal and Bruins 2011 Draft Watch will be there next month to cover the physical testing and interview the players, so stay tuned for more in-depth coverage on the draft prospects in June.
Here's the Scouting Combine invite list its entirety, alphabetical by position:
Name Club League Ht. Wt.
Forwards
Seth Ambroz Omaha USHL 6-2 211
Olivier Archambault Val-D'Or QMJHL 5-11 170
Joel Armia Assat Finland 6-3 191
Sven Bartschi Portland WHL 5-10 181
Tyler Biggs USA U-18 USHL 6-2 210
Jeremy Boyce Rotevall Timra Sweden 6-0 169
Austen Brassard Belleville OHL 6-2 191
Daniel Catenacci Sault Ste. Marie OHL 5-10 183
Nick Cousins Sault Ste. Marie OHL 5-11 166
Sean Couturier Drummondville QMJHL 6-4 197
Joseph Cramarossa Miss. St. Michael's OHL 6-0 188
Phillip Danault Victoriaville QMJHL 6-0 170
Travis Ewanyk Edmonton WHL 6-1 178
Max Friberg Skovde Sweden-3 5-11 185
Markus Granlund HIFK Jr. Finland-Jr. 5-10 169
Rocco Grimaldi USA U-18 USHL 5-6 163
Gregory Hofmann Ambri Swiss 6-0 170
Jonathan Huberdeau Saint John QMJHL 6-1 170
Phillipe Hudon Choate-Rosmry Hgh. Ct. 6-0 190
Colin Jacobs Seattle WHL 6-1 197
Dmitri Jaskin Slavia Czrep 6-1 196
Boone Jenner Oshawa OHL 6-1 204
Nicklas Jensen Oshawa OHL 6-2 187
Tomas Jurco Saint John QMJHL 6-2 187
Alexander Khokhlachev Windsor OHL 5-10 188
Nikita Kucherov CSKA2 Russia-Jr. 5-10 163
Sean Kuraly Indiana USHL 6-2 192
Joseph Labate Holy Angels High Minnesota 6-4 180
Gabriel Landeskog Kitchener OHL 6-1 207
Zac Larraza USA U-18 USHL 6-2 192
Maximilien Le Sieur Shawinigan QMJHL 6-2 203
Lucas Lessio Oshawa OHL 6-1 197
Luke Lockhart Seattle WHL 5-10 180
Adam Lowry Swift Current WHL 6-4 186
Mario Lucia Wayzata High Minnesota 6-2 183
Mark McNeill Prince Albert WHL 6-2 201
Jonathan "J.T." Miller USA U-18 USHL 6-1 198
Vladislav Namestnikov London OHL 6-0 166
Joachim Nermark Linkoping Jr. Swe-Jr. 6-1 187
Matthew Nieto Boston University H-East 5-11 175
Marcel Noebels Seattle WHL 6-3 195
Stefan Noesen Plymouth OHL 6-0 195
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Red Deer WHL 6-1 164
Scott Oke Saint John QMJHL 6-3 185
Zack Phillips Saint John QMJHL 6-1 178
Shane Prince Ottawa OHL 5-10 174
Matt Puempel Peterborough OHL 6-0 196
Alan Quine Peterborough OHL 5-11 178
Rickard Rakell Plymouth OHL 6-0 191
Victor Rask Leksand Sweden-2 6-2 194
Ty Rattie Portland WHL 5-11 163
Tobias Rieder Kitchener OHL 5-11 173
Brett Ritchie Sarnia OHL 6-3 210
Alexander Ruutuu Jokerit Jr. Finland-Jr. 6-1 183
Brandon Saad Saginaw OHL 6-1 208
Miikka Salomaki Karpat Finland 5-11 198
Mark Scheifele Barrie OHL 6-2 182
Logan Shaw Cape Breton QMJHL 6-3 197
Nicholas Shore U. of Denver WCHA 6-0 195
Michael St. Croix Edmonton WHL 5-11 176
Ryan Strome Niagara OHL 6-0 175
Ryan Tesink Saint John QMJHL 5-11 157
Vincent Trocheck Saginaw OHL 5-10 184
Mika Zibanejad Djurgarden Sweden 6-2 191
Defensemen
Nathan Beaulieu Saint John QMJHL 6-2 174
Myles Bell Regina WHL 6-0 214
Rasmus Bengtsson Rogle Sweden-2 6-3 189
Jonas Brodin Farjestad Sweden 6-1 169
Adam Clendening Boston University H-East 5-11 190
Joel Edmundson Moose Jaw WHL 6-5 191
Dougie Hamilton Niagara OHL 6-4 187
Karl Johansson Brynas Jr. Swe-Jr. 5-9 167
Oscar Klefbom Farjestad Sweden 6-4 200
Patrick Koudys Rensselaer ECAC 6-2 190
Adam Larsson Skelleftea Sweden 6-3 200
Scott Mayfield Youngstown USHL 6-4 197
Joseph Morrow Portland WHL 6-0 197
Connor Murphy USA U-18 USHL 6-3 185
Ryan Murphy Kitchener OHL 5-11 166
David Musil Vancouver WHL 6-3 198
Jamieson Oleksiak Northeastern H-East 6-7 244
Xavier Ouellet Montreal QMJHL 6-0 174
Stuart Percy Miss. St. Michael's OHL 6-1 186
Jonathan Racine Shawinigan QMJHL 6-1 182
Mike Reilly Shat. St. Mary's High Minnesota 5-11 163
Robbie Russo USA U-18 USHL 6-0 189
Reece Scarlett Swift Current WHL 6-1 164
Duncan Siemens Saskatoon WHL 6-3 192
Ryan Sproul Sault Ste. Marie OHL 6-3 175
Colin Sullivan Avon Old Farms High Ct. 6-1 190
Andy Welinski Green Bay USHL 6-0 188
Tyler Wotherspoon Portland WHL 6-1 203
Zachary Yuen Tri-City WHL 6-0 205
Goaltenders
Jordan Binnington Owen Sound OHL 6-1 156
Laurent Brossoit Edmonton WHL 6-3 193
Christopher Gibson Chicoutimi QMJHL 6-1 193
John Gibson USA U-18 USHL 6-3 205
Matt Mahalak Plymouth OHL 6-2 183
Matt McNeely USA U-18 USHL 6-2 205
Stephen Michalek Loomis-Chaffee High Ct. 6-2 183
Michael Morrison Kitchener OHL 6-0 177
Samu Perhonen Jyp Jr. Finland-Jr. 6-4 172
The list features the top-100 hockey prospects from North America and Europe (combined), and there are always some deserving guys who get omitted. Case in point last year: Jared Knight, whose agent got smart and did a combine-like video and sent it to NHL teams/put it on You Tube. The result? 32nd overall to Boston. Granted, Knight did it mostly on the strength of his hockey skills and 36-goal season, but the innovative approach certainly impressed teams like the Bruins, who were able to get a look at his physical prowess off-ice.
Among the invites we're pleased to see is Swiss forward Gregory Hofmann, a B2011DW favorite since the WJC. Hofmann is a skilled, intelligent forward who was one of Switzerland's top performers in Buffalo and stands out for his energy and opportunistic scoring chops.
We talked to Milton Academy defenseman Robby O'Gara recently, and while he did not make the Combine cut, did say that he's begun the interview process with at least five teams who have talked to him already with many more to come.
The players like O'Gara who don't get to travel to Toronto as official combine invitees will still get a chance to interact and interview with teams, and the Ontario kids will be brought in at various times by teams and their agents, so these things will happen behind the scenes from now up until the big event on June 24-25.
Given the recent accident defenseman Myles Bell was involved in, don't know that he will participate given his injuries or situation. Nor is it known whether someone will replace him at the event in Toronto.
The New England Hockey Journal and Bruins 2011 Draft Watch will be there next month to cover the physical testing and interview the players, so stay tuned for more in-depth coverage on the draft prospects in June.
Here's the Scouting Combine invite list its entirety, alphabetical by position:
Name Club League Ht. Wt.
