Prospect Info: Anders Bjork -Update - signed ELC May 30th

[Blowfish]

How did he play yesterday?

 

[Gator Mike]

You can sell the opportunity without making a prospect or their family feel like they are being backed into a corner and I think DS`s approach is wise and I still have no concern Bjork is not going to sign here

Exactly.

Let Bjork know that the organization likes him and believes he's ready to turn pro, and that he has a chance to play in the NHL right away. Tell him that even if he doesn't make the team out of camp, they view him as a key piece of their future.

Acknowledge the fact that returning to ND presents unique possibilities: playing with his younger brother, potential to win a Championship, possibility of playing in the Olympics, graduating on time with his class, etc.

Tell him that it's his future, his career, and his decision and that the organization will support him no matter what he decides. They'll be thrilled if he signs, and if he goes back, he's welcome to come to Development Camp, they'll keep in touch, and they'll talk contract again after his senior season.

 

[kdog82]

I hope McAvoy is in his ear at the World Championship. Get Bjork to Boston!

 

[whatsbruin]

You don't know what will happen with Chara after next year.
Could be Bjork's only chance to play with Chara the HOF player.

 

[Gator Mike]

I'm telling you... this is not Harry Sinden's Bruins. Everyone relax. Bjork will sign with the Bruins either this year or next.

 

[ODAAT]

I'm telling you... this is not Harry Sinden's Bruins. Everyone relax. Bjork will sign with the Bruins either this year or next.

agreed Mike but this is HF and the Bruins board, you know what kind of a paranoid and nutty bunch we can be

 

[Chief Nine]

I'm telling you... this is not Harry Sinden's Bruins. Everyone relax. Bjork will sign with the Bruins either this year or next.

Thank God.

 

[BruinLVGA]

agreed Mike but this is HF and the Bruins board, you know what kind of a paranoid and nutty bunch we can be

Well put!

 

[Number8]

I'm sure Sweeney has some credibility with the family. He was drafted by the Bruins and elected to finish four years at Harvard before joining Bruins and playing his entire career in Boston. If I'm a parent that values education that would carry some positive influence with me.

I'm sure they are making it clear they want him, but will let him do what's he thinks is best for his short term hockey career and longterm life.

Don't really know what happened with Vesey but I but I would guess the family connection with the Hayes family and Vesey being buds with the Hayes brothers played a role. Kevin Hayes went the Vesey route before him.

 

[Dellstrom]

I'm telling you... this is not Harry Sinden's Bruins. Everyone relax. Bjork will sign with the Bruins either this year or next.

I'm not particularly concerned about it, but this was the same deal with Vesey. Things can change in a year.

I'd love for him to go pro this year. But in the end it's his call. I never got the impression he wanted to go anywhere else, either. He knows when he's ready, it's his spot to lose.

 

[ODAAT]

I'm not particularly concerned about it, but this was the same deal with Vesey. Things can change in a year.

I'd love for him to go pro this year. But in the end it's his call. I never got the impression he wanted to go anywhere else, either. He knows when he's ready, it's his spot to lose.

I`m not so sure it is the "same deal" as Vesey. Once the news broke about Vesey not signing with the Preds, I began to read quite a bit about the situation and I wish I had of bookmarked some of the articles because my takeaway from more than a few of them was it appeared like the Preds (specifically Paul Fenton) were too aggressive with Vesey and his family.

I got the impression (again, "impression") that Vesey felt the Preds were putting too much pressure on him to make a decision. We know this, from what Poile said, there was a spot for Vesey in the top 9, on a competitive team, in an interesting and what looks like a fun hockey market and he still said no.

My belief, the Preds did NOT give Vesey and his family the space they wanted come decision time, I felt reading these articles like they just never let up the pressure to sign

I`m reading about how the Bjork situation is progressing and I don`t see that at all, I see DS and his crew respecting Bjork and his families space, I would imagine they have let them know they are very impressed with his game, believe he has a long future in Boston and he`ll have every opportunity to make the big club when he and his family feels he`s ready to go

 

[chizzler]

I`m not so sure it is the "same deal" as Vesey. Once the news broke about Vesey not signing with the Preds, I began to read quite a bit about the situation and I wish I had of bookmarked some of the articles because my takeaway from more than a few of them was it appeared like the Preds (specifically Paul Fenton) were too aggressive with Vesey and his family.

I got the impression (again, "impression") that Vesey felt the Preds were putting too much pressure on him to make a decision. We know this, from what Poile said, there was a spot for Vesey in the top 9, on a competitive team, in an interesting and what looks like a fun hockey market and he still said no.

