Boston Bruins Bruins Prospects Discussion IV - Mod warning 565

[BruinDust]

IMO, he's been one of the two best players at development camp every year since he was drafted. Usually the guys that dominate that camp show very well when they get to the NHL camps so the future is indeed bright with this kid. Very slick/skilled 1on1 player. Should absolutely be a Hobby Baker finalist.

PM, do you think he's still on the radar to represent the US in the Olympics?

 

[twominute]

I'm still not sure a lot of fans know who he is, or that the Bruins signed this kid as a free agent at the start of the season. Jack Studnicka's teammate in Oshawa, goaltender Kyle Keyser.

At the least, he has all the tools to be a solid NHL backup. But his development has come to a standstill.

He suffered the dreaded upper body injury early in the season and missed two games. He suffered a second upper body injury (this one is definitely a concussion) and has missed almost the entire month of November. He was run into and flipped over, landing on his head in a game November 5. He laid motionless on the ice for some time.

The Genies have acquired two other goaltenders this season and have made it public that they will carry 3 goaltenders once Keyser returns.

That's some bad luck. Hope they sit him for as long as it takes to fully heal. Will surely slow his development but I think that isn't a worry for the Bruins.

 

[DominicT]

Re: Zane McIntyre....

Just want to get a feel from folks here.

Subban is gone, Binnington isn't a Bruins' prospect, Vladar is in the ECHL, Swayman is at the University of Maine and Keyser is in the OHL with Oshawa. So the only real competition Zane has is Khudobin for next season, and if he continues to play the way he has, he might just price himself out of Boston.

At least when Subban was around, Zane had competition he had to deal with.

Anyone feel complacency may have a role to play in his slow start with Providence?

 

[ODAAT]

Re: Zane McIntyre....

Just want to get a feel from folks here.

Subban is gone, Binnington isn't a Bruins' prospect, Vladar is in the ECHL, Swayman is at the University of Maine and Keyser is in the OHL with Oshawa. So the only real competition Zane has is Khudobin for next season, and if he continues to play the way he has, he might just price himself out of Boston.

At least when Subban was around, Zane had competition he had to deal with.

Anyone feel complacency may have a role to play in his slow start with Providence?

isn`t Zane`s biggest competition internally with Tuukka not Anton, Hf has pretty much established it`s Doby`s crease

 

[DominicT]

isn`t Zane`s biggest competition internally with Tuukka not Anton, Hf has pretty much established it`s Doby`s crease

So your answer is no then?

 

[Dr Hook]

I don't know about Zane yet- the sample size at the NHL level is just too small. Ideally we'd have a situation where the team is strong enough to get Zane some starts and see what we have over a longer stretch. As it is "points are at a premium" . As for Providence, he was lights out last season there and the situation in Boston was a lot like this year, a marginal team trying to make the playoffs. I wonder how much of his start is just the normal ups and downs of a young goalie playing behind a shifting roster with all of the callups. I don't know, I'd like to see him get a better look with the big club so the team can really see what they've got with him. If he isn't it, our goaltender depth is scary bad . . .

 

[BruinsNetwork]

Re: Zane McIntyre....

Just want to get a feel from folks here.

Subban is gone, Binnington isn't a Bruins' prospect, Vladar is in the ECHL, Swayman is at the University of Maine and Keyser is in the OHL with Oshawa. So the only real competition Zane has is Khudobin for next season, and if he continues to play the way he has, he might just price himself out of Boston.

At least when Subban was around, Zane had competition he had to deal with.

Anyone feel complacency may have a role to play in his slow start with Providence?

I vote no.

I think Providence is a young, struggling team that’s is worse off than last year, especially with call ups and injuries.

I do agree though that McIntyre just doesn’t look right so far this season, and I’m not sure why. It is a mix of things, but to be honest I haven’t seen that same level of intensity he brought last year. He was dialed in, every play.

I heard over the summer from someone in Providence that he had the “Inside track” to be the backup in Boston, maybe it’s a mental thing and he is caught in a rut as a result of not becoming that.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Re: Zane McIntyre....

Just want to get a feel from folks here.