Forwards
Seth Ambroz Omaha USHL 6-2 211
Olivier Archambault Val-D'Or QMJHL 5-11 170
Joel Armia Assat Finland 6-3 191
Sven Bartschi Portland WHL 5-10 181
Tyler Biggs USA U-18 USHL 6-2 210
Jeremy Boyce Rotevall Timra Sweden 6-0 169
Austen Brassard Belleville OHL 6-2 191
Daniel Catenacci Sault Ste. Marie OHL 5-10 183
Nick Cousins Sault Ste. Marie OHL 5-11 166
Sean Couturier Drummondville QMJHL 6-4 197
Joseph Cramarossa Miss. St. Michael's OHL 6-0 188
Phillip Danault Victoriaville QMJHL 6-0 170
Travis Ewanyk Edmonton WHL 6-1 178
Max Friberg Skovde Sweden-3 5-11 185
Markus Granlund HIFK Jr. Finland-Jr. 5-10 169
Rocco Grimaldi USA U-18 USHL 5-6 163
Gregory Hofmann Ambri Swiss 6-0 170
Jonathan Huberdeau Saint John QMJHL 6-1 170
Phillipe Hudon Choate-Rosmry Hgh. Ct. 6-0 190
Colin Jacobs Seattle WHL 6-1 197
Dmitri Jaskin Slavia Czrep 6-1 196
Boone Jenner Oshawa OHL 6-1 204
Nicklas Jensen Oshawa OHL 6-2 187
Tomas Jurco Saint John QMJHL 6-2 187
Alexander Khokhlachev Windsor OHL 5-10 188
Nikita Kucherov CSKA2 Russia-Jr. 5-10 163
Sean Kuraly Indiana USHL 6-2 192
Joseph Labate Holy Angels High Minnesota 6-4 180
Gabriel Landeskog Kitchener OHL 6-1 207
Zac Larraza USA U-18 USHL 6-2 192
Maximilien Le Sieur Shawinigan QMJHL 6-2 203
Lucas Lessio Oshawa OHL 6-1 197
Luke Lockhart Seattle WHL 5-10 180
Adam Lowry Swift Current WHL 6-4 186
Mario Lucia Wayzata High Minnesota 6-2 183
Mark McNeill Prince Albert WHL 6-2 201
Jonathan "J.T." Miller USA U-18 USHL 6-1 198
Vladislav Namestnikov London OHL 6-0 166
Joachim Nermark Linkoping Jr. Swe-Jr. 6-1 187
Matthew Nieto Boston University H-East 5-11 175
Marcel Noebels Seattle WHL 6-3 195
Stefan Noesen Plymouth OHL 6-0 195
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Red Deer WHL 6-1 164
Scott Oke Saint John QMJHL 6-3 185
Zack Phillips Saint John QMJHL 6-1 178
Shane Prince Ottawa OHL 5-10 174
Matt Puempel Peterborough OHL 6-0 196
Alan Quine Peterborough OHL 5-11 178
Rickard Rakell Plymouth OHL 6-0 191
Victor Rask Leksand Sweden-2 6-2 194
Ty Rattie Portland WHL 5-11 163
Tobias Rieder Kitchener OHL 5-11 173
Brett Ritchie Sarnia OHL 6-3 210
Alexander Ruutuu Jokerit Jr. Finland-Jr. 6-1 183
Brandon Saad Saginaw OHL 6-1 208
Miikka Salomaki Karpat Finland 5-11 198
Mark Scheifele Barrie OHL 6-2 182
Logan Shaw Cape Breton QMJHL 6-3 197
Nicholas Shore U. of Denver WCHA 6-0 195
Michael St. Croix Edmonton WHL 5-11 176
Ryan Strome Niagara OHL 6-0 175
Ryan Tesink Saint John QMJHL 5-11 157
Vincent Trocheck Saginaw OHL 5-10 184
Mika Zibanejad Djurgarden Sweden 6-2 191
Defensemen
Nathan Beaulieu Saint John QMJHL 6-2 174
Myles Bell Regina WHL 6-0 214
Rasmus Bengtsson Rogle Sweden-2 6-3 189
Jonas Brodin Farjestad Sweden 6-1 169
Adam Clendening Boston University H-East 5-11 190
Joel Edmundson Moose Jaw WHL 6-5 191
Dougie Hamilton Niagara OHL 6-4 187
Karl Johansson Brynas Jr. Swe-Jr. 5-9 167
Oscar Klefbom Farjestad Sweden 6-4 200
Patrick Koudys Rensselaer ECAC 6-2 190
Adam Larsson Skelleftea Sweden 6-3 200
Scott Mayfield Youngstown USHL 6-4 197
Joseph Morrow Portland WHL 6-0 197
Connor Murphy USA U-18 USHL 6-3 185
Ryan Murphy Kitchener OHL 5-11 166
David Musil Vancouver WHL 6-3 198
Jamieson Oleksiak Northeastern H-East 6-7 244
Xavier Ouellet Montreal QMJHL 6-0 174
Stuart Percy Miss. St. Michael's OHL 6-1 186
Jonathan Racine Shawinigan QMJHL 6-1 182
Mike Reilly Shat. St. Mary's High Minnesota 5-11 163
Robbie Russo USA U-18 USHL 6-0 189
Reece Scarlett Swift Current WHL 6-1 164
Duncan Siemens Saskatoon WHL 6-3 192
Ryan Sproul Sault Ste. Marie OHL 6-3 175
Colin Sullivan Avon Old Farms High Ct. 6-1 190
Andy Welinski Green Bay USHL 6-0 188
Tyler Wotherspoon Portland WHL 6-1 203
Zachary Yuen Tri-City WHL 6-0 205
Goaltenders
Jordan Binnington Owen Sound OHL 6-1 156
Laurent Brossoit Edmonton WHL 6-3 193
Christopher Gibson Chicoutimi QMJHL 6-1 193
John Gibson USA U-18 USHL 6-3 205
Matt Mahalak Plymouth OHL 6-2 183
Matt McNeely USA U-18 USHL 6-2 205
Stephen Michalek Loomis-Chaffee High Ct. 6-2 183
Michael Morrison Kitchener OHL 6-0 177
Samu Perhonen Jyp Jr. Finland-Jr. 6-4 172
Friday, April 1, 2011
No foolin'; Brian Bunnett- A Guy You Should Know
Welcome to April and we're no fools at Bruins 2011 Draft Watch.
We went to Ontario to get help from Mark Edwards, Director of Scouting and Founder of HockeyProspect.com for information on this draft sleeper in Wellington Dukes (OJHL) forward Brian Bunnett who just might be on some NHL radars as a later-round pick in June.
"Big kid," Edwards said via email. "Pretty raw talent... He skates pretty well, could get better in the acceleration and first few steps deparment. His hands are above average for a big kid. He plays third line a lot and does not always get (power play time)."
The 6-3, 195-pounder from Bowmanville, Ontario scored 16 goals and 33 points in 49 regular season games and then added five goals and 12 points in 15 games. Those stats aren't much to get fired up about, but do indicate that he's only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. We do know that NHL scouts are quietly looking at him, and this usually means that their teams are hoping for a later-round homerun.
"He showed some smarts and savvy," said Edwards. "His shot is good and he has a nice quick release."
Bunnett is not as of right now committed to an NCAA program , and was rated by the NHL's Central Scouting Service as a "B" player on their preseason watch list back in October. Some other names on that list you might be familiar with: Milton defenseman Rob O'Gara, and Minnesota high schoolers Max Everson and Steven Fogarty.
He was an eighth-round draft pick of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL in 2009. Speaking of SSM, we recently listed defenseman Ryan Sproul, and Edwards had a hand in raising that late-bloomer's profile as well.
Here's a link to a more in-depth profile on Bunnett from the OJHL website. It's a bit dated from early December, but has some good information.
This kid could be a classic diamond-in-the-rough type long-term prospect and is someone you should know.
We went to Ontario to get help from Mark Edwards, Director of Scouting and Founder of HockeyProspect.com for information on this draft sleeper in Wellington Dukes (OJHL) forward Brian Bunnett who just might be on some NHL radars as a later-round pick in June.
"Big kid," Edwards said via email. "Pretty raw talent... He skates pretty well, could get better in the acceleration and first few steps deparment. His hands are above average for a big kid. He plays third line a lot and does not always get (power play time)."
The 6-3, 195-pounder from Bowmanville, Ontario scored 16 goals and 33 points in 49 regular season games and then added five goals and 12 points in 15 games. Those stats aren't much to get fired up about, but do indicate that he's only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. We do know that NHL scouts are quietly looking at him, and this usually means that their teams are hoping for a later-round homerun.
"He showed some smarts and savvy," said Edwards. "His shot is good and he has a nice quick release."
Bunnett is not as of right now committed to an NCAA program , and was rated by the NHL's Central Scouting Service as a "B" player on their preseason watch list back in October. Some other names on that list you might be familiar with: Milton defenseman Rob O'Gara, and Minnesota high schoolers Max Everson and Steven Fogarty.
He was an eighth-round draft pick of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL in 2009. Speaking of SSM, we recently listed defenseman Ryan Sproul, and Edwards had a hand in raising that late-bloomer's profile as well.
Here's a link to a more in-depth profile on Bunnett from the OJHL website. It's a bit dated from early December, but has some good information.
This kid could be a classic diamond-in-the-rough type long-term prospect and is someone you should know.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
U.S. High School prospects 2010-11 season review
Welcome to the final installment of our comprehensive look at 2011 NHL Draft options from the various feeder leagues in hockey across North America and Europe.
This closes out the regular season series, and we'll be back with some shorter posts and content in the coming weeks. While fun, putting these reports together is extremely time-consuming and requires a lot of cross-coordination with our various sources.
Thanks for reading!
1. Mario Lucia, LW Wayzata H.S. (Minnesota)- The son of University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia is arguably the top high school player for the 2011 draft, and as a junior, expected to play in the USHL next year before moving on to the NCAA ranks. He's 6-2 and about 185 and has excellent hockey sense and a real good shot. He was highly productive and looks like he could be a very good player eventually.