My belief, the Preds did NOT give Vesey and his family the space they wanted come decision time, I felt reading these articles like they just never let up the pressure to sign

I`m reading about how the Bjork situation is progressing and I don`t see that at all, I see DS and his crew respecting Bjork and his families space, I would imagine they have let them know they are very impressed with his game, believe he has a long future in Boston and he`ll have every opportunity to make the big club when he and his family feels he`s ready to go

The Bruins have an example of what not to do. Case in point, Vesey. If he does sign great, if not, they have plenty of kids coming up. It not guaranteed that he will be a good prospect. Not going to sweat this.

 

[Gee Wally]

Boston or South Bend? It’s decision time for Anders Bjork
If Anders Bjork wants to work as the Bruins’ No. 2 left wing, his future employer would be happy to give him first dibs at the position. Last August, they offered the same opportunity to Jimmy Vesey. The Charlestown native signed with the Rangers after considering his hometown team’s pitch.

If Bjork accepts the invitation, he would be first in line to start 2017-18 as David Krejci’s left wing. The Bruins think highly of Bjork. Had he committed to pro hockey upon the conclusion of his junior season at Notre Dame, they would have considered giving him the green light to make his debut in the playoffs. It worked out well for Charlie McAvoy against Ottawa.

After being a point-per-game player as a sophomore, Bjork exploded in his third year of college hockey. In 39 games, the speedy left wing scored 21 goals and 31 assists. With Bjork filling nets and fellow junior Cal Petersen keeping them clear, Notre Dame advanced to the Frozen Four. The Fighting Irish lost to the University of Denver, the eventual champion. Such a pedigree would place Bjork ahead of second-line contenders such as Frank Vatrano, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Peter Cehlarik.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...nders-bjork/Q6AJugubPPkvmGiQXc2hEP/story.html

 

[ODAAT]

Boston or South Bend? It’s decision time for Anders Bjork
If Anders Bjork wants to work as the Bruins’ No. 2 left wing, his future employer would be happy to give him first dibs at the position. Last August, they offered the same opportunity to Jimmy Vesey. The Charlestown native signed with the Rangers after considering his hometown team’s pitch.

If Bjork accepts the invitation, he would be first in line to start 2017-18 as David Krejci’s left wing. The Bruins think highly of Bjork. Had he committed to pro hockey upon the conclusion of his junior season at Notre Dame, they would have considered giving him the green light to make his debut in the playoffs. It worked out well for Charlie McAvoy against Ottawa.

After being a point-per-game player as a sophomore, Bjork exploded in his third year of college hockey. In 39 games, the speedy left wing scored 21 goals and 31 assists. With Bjork filling nets and fellow junior Cal Petersen keeping them clear, Notre Dame advanced to the Frozen Four. The Fighting Irish lost to the University of Denver, the eventual champion. Such a pedigree would place Bjork ahead of second-line contenders such as Frank Vatrano, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Peter Cehlarik.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...nders-bjork/Q6AJugubPPkvmGiQXc2hEP/story.html

USA vs Denmark starting in minutes here, hoping to catch a glimpse of him today, and McAvoy of course

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

He got in 11 minutes of game action against the Danes today. About 6 of that came in the 3rd when the game was well in hand (Greenway was in the extra forward role in recording 2 minutes of play). Good to see him get his feet wet. Did not look out of place.

 

[Montecristo]

I hope torey krugs recent graduation from Michigan state will prove as a guide that Bjork doesn't have to pick between graduating from notre dame and playing in the NHL next year. He could easily skip his senior year and continue to slowly work towards a degree. If he chooses to go back to notre dame I will view that as a sign that should implant a seed of doubt in all of our minds, and everyone who says it doesn't matter and it's nothing to worry about I will ask them why. That said, i won't officially hit the panic button until he makes his decision after the WC

 

[Dellstrom]

my takeaway from more than a few of them was it appeared like the Preds (specifically Paul Fenton) were too aggressive with Vesey and his family.

I got the impression (again, "impression") that Vesey felt the Preds were putting too much pressure on him to make a decision. We know this, from what Poile said, there was a spot for Vesey in the top 9, on a competitive team, in an interesting and what looks like a fun hockey market and he stil
My belief, the Preds did NOT give Vesey and his family the space they wanted come decision time, I felt reading these articles like they just never let up the pressure to sign

I`m reading about how the Bjork situation is progressing and I don`t see that at all, I see DS and his crew respecting Bjork and his families space, I would imagine they have let them know they are very impressed with his game, believe he has a long future in Boston and he`ll have every opportunity to make the big club when he and his family feels he`s ready to go

This is a good point that I forgot about. I remember seeing that the Preds were so far up his ass that he got annoyed by it.