"I like Mario," said Max Giese, Red Line Report scout in the Midwest. "He looks like a second-round projection; I've seen nights when he's been dominant and nights when there doesn't appear to be a lot there. He lacks the physical strength and power in his stride, so he's going to take a long time for any team that drafts him." Lucia has the highest upside of any of the high school/prep players in class in our view based on what we're hearing, but if he does crack the 1st round, it would be like Brock Nelson last year- in the final pick or so. As a 31-60 selection, he's a nice option albeit one who will take the long road as Giese mentioned. He scored 30 goals and 54 points in 27 games for Wayzata.
2. Mike McKee, D Kent School (Connecticut)- We've covered McKee in great detail this month after watching him compete in the New England prep championship tournament for runner-up Kent. The Newmarket, Ontario native is a remarkable physical specimen (6-5, 230), who is literally a manchild and was able to ragdoll opponents in the prep ranks like one whenever he decided to do so. He's also an excellent skater who was able to jump up into the play and was quite noticeable at that level. The concerns with him stem from the hockey sense and whether he can process/make decisions quickly enough to play defense at the highest level. He is a converted forward, so scouts have to take that into account, but we don't know that we've seen more of a disparity in opinions with any player as we've discovered when talking to NHL sources about McKee.
3. Philippe Hudon, RW Choate Rosemary Hall (Connecticut)- Power forward and Cornell-bound prospect is from Quebec and is a bright, intelligent kid. Scored 10 goals and 20 points in 22 games for the Wild Boars- It was a disappointing year for Hudon, who didn't have the kind of dominant prep season expected of him in his third year at that level, and this will hurt him a bit when draft day comes. At 6-2, 185, he's got raw size and the frame to get much stronger. He's a good skater with nice initial burst and a top gear, but his agility and footwork could be improved as he continues to develop. Hudon handles the puck well and seems to have the size and skills to be a scorer, but simply hasn't developed the production in his game, finishing with 20, 19 and 20 points in each of his prep seasons. Has the size and skating to be an NHL player, but if you're looking for him to score for you, that is probably not likely to happen. Hard working, solid kid (even though he got into academic hot water as a junior) who is mature and wants to be a player. If he's more of a late-bloomer, could surprise at the next level, but scouts feel he should have done a lot more in prep.
4. Joseph LaBate, C Holy Angels Academy (Minnesota)- At 6-4, 180 pounds this Mr. Hockey finalist is a total stringbean, but has some of the nicest projectable physical upside of any of his peers. He's got a nose for the net and does some great work in close when the puck is on his stick. Pretty good skater, but needs to improve his initial burst and overall east-west mobility. Scouts think a lot of that will come when he adds strength and mass to his legs to generate more force behind his stride. He's going straight to the Wisconsin Badgers next season, and some scouts wonder if he's physically ready for that kind of challenge, but we'll find out.
"He's very talented and his nice offensive ability," Giese said of LaBate. "He's lanky and reminds me a lot of Nick Bjugstad in terms of his style and the fact that he needs to physically mature." On the downside, LaBate doesn't always play with the kind of hustle and intensity folks want to see from him. "He picks his spots, but when he's on his game, he's dangerous," said Giese.
5. Eddie Wittchow, D Burnsville H.S. (Minnesota)- B2011DW got a very nice tip on Wittchow back in early February and we made him one of our "sleeper alert" prospects- you can read the original post here. Suffice to say that the cat is out of the bag on this 6-3, 185-pounder, as NHL scouts flocked to see the Burnsville-Edina matchup in the Minnesota tourney recently. Unfortunately for Wittchow, we're told it was his worst game of the season. "The game was a good reminder that the kid is raw and is a project," Giese said of Wittchow's struggles against Edina. "Let's be patient with him."
He's an outstanding skater for a guy of his size and shows off some pretty good hockey sense and puck skills even if he is a late-bloomer and pretty raw product. Also in his favor, he's a mean and aggressive hitter; what's not to love about that, especially when he fills out to the 215-220 pounds he'll likely hit at his physical peak? We're not even sure where he will end up in the NCAA yet, he was that much of a recent find by scouts. In any case, we know that NHL clubs are hot on his trail and even though he had a rough game in the spotlight, Wittchow showed enough pure promise that he's going to be a pick in the draft. The only questions we need answered are- where and when will he go?
6. Petr Placek, RW Hotchkiss School (Connecticut)- Another disappointment in New England prep hockey this season along the lines of Hudon. The big and talented Czech winger battled two major obstacles this season" injuries and playing on a really poor team that didn't give him a lot of help. He missed time to a knee injury early and took a while to round into form. Even when he did, the aforementioned lack of depth forced Placek to try and do too much himself. He reminds us of Bobby Holik in terms of his skating in that he doesn't have a great first couple of steps, but once he gets going is very difficult to knock off stride. He's got a big shot but needs to work on accuracy and on taking the puck to the net more consistently. Like Kevin Hayes last year, when open lanes are there for him to drive through, he tends to spin off and try to work it from the outside. Not many perimeter players can finish from that far out, and Placek is no exception. With his size (6-4, 200) and strength, he should be doing a hell of a lot more in close than he does.
7. Colin Sullivan, D Avon Old Farms (Connecticut)- When we saw Sullivan help the Winged Beavers to the 2010 prep title a year ago, we saw a solid, decent player who was responsible in his own end but didn't do a great deal to stand out. What a difference a year makes! His skating noticeably improved, and it was impressive a year ago. He explodes out of a standstill or glide with a powerful stride and the ability to generate top speed very quickly. He's also tremendous on his edges, making very tight turns and able to shake would-be checkers with ease. In fact, we talked to one NHL scout who was staying at the same hotel when we were at the World Jr. Championship about Sullivan and all he wanted to talk about was the Yale recruit's wheels. On the downside, Sullivan was not all that productive this season and some scouts question his vision and hockey instincts to read the play and jump into the natural offensive flow. He's a solid defensive player otherwise, however. We talked to Sullivan's coach, John Gardner, who knows a thing or two about producing NHL players, having coached Brian Leetch and Jonathan Quick to name just two, and he said the most impressive thing about Sullivan's progress from last season to this was that he increased his skating speed and also got a lot stronger. Sullivan is a gym rat who works harder than anyone on the team at his off-ice conditioning. He's a solid 6-2, 205 right now and will still add some more mass to his frame. The big question Sullivan will have to answer is where he will play next season. He won't report to Yale until 2012, and can go back to AOF for a third season or may go out to the USHL- he's reportedly drawn a lot of interest from teams in that league.
8. Max Everson, D Edina H.S. (Minnesota)- He may not have slightly below average size at 6-0 and about 185 pounds, but Everson is a smart, instinctive, two-way defenseman. Nifty skater who isn't quite as explosive or dynamic as Sullivan but can bring the speed and carry the puck out on his own.
"He had a very good state tournament," Giese said. "He's very smart and poised; he moves the puck well and is one of those steady guys who makes the right decisions." He logged a lot of minutes and was a leader for Edina this season, a perennial contender in Minnesota H.S. competition. Interestingly enough, Everson is taking his game to Harvard next season instead of following the more traditional path of big ticket hockey schools in Minnesota, North Dakota or Wisconsin like many of his peers. Not a ton of upside with this kid, but is just one of those guys who has so many nice intangibles that he could eventually force an NHL team to give him a spot.
9. Robby O'Gara, D Milton Academy (Massachusetts)- We really liked this smooth, mobile defensive-minded rearguard with some offensive upside when we watched him help lead his team to the 2011 prep title in Salem, NH. The native of Long Island didn't have a great deal of points for the Milton Academy Mustangs, but he did assist on the championship-winning goal scored by Sean Okita earlier this month. O'Gara isn't a dynamic skater, but he has a long, fluid stride and has very good footwork with superb four-way mobility. He's sharp and disciplined; you won't see him gambling with the puck or making too many bad decisions. O'Gara plays a responsible, physical game in his own end, using his 6-3, 190-pound body to separate opponents from the puck. He's quietly intense, fighting for loose pucks and using his long reach to gain an advantage. One more Yale recruit (and we'll cover yet another Yalie just a few spots lower) to add to the mix of a neat corps of mobile guys with size that Keith Allain is assembling in New Haven.
10. Steven Fogarty, C Edina H.S. (Minnesota)- Underrated and skilled centerman with size makes his B2011DW debut on this post and has some real interesting long-term potential. The proverbial rink rat who eats, sleeps, breathes hockey- Fogarty finished his HS career at Edina and then jumped to the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he's been drinking from the fire hose of late. You have to credit the kid for risking his draft stock a little, which was pretty high given how well he played as a senior, by going to the USHL where his lack of strength and defensive awareness is being exposed a bit on a weak team and against older, stronger players. Still, there is a lot to like about this playmaking pivot who has a long stride and gets up the ice quickly. He has soft hands and superb vision for finding teammates in open ice. His work ethic is laudable- he wants to play and loves to compete; goes above and beyond to make himself better and put himself into situations that will put him in position to improve. He's raw and needs significant work, but will spend the entire 2011-12 season in the USHL. At 6-1, 195, he's got the physical tools to be a solid NHL prospect and watch for him to go relatively high (3rd-4th rounds) in the draft.
11. Jimmy Vesey, LW Belmont Hill Academy (Massachusetts)- The son of former NHL forward Jim Vesey is an impressive scoring winger coming out of New England this season. Although he told B2011DW that his team didn't keep stats this season per the suggestion of the captain and voted on by the team, Vesey scored about 28 goals for Belmont Hill, who advanced to the large school semi-final before falling to eventual champion Westminster School. He's a pretty good skater who could stand to pick up a first step or two, but has good straight-line speed and is a shifty, elusive guy when he has the puck on his stick. He has excellent hockey sense and is one of those guys who always seems to be around the puck when you watch him. He has good hands, but admittedly in the semi-final game, seemed to let the pressure get to him, as he was unable to finish several chances in close. He had a much stronger offensive performance in the Beantown Classic exhibition tournament a couple of weeks later, making a lot happen on a line with fellow prep schooler Nick Bligh. Some scouts have said Vesey is soft, but we didn't see any of that. If anything, he is willing to initiate contact and make some hits, but at 6-2, 185 is still growing into his body and improving his strength. Vesey is a hard worker and he gets a lot of that from his dad who came from very humble roots to make himself into an NHL player after a stellar collegiate career at Merrimack College in the mid-80s. It looks like Vesey will not be back in prep next season, and his situation is up in the air in terms of where he'll end up as numerous USHL teams are interested. He will be at Harvard in the fall of 2012. This kid is a legitimate sleeper in the draft- we've heard him described as a poor man's Charlie Coyle and we have no issue with that assessment.
12. Matt Killian, D Delbarton School (New Jersey)- Good skater and bright kid who plays for the New Jersey powerhouse Delbarton Green Wave, who recently won yet another state title. He's a pretty steady, unspectacular kind of defender who moves well and is a fluid skater, but doesn't really rush the puck a ton or demonstrate a kind of dangerous offensive element to his game that will translate at the next level. Admittedly, the game we saw Killian last play in February was a brutal, one-sided affair. And, you can clearly see that the kid has the size, wheels and poise to play the game well. It's just exceedingly difficult to get a read on his upside given the level of competition he faced on most nights. Killian is going to Yale, and the idea of him one day forming a potential three-of-six Bulldog defenders on the backline is intriguing indeed as all three can skate well and bring good size to the mix. Killian is safe and steady, but is another long-term project player who is going to require much time and patience to develop properly.
13. Kyle Rau, C Eden Prairie H.S. (Minnesota)- Winner of the 2011 Mr. Hockey award as top Minnesota high school senior, Rau scored 41 goals and 81 points, even scoring the 2A state championship-winning goal in OT for Eden Prairie. This kid is a real winner, but at 5-8, doesn't project as a high-end NHL draft prospect. He's headed to the University of Minnesota and will have to work his backside off to put himself into the big league mix. More of a shifty skater than a blazer, he's an outstanding stickhandler with terrific offensive hockey sense as is as productive as they come. He finished out the season in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampeders. Could be another Cam Atkinson- undersized high school ace scorer who went in the 6th-round to Columbus in '08 after gazillions of points at AOF, and just signed after back-to-back 30-goal seasons at Boston College.
14. Tony Cameranesi, C Wayzata H.S. (Minnesota)- The 5-9, 160-pounder is on this list for one reason and one only: his skating. He is perhaps the best skater in the entire draft with tremendous acceleration, speed and agility. He plays with a high energy level and never stops moving his feet. The explosive little waterbug is going to the University of Minnesota-Duluth and is a draft wildcard for sure, but is someone to watch as he matures and develops. If he can prove he has the sense to go with his wheels, he could get a shot in the big show eventually.
15. Steve Michalek, G Loomis-Chaffee- Admittedly, a B2011DW fave because he makes a living out of standing on his head, this Harvard-bound goalie was tremendous at the Ivan Hlinka. We love his size and competitiveness and athleticism. His technique will need refining as he has a tendency to overcommit to the shooter and get himself out of position for the trailer and backdoor play, but we like him a lot as a draft darkhorse because he was under siege all season, yet kept his team competitive and demonstrated remarkable mental toughness to stay composed. A real battler and competitor with a ton of raw potential.
This closes out the regular season series, and we'll be back with some shorter posts and content in the coming weeks. While fun, putting these reports together is extremely time-consuming and requires a lot of cross-coordination with our various sources.
Thanks for reading!
1. Mario Lucia, LW Wayzata H.S. (Minnesota)- The son of University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia is arguably the top high school player for the 2011 draft, and as a junior, expected to play in the USHL next year before moving on to the NCAA ranks. He's 6-2 and about 185 and has excellent hockey sense and a real good shot. He was highly productive and looks like he could be a very good player eventually.
"I like Mario," said Max Giese, Red Line Report scout in the Midwest. "He looks like a second-round projection; I've seen nights when he's been dominant and nights when there doesn't appear to be a lot there. He lacks the physical strength and power in his stride, so he's going to take a long time for any team that drafts him." Lucia has the highest upside of any of the high school/prep players in class in our view based on what we're hearing, but if he does crack the 1st round, it would be like Brock Nelson last year- in the final pick or so. As a 31-60 selection, he's a nice option albeit one who will take the long road as Giese mentioned. He scored 30 goals and 54 points in 27 games for Wayzata.
2. Mike McKee, D Kent School (Connecticut)- We've covered McKee in great detail this month after watching him compete in the New England prep championship tournament for runner-up Kent. The Newmarket, Ontario native is a remarkable physical specimen (6-5, 230), who is literally a manchild and was able to ragdoll opponents in the prep ranks like one whenever he decided to do so. He's also an excellent skater who was able to jump up into the play and was quite noticeable at that level. The concerns with him stem from the hockey sense and whether he can process/make decisions quickly enough to play defense at the highest level. He is a converted forward, so scouts have to take that into account, but we don't know that we've seen more of a disparity in opinions with any player as we've discovered when talking to NHL sources about McKee.
3. Philippe Hudon, RW Choate Rosemary Hall (Connecticut)- Power forward and Cornell-bound prospect is from Quebec and is a bright, intelligent kid. Scored 10 goals and 20 points in 22 games for the Wild Boars- It was a disappointing year for Hudon, who didn't have the kind of dominant prep season expected of him in his third year at that level, and this will hurt him a bit when draft day comes. At 6-2, 185, he's got raw size and the frame to get much stronger. He's a good skater with nice initial burst and a top gear, but his agility and footwork could be improved as he continues to develop. Hudon handles the puck well and seems to have the size and skills to be a scorer, but simply hasn't developed the production in his game, finishing with 20, 19 and 20 points in each of his prep seasons. Has the size and skating to be an NHL player, but if you're looking for him to score for you, that is probably not likely to happen. Hard working, solid kid (even though he got into academic hot water as a junior) who is mature and wants to be a player. If he's more of a late-bloomer, could surprise at the next level, but scouts feel he should have done a lot more in prep.
4. Joseph LaBate, C Holy Angels Academy (Minnesota)- At 6-4, 180 pounds this Mr. Hockey finalist is a total stringbean, but has some of the nicest projectable physical upside of any of his peers. He's got a nose for the net and does some great work in close when the puck is on his stick. Pretty good skater, but needs to improve his initial burst and overall east-west mobility. Scouts think a lot of that will come when he adds strength and mass to his legs to generate more force behind his stride. He's going straight to the Wisconsin Badgers next season, and some scouts wonder if he's physically ready for that kind of challenge, but we'll find out.
"He's very talented and his nice offensive ability," Giese said of LaBate. "He's lanky and reminds me a lot of Nick Bjugstad in terms of his style and the fact that he needs to physically mature." On the downside, LaBate doesn't always play with the kind of hustle and intensity folks want to see from him. "He picks his spots, but when he's on his game, he's dangerous," said Giese.
5. Eddie Wittchow, D Burnsville H.S. (Minnesota)- B2011DW got a very nice tip on Wittchow back in early February and we made him one of our "sleeper alert" prospects- you can read the original post here. Suffice to say that the cat is out of the bag on this 6-3, 185-pounder, as NHL scouts flocked to see the Burnsville-Edina matchup in the Minnesota tourney recently. Unfortunately for Wittchow, we're told it was his worst game of the season. "The game was a good reminder that the kid is raw and is a project," Giese said of Wittchow's struggles against Edina. "Let's be patient with him."
He's an outstanding skater for a guy of his size and shows off some pretty good hockey sense and puck skills even if he is a late-bloomer and pretty raw product. Also in his favor, he's a mean and aggressive hitter; what's not to love about that, especially when he fills out to the 215-220 pounds he'll likely hit at his physical peak? We're not even sure where he will end up in the NCAA yet, he was that much of a recent find by scouts. In any case, we know that NHL clubs are hot on his trail and even though he had a rough game in the spotlight, Wittchow showed enough pure promise that he's going to be a pick in the draft. The only questions we need answered are- where and when will he go?