 

[riverhawkey91]

It'll be interesting to see if this tournament makes Bjork reconsider his plans going forward.

While he hasn't necessarily looked bad in his limited ice time so far, you can tell the step up in size/speed/skill is definitely a bit of an adjustment for him. His board play hasn't been great, and he's looked lost in transition and in the offensive zone on more than one occasion. All of that is to be expected in his first time playing with/against pros, and he's not the only one with Greenway and Brickley in the same boat, but I'm not sure he looks ready for that immediate jump like Keller or McAvoy.

If the Olympics really are something he's focused on like has been speculated, I wonder if college is starting to look like a less viable route to it after these couple games. We already know he can dominate against college kids, but even without the NHL, the Olympics will still be against mostly men/pro's, probably on the same level as the competition they're facing now (Germany and Denmark only have a combined 4 NHL players). If he's looking just okay against them with NHL linemates now, will going back to school get him to a point where he can make the team and excel against them with amateurs next winter?

 

[Fonzerelli]

Boston Bruins Prospect Anders Bjork’s Decision Coming After World Championships Conclude

One of the biggest question marks for the Boston Bruins’ 2017 offseason revolves around Anders Bjork. Despite being selected in the fifth-round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Bjork’s NHL stock is at an all-time high. He projects to be a top-six NHL left winger who can step in right away and make an impact. The Bruins, just by chance, happen to be looking for a top-six left winger to slot in alongside David Krejci next season.

https://causewaycrowd.com/2017/05/03/boston-bruins-anders-bjorks-decision-coming-soon/

 

[GloryDaze4877]

It'll be interesting to see if this tournament makes Bjork reconsider his plans going forward.

While he hasn't necessarily looked bad in his limited ice time so far, you can tell the step up in size/speed/skill is definitely a bit of an adjustment for him. His board play hasn't been great, and he's looked lost in transition and in the offensive zone on more than one occasion. All of that is to be expected in his first time playing with/against pros, and he's not the only one with Greenway and Brickley in the same boat, but I'm not sure he looks ready for that immediate jump like Keller or McAvoy.

If the Olympics really are something he's focused on like has been speculated, I wonder if college is starting to look like a less viable route to it after these couple games. We already know he can dominate against college kids, but even without the NHL, the Olympics will still be against mostly men/pro's, probably on the same level as the competition they're facing now (Germany and Denmark only have a combined 4 NHL players). If he's looking just okay against them with NHL linemates now, will going back to school get him to a point where he can make the team and excel against them with amateurs next winter?

I agree with a lot of what you say, but generally I would hesitate to put too much stock into how Bjork is playing when he's getting such limited minutes. It's extremely difficult to play with any sort of consistency when you are getting roughly one shift per period.

 

[whatsbruin]

I agree with a lot of what you say, but generally I would hesitate to put too much stock into how Bjork is playing when he's getting such limited minutes. It's extremely difficult to play with any sort of consistency when you are getting roughly one shift per period.

Which raises the question "Why is he only getting one shift per period ?"
I have not been watching these games, but it makes you wonder if he can step
right into a nhl lineup as top 6 or even 9. If he could, wouldn't he be very
noticeable, and coach would have to play him. Again I have not seen him play.

 

[bob27]

Could do with an AHL season, from what I've seen him with Team USA.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Which raises the question "Why is he only getting one shift per period ?"
I have not been watching these games, but it makes you wonder if he can step
right into a nhl lineup as top 6 or even 9. If he could, wouldn't he be very
noticeable, and coach would have to play him. Again I have not seen him play.

I don't ever read too much into that in tournaments like the WC's. A lot has to do with coaches and their preferences. From what I have seen, McAvoy has been better than a guy like DeKeyser, but was getting less TOI. Hellebucyk looked much better IMO than Howard, but has played less.

Bjork was one of the best players in Div 1 college hockey this year. His stats were on par with Clayton Keller's (who is obviously 2 years younger), who doesn't seem to be having issues scoring in the WC's while playing more minutes with better linemates. Won't happen, but would love to see Bjork and Keller switch places in the US lineup and see what happens.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Could do with an AHL season, from what I've seen him with Team USA.

You may be right, but pretty hard to determine accurately when he's playing a couple of minutes a game.

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

The Bruins have an example of what not to do. Case in point, Vesey. If he does sign great, if not, they have plenty of kids coming up. It not guaranteed that he will be a good prospect. Not going to sweat this.

I'm only going to sweat it because its a free asset. If he signs here I feel wayyy better about dealing someone like Vatrano/Heinen/Debrusk.

Thats it though.