6. Petr Placek, RW Hotchkiss School (Connecticut)- Another disappointment in New England prep hockey this season along the lines of Hudon. The big and talented Czech winger battled two major obstacles this season" injuries and playing on a really poor team that didn't give him a lot of help. He missed time to a knee injury early and took a while to round into form. Even when he did, the aforementioned lack of depth forced Placek to try and do too much himself. He reminds us of Bobby Holik in terms of his skating in that he doesn't have a great first couple of steps, but once he gets going is very difficult to knock off stride. He's got a big shot but needs to work on accuracy and on taking the puck to the net more consistently. Like Kevin Hayes last year, when open lanes are there for him to drive through, he tends to spin off and try to work it from the outside. Not many perimeter players can finish from that far out, and Placek is no exception. With his size (6-4, 200) and strength, he should be doing a hell of a lot more in close than he does.
7. Colin Sullivan, D Avon Old Farms (Connecticut)- When we saw Sullivan help the Winged Beavers to the 2010 prep title a year ago, we saw a solid, decent player who was responsible in his own end but didn't do a great deal to stand out. What a difference a year makes! His skating noticeably improved, and it was impressive a year ago. He explodes out of a standstill or glide with a powerful stride and the ability to generate top speed very quickly. He's also tremendous on his edges, making very tight turns and able to shake would-be checkers with ease. In fact, we talked to one NHL scout who was staying at the same hotel when we were at the World Jr. Championship about Sullivan and all he wanted to talk about was the Yale recruit's wheels. On the downside, Sullivan was not all that productive this season and some scouts question his vision and hockey instincts to read the play and jump into the natural offensive flow. He's a solid defensive player otherwise, however. We talked to Sullivan's coach, John Gardner, who knows a thing or two about producing NHL players, having coached Brian Leetch and Jonathan Quick to name just two, and he said the most impressive thing about Sullivan's progress from last season to this was that he increased his skating speed and also got a lot stronger. Sullivan is a gym rat who works harder than anyone on the team at his off-ice conditioning. He's a solid 6-2, 205 right now and will still add some more mass to his frame. The big question Sullivan will have to answer is where he will play next season. He won't report to Yale until 2012, and can go back to AOF for a third season or may go out to the USHL- he's reportedly drawn a lot of interest from teams in that league.
8. Max Everson, D Edina H.S. (Minnesota)- He may not have slightly below average size at 6-0 and about 185 pounds, but Everson is a smart, instinctive, two-way defenseman. Nifty skater who isn't quite as explosive or dynamic as Sullivan but can bring the speed and carry the puck out on his own.
"He had a very good state tournament," Giese said. "He's very smart and poised; he moves the puck well and is one of those steady guys who makes the right decisions." He logged a lot of minutes and was a leader for Edina this season, a perennial contender in Minnesota H.S. competition. Interestingly enough, Everson is taking his game to Harvard next season instead of following the more traditional path of big ticket hockey schools in Minnesota, North Dakota or Wisconsin like many of his peers. Not a ton of upside with this kid, but is just one of those guys who has so many nice intangibles that he could eventually force an NHL team to give him a spot.
9. Robby O'Gara, D Milton Academy (Massachusetts)- We really liked this smooth, mobile defensive-minded rearguard with some offensive upside when we watched him help lead his team to the 2011 prep title in Salem, NH. The native of Long Island didn't have a great deal of points for the Milton Academy Mustangs, but he did assist on the championship-winning goal scored by Sean Okita earlier this month. O'Gara isn't a dynamic skater, but he has a long, fluid stride and has very good footwork with superb four-way mobility. He's sharp and disciplined; you won't see him gambling with the puck or making too many bad decisions. O'Gara plays a responsible, physical game in his own end, using his 6-3, 190-pound body to separate opponents from the puck. He's quietly intense, fighting for loose pucks and using his long reach to gain an advantage. One more Yale recruit (and we'll cover yet another Yalie just a few spots lower) to add to the mix of a neat corps of mobile guys with size that Keith Allain is assembling in New Haven.
10. Steven Fogarty, C Edina H.S. (Minnesota)- Underrated and skilled centerman with size makes his B2011DW debut on this post and has some real interesting long-term potential. The proverbial rink rat who eats, sleeps, breathes hockey- Fogarty finished his HS career at Edina and then jumped to the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he's been drinking from the fire hose of late. You have to credit the kid for risking his draft stock a little, which was pretty high given how well he played as a senior, by going to the USHL where his lack of strength and defensive awareness is being exposed a bit on a weak team and against older, stronger players. Still, there is a lot to like about this playmaking pivot who has a long stride and gets up the ice quickly. He has soft hands and superb vision for finding teammates in open ice. His work ethic is laudable- he wants to play and loves to compete; goes above and beyond to make himself better and put himself into situations that will put him in position to improve. He's raw and needs significant work, but will spend the entire 2011-12 season in the USHL. At 6-1, 195, he's got the physical tools to be a solid NHL prospect and watch for him to go relatively high (3rd-4th rounds) in the draft.
11. Jimmy Vesey, LW Belmont Hill Academy (Massachusetts)- The son of former NHL forward Jim Vesey is an impressive scoring winger coming out of New England this season. Although he told B2011DW that his team didn't keep stats this season per the suggestion of the captain and voted on by the team, Vesey scored about 28 goals for Belmont Hill, who advanced to the large school semi-final before falling to eventual champion Westminster School. He's a pretty good skater who could stand to pick up a first step or two, but has good straight-line speed and is a shifty, elusive guy when he has the puck on his stick. He has excellent hockey sense and is one of those guys who always seems to be around the puck when you watch him. He has good hands, but admittedly in the semi-final game, seemed to let the pressure get to him, as he was unable to finish several chances in close. He had a much stronger offensive performance in the Beantown Classic exhibition tournament a couple of weeks later, making a lot happen on a line with fellow prep schooler Nick Bligh. Some scouts have said Vesey is soft, but we didn't see any of that. If anything, he is willing to initiate contact and make some hits, but at 6-2, 185 is still growing into his body and improving his strength. Vesey is a hard worker and he gets a lot of that from his dad who came from very humble roots to make himself into an NHL player after a stellar collegiate career at Merrimack College in the mid-80s. It looks like Vesey will not be back in prep next season, and his situation is up in the air in terms of where he'll end up as numerous USHL teams are interested. He will be at Harvard in the fall of 2012. This kid is a legitimate sleeper in the draft- we've heard him described as a poor man's Charlie Coyle and we have no issue with that assessment.
12. Matt Killian, D Delbarton School (New Jersey)- Good skater and bright kid who plays for the New Jersey powerhouse Delbarton Green Wave, who recently won yet another state title. He's a pretty steady, unspectacular kind of defender who moves well and is a fluid skater, but doesn't really rush the puck a ton or demonstrate a kind of dangerous offensive element to his game that will translate at the next level. Admittedly, the game we saw Killian last play in February was a brutal, one-sided affair. And, you can clearly see that the kid has the size, wheels and poise to play the game well. It's just exceedingly difficult to get a read on his upside given the level of competition he faced on most nights. Killian is going to Yale, and the idea of him one day forming a potential three-of-six Bulldog defenders on the backline is intriguing indeed as all three can skate well and bring good size to the mix. Killian is safe and steady, but is another long-term project player who is going to require much time and patience to develop properly.
13. Kyle Rau, C Eden Prairie H.S. (Minnesota)- Winner of the 2011 Mr. Hockey award as top Minnesota high school senior, Rau scored 41 goals and 81 points, even scoring the 2A state championship-winning goal in OT for Eden Prairie. This kid is a real winner, but at 5-8, doesn't project as a high-end NHL draft prospect. He's headed to the University of Minnesota and will have to work his backside off to put himself into the big league mix. More of a shifty skater than a blazer, he's an outstanding stickhandler with terrific offensive hockey sense as is as productive as they come. He finished out the season in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampeders. Could be another Cam Atkinson- undersized high school ace scorer who went in the 6th-round to Columbus in '08 after gazillions of points at AOF, and just signed after back-to-back 30-goal seasons at Boston College.
14. Tony Cameranesi, C Wayzata H.S. (Minnesota)- The 5-9, 160-pounder is on this list for one reason and one only: his skating. He is perhaps the best skater in the entire draft with tremendous acceleration, speed and agility. He plays with a high energy level and never stops moving his feet. The explosive little waterbug is going to the University of Minnesota-Duluth and is a draft wildcard for sure, but is someone to watch as he matures and develops. If he can prove he has the sense to go with his wheels, he could get a shot in the big show eventually.
15. Steve Michalek, G Loomis-Chaffee- Admittedly, a B2011DW fave because he makes a living out of standing on his head, this Harvard-bound goalie was tremendous at the Ivan Hlinka. We love his size and competitiveness and athleticism. His technique will need refining as he has a tendency to overcommit to the shooter and get himself out of position for the trailer and backdoor play, but we like him a lot as a draft darkhorse because he was under siege all season, yet kept his team competitive and demonstrated remarkable mental toughness to stay composed. A real battler and competitor with a ton of raw potential.
Monday, March 7, 2011
NEPSIHA tournament scouting reports: Mike McKee, Boo Nieves
Although this wasn't as good a year talent-wise as in the previous couple of NEPSIHA tournaments, there were enough NHL draft prospects competing to make the trip worthwhile.
The most visible 2011 prospect in both stature and on the Central and Red Line Report rankings was Kent School defenseman Mike McKee, a manchild at 6-5, 230 pounds, and those are legit vitals, not inflated; he is one big boy. Teammate Boo Nieves was also quite good in the competition, but he's a year away as a '94. Depending on where he plays next year, Nieves could very well land in the first round.
Another player who was pretty impressive as a solid, unspectacular defenseman with some upside was Milton's Robby O'Gara. He's lean but is about 6-2 or 6-3 and is extremely smart. He has a long, smooth skating stride and will jump up into the play on occasion. He doesn't have teammate Pat McNally's points or aggressive style, but we think O'Gara is going to be a better pro because he's much more disciplined.
Dexter School's Nick Bligh was excellent, racking up two goals and four assists in the semi-final and championship games of the Piatelli/Simmons small school tourney. The very bright, but physically slight centerman has the skills and production in his favor, but NHL scouts mark him down for the level of competition and the fact that he's lacking in strength right now. His plan to return to Dexter for his senior season will also work against him, but he's a quality kid who doesn't seem too bothered by that and is focused on the academics and getting ready for his next challenge at Dartmouth.
Belmont Hill winger Jimmy Vesey showed off the kinds of tools that will stand him in good stead as a collegian and might even get him an NHL look at the draft, but his game against Westminster in the semi-final contest was a disappointing one and didn't allow him to spread his wings. His impact and compete levels in the game wavered, but you could clearly see that he was 28-goal scorer during the season.
For more on Milton's win over Kent, you can follow this link.
Also, for the scoop on Dexter and Westminster victories in the small and large school tourneys, slide on over here.
Below are some scouting reports on two key players for Kent, McKee and Nieves, who unfortunately is not a member of the 2011 draft class.
Mike McKee, D Kent School
At 6-5, 230, tremendous size and physical maturity for a kid who won't turn 18 until August. Newmarket, Ontario native is an excellent skater for his size, with good first step and a powerful stride. Very good balance and lateral agility/edgework as well.
Has a big shot, but doesn't use it all that much, preferring to distribute the puck. Nice heavy wrist shot that he shoots low on net for deflections. Average passer; can make the basic plays and short-to-intermediate breakouts but doesn't stand out as an exceptional puck mover who can stretch defenses. Hockey sense and vision are questionable. Seems to take a while to process and misses open teammates and passing windows. Used by coach Matt Herr to set up the screen in front of the goaltender when Kent was on the power play, taking away the goaltender's sight lines. Powerful bodychecker who played with a nasty edge in both weekend tournament games. Was penalized at least twice for being a manchild who crushed kids about 100 pounds lighter with clean hits rather than playing dirty. In the championship game, crashed the Milton net, brushing goaltender Sean Dougherty. He then took on three Milton players who swarmed him, knocking all three to the ice at various times while not giving any ground. Got a 4-minute roughing penalty for his efforts, but the way he manhandled those guys sent a clear message. Whispers from NHL scouts at the tournament say that he might be best off converting back to forward (he is in his second full season on D after switching) because of the concerns about his instincts for the game and concerns with processing what goes on. One thing is for certain: after watching McKee, there is nothing more for him to do at the prep level. He needs to move on and up (Ottawa owns his OHL rights, Lincoln his USHL rights) for the sake of his development and viability as an NHL prospect going forward. He was only 113th on Central's mid-term list for North American skaters, but have to believe the size and physical tools will see him come off the board as high as the second round. If he develops an ability to fight, he could be an even more valuable commodity.
Cristoval "Boo" Nieves, RW Kent
A 2012-eligible, but excellent NHL prospect given his natural size, skating and offensive skills. At 6-3, 185 has the frame to be an attractive option in the pros when he fills out. Outstanding skater who accelerates quickly and is extremely agile and elusive. Explosive burst and separation gear; can turn defenders easily as he attacks with speed to the outside and isn't afraid to go into traffic. Excellent stickhandler; confident with the puck and wants it on his stick. Highly creative and just seems to have a knack for making plays all over the offensive zone. Scored a brilliant goal in the semi-final game when he gained the zone by himself, skated around the back of the net and then after being stuffed, found the rebound and subsequent clearing attempts by Salisbury out in the high slot, roofing a backhander that the sprawling Gabe Antoni had no chance on. After hearing the buzz on this guy for several years, you could see it all coming together for him at the right time. Could be a top-30 pick next year, even if he stays at Kent. Other forwards in recent years with the skills to be first-rounders have been picked (Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes), so as long as he produces, Nieves has a shot to do it. Has legitimate NHL upside. Was Kent's best player and if he returns to Kent, could really tear it up next season. OHL rights owned by Niagara IceDogs, but committed to University of Michigan in 2012.
The most visible 2011 prospect in both stature and on the Central and Red Line Report rankings was Kent School defenseman Mike McKee, a manchild at 6-5, 230 pounds, and those are legit vitals, not inflated; he is one big boy. Teammate Boo Nieves was also quite good in the competition, but he's a year away as a '94. Depending on where he plays next year, Nieves could very well land in the first round.
Another player who was pretty impressive as a solid, unspectacular defenseman with some upside was Milton's Robby O'Gara. He's lean but is about 6-2 or 6-3 and is extremely smart. He has a long, smooth skating stride and will jump up into the play on occasion. He doesn't have teammate Pat McNally's points or aggressive style, but we think O'Gara is going to be a better pro because he's much more disciplined.
Dexter School's Nick Bligh was excellent, racking up two goals and four assists in the semi-final and championship games of the Piatelli/Simmons small school tourney. The very bright, but physically slight centerman has the skills and production in his favor, but NHL scouts mark him down for the level of competition and the fact that he's lacking in strength right now. His plan to return to Dexter for his senior season will also work against him, but he's a quality kid who doesn't seem too bothered by that and is focused on the academics and getting ready for his next challenge at Dartmouth.
Belmont Hill winger Jimmy Vesey showed off the kinds of tools that will stand him in good stead as a collegian and might even get him an NHL look at the draft, but his game against Westminster in the semi-final contest was a disappointing one and didn't allow him to spread his wings. His impact and compete levels in the game wavered, but you could clearly see that he was 28-goal scorer during the season.
For more on Milton's win over Kent, you can follow this link.
Also, for the scoop on Dexter and Westminster victories in the small and large school tourneys, slide on over here.
Below are some scouting reports on two key players for Kent, McKee and Nieves, who unfortunately is not a member of the 2011 draft class.
Mike McKee, D Kent School
At 6-5, 230, tremendous size and physical maturity for a kid who won't turn 18 until August. Newmarket, Ontario native is an excellent skater for his size, with good first step and a powerful stride. Very good balance and lateral agility/edgework as well.
Has a big shot, but doesn't use it all that much, preferring to distribute the puck. Nice heavy wrist shot that he shoots low on net for deflections. Average passer; can make the basic plays and short-to-intermediate breakouts but doesn't stand out as an exceptional puck mover who can stretch defenses. Hockey sense and vision are questionable. Seems to take a while to process and misses open teammates and passing windows. Used by coach Matt Herr to set up the screen in front of the goaltender when Kent was on the power play, taking away the goaltender's sight lines. Powerful bodychecker who played with a nasty edge in both weekend tournament games. Was penalized at least twice for being a manchild who crushed kids about 100 pounds lighter with clean hits rather than playing dirty. In the championship game, crashed the Milton net, brushing goaltender Sean Dougherty. He then took on three Milton players who swarmed him, knocking all three to the ice at various times while not giving any ground. Got a 4-minute roughing penalty for his efforts, but the way he manhandled those guys sent a clear message. Whispers from NHL scouts at the tournament say that he might be best off converting back to forward (he is in his second full season on D after switching) because of the concerns about his instincts for the game and concerns with processing what goes on. One thing is for certain: after watching McKee, there is nothing more for him to do at the prep level. He needs to move on and up (Ottawa owns his OHL rights, Lincoln his USHL rights) for the sake of his development and viability as an NHL prospect going forward. He was only 113th on Central's mid-term list for North American skaters, but have to believe the size and physical tools will see him come off the board as high as the second round. If he develops an ability to fight, he could be an even more valuable commodity.
Cristoval "Boo" Nieves, RW Kent
A 2012-eligible, but excellent NHL prospect given his natural size, skating and offensive skills. At 6-3, 185 has the frame to be an attractive option in the pros when he fills out. Outstanding skater who accelerates quickly and is extremely agile and elusive. Explosive burst and separation gear; can turn defenders easily as he attacks with speed to the outside and isn't afraid to go into traffic. Excellent stickhandler; confident with the puck and wants it on his stick. Highly creative and just seems to have a knack for making plays all over the offensive zone. Scored a brilliant goal in the semi-final game when he gained the zone by himself, skated around the back of the net and then after being stuffed, found the rebound and subsequent clearing attempts by Salisbury out in the high slot, roofing a backhander that the sprawling Gabe Antoni had no chance on. After hearing the buzz on this guy for several years, you could see it all coming together for him at the right time. Could be a top-30 pick next year, even if he stays at Kent. Other forwards in recent years with the skills to be first-rounders have been picked (Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes), so as long as he produces, Nieves has a shot to do it. Has legitimate NHL upside. Was Kent's best player and if he returns to Kent, could really tear it up next season. OHL rights owned by Niagara IceDogs, but committed to University of Michigan in 2012.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Milton and Kent to meet in NEPSIHA championship game Sunday
It was a tale of two hockey games at the Salem Icenter in New Hampshire Friday night.
The first match, featuring top-seeded Milton Academy going up against Lawrence Academy (the school that produced Steve Heinze for the B's fans reading)was a ragged, sloppy affair.
Milton fell behind early when East All-Star prep goalie Sean Doughtery failed to make a pretty routine glove save on a stoppable shot to give fourth-seeded (in the Elite 8) LA an early and short-lived lead. The diminutive (he's listed at 5-10, but we got a good look at him out of his pads and he's 5-5 or 5-6 tops) goalie settled in and played much better after giving up the first score.
Milton captain and senior defenseman Pat McNally had quite a game in both a good and not-so-good sense. On the plus side, he tallied a hat trick in the 5-2 victory. He's one of the most aggressive, attacking defenders we've seen in some time. But, he's also undisciplined and gets himself in trouble by being frequently out of position. There's no denying his skating ability and predatory style, though. When he sees openings, he doesn't hesitate and good things happen at the other end of the ice.
McNally evened the score at 1-1 on such a rush, blazing up the ice from his own end, weaving through the defense and firing home a bullet five-hole shot that beat LA goalie Jordan Nathan. McNally could have had four or five goals the way things were going. His third tally on the night was another beauty, as he hurdled the stick of a defender to get to the net after avoiding a collision of two LA players to gain initial separation.He then put the shot topshelf over backup Nathaniel Heilbron's (who replaced the shaky Nathan)glove.
McNally might be one of those guys who is better served as a forward at the next level because he's such a go-go-go player all the time, but his defense, at least in this game, was suspect. He makes mistakes that his speed and shot can make up for at the lower prep level of competition, but he won't get away with that at the next level. He's got the size to be a defenseman in the pros, but his defensive awareness and gambling style could get him into hot water.
As for Milton defenseman Robby O'Gara, he was solid- the defensive yin to McNally's riverboat gambler yang. He's got nice size with a frame that is going to fill out, and he has a smooth, long stride. His first few steps are only OK, but he's got very good four-way directional mobility and keeps his head up and on a swivel, looking to make the crisp breakouts and advance the puck. He did get caught backing in too much on the first LA goal, but in fairness, it was a shot that his goalie should have had- O'Gara gave him a clear look at it and Doughtery just whiffed. It happens.
As for Matt Herr's Kent Lions, they played from behind for much of their game against Salisbury School, but made it count at the end, capitalizing on a late 5-on-3 and surviving a wild finish.
Defenseman Mike McKee is the legitimate goods. Guys as big as he is (6-5, 230) who skate as well as he does don't grow on trees. From what we're hearing, many in the NHL community have been down on him this season because he doesn't play as aggressively as someone his size should, but McKee was nailing guys all night. In fact, he got called for two brutal penalties that were clean, solid bodychecks in our view. It looked like some of the typical refferee buffoonery that happens when a 17-year-old 230-pound manchild blows up a 17-year-old 140-pound kid. He was activating at the right time all night, making smart decisions with and without the puck, and even after the questionable calls against him, didn't let up in the physical play. Herr had him going to the front of the net and setting up the screen on the power play and at the end it paid dividends.
Kent's real star on the night was Boo Nieves, who took over the game in the third period with a deflection goal that tied the game at 2-2 early, and then 3-3 after Kent fell behind again. His second goal was a thing of beauty: Nieves got the play started when he took the puck at the right circle, head-faked like he was going to cut to the middle, but went around the back of the net for a wraparound. Salisbury goalie Gabe Antoni made the save, but was flopping and flailing around his cage all night, and on this play, it finally cost him. The puck pinballed around in front and went out to the slot where Nieves gathered it up and fired a high backhander that hit nothing but twine. The goal was such a tremendous display of creativity and skill that one scout sitting near me cheered. Displays like that are always praiseworthy, no matter your lot in life.
With the score tied 3-3 late in the period, Kent caught a huge break while on the power play when Nieves was highsticked during a faceoff battle. With that, the Lions had a 5-on-3 and Nieves found senior captain Noel Acciari alone just 15 feet off to Antoni's left. Acciari ripped a low shot that beat the netminder five-hole for the 4-3 lead.
Ryan Rosenthal (he of the tremendous wheels- really good skater)scored an empty-netter to make it 5-3, and even though Salisbury got a late goal from Ondrej Krajnak (8 seconds remaining), it was too little, too late.
Nieves finished the evening with 3 points on two goals and a helper- all in the third. Big game players rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest, and on the night, the '94 BD and 2012-draft eligible did just that.
The NHL attendance was pretty sparse at this one. I did chat with one amateur scouting director, but he was the only scouting boss at the games. There were a few other NHL regional scouts in attendance, so it probably speaks volumes about how the New England prep class is viewed this season. Contrasting what we saw last night from a year ago when Kevin Hayes and Nobles were in the building against Avon, it was no contest.
However, if we were on an NHL team, we would have come away with a very favorable impression of McKee. He did the little things even though he didn't get involved much in the offense. On one play, he gathered the puck in the neutral zone and put on impressive burst of acceleration and lateral agility that made us wonder why more folks aren't higher on this guy. As for the physicality, he played with a mean streak and seemed to demonstrate that when the games mean something, he's ready to battle in the trenches and use his superior size/strength to make a difference.
It will be very interesting to see if McKee makes it to Northeastern, or if the Ottawa 67's entice him to give up his NCAA eligibility for the OHL. Whichever NHL team drafts McKee will have a say in what he does, but going back to prep for one more year at Kent won't be an option. He's not due for Huntingon Ave. until 2012 and the USHL's Lincoln Stars own his rights. So unless he accelerates (and I have to imagine they'll want McKee and massive Jamie Oleksiak together on the blue line there sooner rather than later), he'll either go to the OHL or USHL next season if he's not in the Hockey East.
O'Gara is nowhere near as big nor does he have the sheer, raw upside of McKee, but he's a heady, disciplined player who brings something to the table. In addition to the quickness and mobility, he's got a good stick and made the right decisions throughout the game. O'Gara is one of these guys who, when you replay the game in your mind, can't find a lot to even nitpick in his game. The Long Island native and Yale recruit (for 2012) will join another New York/New Jersey area star in Delbarton School rearguard Matt Killian, who is a similar player in terms of style and substance- size and mobility plus smarts. O'Gara was 95th on Central Scouting's midterm list.
The first match, featuring top-seeded Milton Academy going up against Lawrence Academy (the school that produced Steve Heinze for the B's fans reading)was a ragged, sloppy affair.
Milton fell behind early when East All-Star prep goalie Sean Doughtery failed to make a pretty routine glove save on a stoppable shot to give fourth-seeded (in the Elite 8) LA an early and short-lived lead. The diminutive (he's listed at 5-10, but we got a good look at him out of his pads and he's 5-5 or 5-6 tops) goalie settled in and played much better after giving up the first score.
Milton captain and senior defenseman Pat McNally had quite a game in both a good and not-so-good sense. On the plus side, he tallied a hat trick in the 5-2 victory. He's one of the most aggressive, attacking defenders we've seen in some time. But, he's also undisciplined and gets himself in trouble by being frequently out of position. There's no denying his skating ability and predatory style, though. When he sees openings, he doesn't hesitate and good things happen at the other end of the ice.
McNally evened the score at 1-1 on such a rush, blazing up the ice from his own end, weaving through the defense and firing home a bullet five-hole shot that beat LA goalie Jordan Nathan. McNally could have had four or five goals the way things were going. His third tally on the night was another beauty, as he hurdled the stick of a defender to get to the net after avoiding a collision of two LA players to gain initial separation.He then put the shot topshelf over backup Nathaniel Heilbron's (who replaced the shaky Nathan)glove.
McNally might be one of those guys who is better served as a forward at the next level because he's such a go-go-go player all the time, but his defense, at least in this game, was suspect. He makes mistakes that his speed and shot can make up for at the lower prep level of competition, but he won't get away with that at the next level. He's got the size to be a defenseman in the pros, but his defensive awareness and gambling style could get him into hot water.
As for Milton defenseman Robby O'Gara, he was solid- the defensive yin to McNally's riverboat gambler yang. He's got nice size with a frame that is going to fill out, and he has a smooth, long stride. His first few steps are only OK, but he's got very good four-way directional mobility and keeps his head up and on a swivel, looking to make the crisp breakouts and advance the puck. He did get caught backing in too much on the first LA goal, but in fairness, it was a shot that his goalie should have had- O'Gara gave him a clear look at it and Doughtery just whiffed. It happens.
As for Matt Herr's Kent Lions, they played from behind for much of their game against Salisbury School, but made it count at the end, capitalizing on a late 5-on-3 and surviving a wild finish.
Defenseman Mike McKee is the legitimate goods. Guys as big as he is (6-5, 230) who skate as well as he does don't grow on trees. From what we're hearing, many in the NHL community have been down on him this season because he doesn't play as aggressively as someone his size should, but McKee was nailing guys all night. In fact, he got called for two brutal penalties that were clean, solid bodychecks in our view. It looked like some of the typical refferee buffoonery that happens when a 17-year-old 230-pound manchild blows up a 17-year-old 140-pound kid. He was activating at the right time all night, making smart decisions with and without the puck, and even after the questionable calls against him, didn't let up in the physical play. Herr had him going to the front of the net and setting up the screen on the power play and at the end it paid dividends.
Kent's real star on the night was Boo Nieves, who took over the game in the third period with a deflection goal that tied the game at 2-2 early, and then 3-3 after Kent fell behind again. His second goal was a thing of beauty: Nieves got the play started when he took the puck at the right circle, head-faked like he was going to cut to the middle, but went around the back of the net for a wraparound. Salisbury goalie Gabe Antoni made the save, but was flopping and flailing around his cage all night, and on this play, it finally cost him. The puck pinballed around in front and went out to the slot where Nieves gathered it up and fired a high backhander that hit nothing but twine. The goal was such a tremendous display of creativity and skill that one scout sitting near me cheered. Displays like that are always praiseworthy, no matter your lot in life.
With the score tied 3-3 late in the period, Kent caught a huge break while on the power play when Nieves was highsticked during a faceoff battle. With that, the Lions had a 5-on-3 and Nieves found senior captain Noel Acciari alone just 15 feet off to Antoni's left. Acciari ripped a low shot that beat the netminder five-hole for the 4-3 lead.
Ryan Rosenthal (he of the tremendous wheels- really good skater)scored an empty-netter to make it 5-3, and even though Salisbury got a late goal from Ondrej Krajnak (8 seconds remaining), it was too little, too late.
Nieves finished the evening with 3 points on two goals and a helper- all in the third. Big game players rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest, and on the night, the '94 BD and 2012-draft eligible did just that.
The NHL attendance was pretty sparse at this one. I did chat with one amateur scouting director, but he was the only scouting boss at the games. There were a few other NHL regional scouts in attendance, so it probably speaks volumes about how the New England prep class is viewed this season. Contrasting what we saw last night from a year ago when Kevin Hayes and Nobles were in the building against Avon, it was no contest.
However, if we were on an NHL team, we would have come away with a very favorable impression of McKee. He did the little things even though he didn't get involved much in the offense. On one play, he gathered the puck in the neutral zone and put on impressive burst of acceleration and lateral agility that made us wonder why more folks aren't higher on this guy. As for the physicality, he played with a mean streak and seemed to demonstrate that when the games mean something, he's ready to battle in the trenches and use his superior size/strength to make a difference.
It will be very interesting to see if McKee makes it to Northeastern, or if the Ottawa 67's entice him to give up his NCAA eligibility for the OHL. Whichever NHL team drafts McKee will have a say in what he does, but going back to prep for one more year at Kent won't be an option. He's not due for Huntingon Ave. until 2012 and the USHL's Lincoln Stars own his rights. So unless he accelerates (and I have to imagine they'll want McKee and massive Jamie Oleksiak together on the blue line there sooner rather than later), he'll either go to the OHL or USHL next season if he's not in the Hockey East.
O'Gara is nowhere near as big nor does he have the sheer, raw upside of McKee, but he's a heady, disciplined player who brings something to the table. In addition to the quickness and mobility, he's got a good stick and made the right decisions throughout the game. O'Gara is one of these guys who, when you replay the game in your mind, can't find a lot to even nitpick in his game. The Long Island native and Yale recruit (for 2012) will join another New York/New Jersey area star in Delbarton School rearguard Matt Killian, who is a similar player in terms of style and substance- size and mobility plus smarts. O'Gara was 95th on Central Scouting's midterm list.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Prep semifinals tonight
Enjoying the time here after being Boston Bruins-focused all of yesterday.
Will be at Ristuccia Memorial Arena this morning for their practice to gather more material for the New England Hockey Journal, but the meat of the trip begins tonight with the Stuart/Corkery (Elite 8) semifinal games.
Milton, led by Vancouver prospect and captain Pat McNally takes on Lawrence Academy at 5:30 pm. Milton has another defenseman, Rob O'Gara, who is from New York and is rising star in the 2011 draft. Similar to McNally last year, he's kind of come from left field this year to impress scouts with his size, mobility, smarts and overall game.
Lawrence doesn't have any single player we're tracking as a 2011 draft option, but will keep the eyes peeled.
Kent will play the 8:00 game against Salisbury and many eyes will be on defenseman Mike McKee, whom we featured on the sleeper alert waaay back in August. He's a sleeper no more. The 6-5, 230-pounder from Newmarket, Ontario won't even turn 18 until August! As far as players with major raw potential, there aren't many better.
McKee's not quite Jamie Oleksiak in terms of huge size and upside, but he's not that far off either, and if he sticks with his current plan of attending Northeastern, he could be playing with the monstrous 6-8 Oleksiak at some point (though he's not slated to arrive at NU until 2012). McKee is also draft property of the Ottawa 67's and there is talk in the NHL community about switching McKee back to forward rather than keeping him on 'D'. Will be interesting to see what happens with him once he is drafted.
Also on Kent is 2012 draft prospect Cristoval "Boo" Nieves, a talented and skilled offensive forward who finished third in scoring on coach Matt Herr's Lions team with 10 goals and 35 points in 25 games this season. He's got some size at 6-3, 185 and has been on NHL draft radars since an impressive Select 15 Festival a couple of years back.
Salisbury has Jack Barre who showed some potential a few years ago, but has not raised his stock to the point that he's considered much of a draft option. He's got some size and power at this level and is a captain, but his hands aren't what they need to be. The youngest Biega brother, Marc, is a '94 BD and therefore not eligible until 2012, but we'll certainly be watching what he does on the Salisbury blue line, just like we did Alex and Danny before him.
Saturday will be another crazy day of hockey with small prep schools (not much to offer) in the am, EJHL in the early afternoon, Belmont Hill-Westminster later and then jetting over to see Northeastern-BU. One of the members of the Bruins hockey operations team said last night at the TD Garden that the Huskies-Terriers match is going to be "where all the scouts in New England are" on Saturday night. With Oleksiak, Matt Nieto and Adam Clendening all going in that one, we don't doubt it.
Should be a blast! We'll have updates as we can post them, so keep checking in.
Will be at Ristuccia Memorial Arena this morning for their practice to gather more material for the New England Hockey Journal, but the meat of the trip begins tonight with the Stuart/Corkery (Elite 8) semifinal games.
Milton, led by Vancouver prospect and captain Pat McNally takes on Lawrence Academy at 5:30 pm. Milton has another defenseman, Rob O'Gara, who is from New York and is rising star in the 2011 draft. Similar to McNally last year, he's kind of come from left field this year to impress scouts with his size, mobility, smarts and overall game.
Lawrence doesn't have any single player we're tracking as a 2011 draft option, but will keep the eyes peeled.
Kent will play the 8:00 game against Salisbury and many eyes will be on defenseman Mike McKee, whom we featured on the sleeper alert waaay back in August. He's a sleeper no more. The 6-5, 230-pounder from Newmarket, Ontario won't even turn 18 until August! As far as players with major raw potential, there aren't many better.
McKee's not quite Jamie Oleksiak in terms of huge size and upside, but he's not that far off either, and if he sticks with his current plan of attending Northeastern, he could be playing with the monstrous 6-8 Oleksiak at some point (though he's not slated to arrive at NU until 2012). McKee is also draft property of the Ottawa 67's and there is talk in the NHL community about switching McKee back to forward rather than keeping him on 'D'. Will be interesting to see what happens with him once he is drafted.
Also on Kent is 2012 draft prospect Cristoval "Boo" Nieves, a talented and skilled offensive forward who finished third in scoring on coach Matt Herr's Lions team with 10 goals and 35 points in 25 games this season. He's got some size at 6-3, 185 and has been on NHL draft radars since an impressive Select 15 Festival a couple of years back.
Salisbury has Jack Barre who showed some potential a few years ago, but has not raised his stock to the point that he's considered much of a draft option. He's got some size and power at this level and is a captain, but his hands aren't what they need to be. The youngest Biega brother, Marc, is a '94 BD and therefore not eligible until 2012, but we'll certainly be watching what he does on the Salisbury blue line, just like we did Alex and Danny before him.
Saturday will be another crazy day of hockey with small prep schools (not much to offer) in the am, EJHL in the early afternoon, Belmont Hill-Westminster later and then jetting over to see Northeastern-BU. One of the members of the Bruins hockey operations team said last night at the TD Garden that the Huskies-Terriers match is going to be "where all the scouts in New England are" on Saturday night. With Oleksiak, Matt Nieto and Adam Clendening all going in that one, we don't doubt it.
Should be a blast! We'll have updates as we can post them, so keep checking in.
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