Subban is gone, Binnington isn't a Bruins' prospect, Vladar is in the ECHL, Swayman is at the University of Maine and Keyser is in the OHL with Oshawa. So the only real competition Zane has is Khudobin for next season, and if he continues to play the way he has, he might just price himself out of Boston.

At least when Subban was around, Zane had competition he had to deal with.

Anyone feel complacency may have a role to play in his slow start with Providence?

I would say no based on what I have heard/read about McIntyre in the past. I’m pretty sure Kirk talked about how self-motivated he is.

Competition never hurts, but I think ZM is very driven and hard on himself, whether Subban is there or not.

I know Khudobin is the flavor of the month, but I would rather Zane in Boston next season. At some point, they need to see if he’s capable of being an NHL regular.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Bruins prospect update from NHL.com:

Hughes Leading Wisconsin On and Off the Ice

 

[Over the volcano]

Re: Zane McIntyre....

Just want to get a feel from folks here.

Subban is gone, Binnington isn't a Bruins' prospect, Vladar is in the ECHL, Swayman is at the University of Maine and Keyser is in the OHL with Oshawa. So the only real competition Zane has is Khudobin for next season, and if he continues to play the way he has, he might just price himself out of Boston.

At least when Subban was around, Zane had competition he had to deal with.

Anyone feel complacency may have a role to play in his slow start with Providence?

Could be. I don't understand why they sent Vladar back to the ECHL. He's been lights out in Providence.

I'm no scout by any means, but to these eyes McIntyre is pretty limited. He's pretty positionally solid and seems to read plays well, but I haven't seen the kind of speed/athleticism that'd translate in the NHL.

 

[Ratty]

Could be. I don't understand why they sent Vladar back to the ECHL. He's been lights out in Providence.

I'm no scout by any means, but to these eyes McIntyre is pretty limited. He's prepositionally solid and seems to read plays well, but I haven't seen the kind of speed/athleticism that'd translate in the NHL.

"Prepositionally solid"? I wonder if he is also adverbially solid. .

I agree about Vladar. Binnington is not our property. It seems to me, in light of his play in an earlier stint, that Vlady should be in Providence under Bruins supervision.

 

[Dr Hook]

"Prepositionally solid"? I wonder if he is also adverbially solid. .

I agree about Vladar. Binnington is not our property. It seems to me, in light of his play in an earlier stint, that Vlady should be in Providence under Bruins supervision.

You have to wonder if they project Zane, even with his current struggles, to get the lion's share of minutes. If so it makes sense if they want Vlady playing regularly, to have him in the E rather than riding the pines in Providence. I would also guess based on the situation that there are things they want him working on in game situations.

 

[Ratty]

You have to wonder if they project Zane, even with his current struggles, to get the lion's share of minutes. If so it makes sense if they want Vlady playing regularly, to have him in the E rather than riding the pines in Providence. I would also guess based on the situation that there are things they want him working on in game situations.

He doesn't have to "ride the pines" in Providence. While winning is important, this is mostly a development league. Vlady should play more than a back up role to enhance his development.

 

[Dr Hook]

He doesn't have to "ride the pines" in Providence. While winning is important, this is mostly a development league. Vlady should play more than a back up role to enhance his development.

I don't disagree, just trying to make sense of what might be going on. It seems like Zane is still being considered the next man up to the big club perhaps once Dobby's contract ends. If so, then I can see why they want him starting as often as possible and that could mean reduced minutes for Vlady.

 

[Tampbear]

Its kind of weird not having a goalie prospect we are confident in, I know some feel really good about Zane but he has more question marks than Subban did and looks more likely to be a backup if he makes it. I'm interested to see how Vlader and Swayman develop over the next couple of years.

 

[Bruinator]

Re: Zane McIntyre....

Just want to get a feel from folks here.

Subban is gone, Binnington isn't a Bruins' prospect, Vladar is in the ECHL, Swayman is at the University of Maine and Keyser is in the OHL with Oshawa. So the only real competition Zane has is Khudobin for next season, and if he continues to play the way he has, he might just price himself out of Boston.

At least when Subban was around, Zane had competition he had to deal with.

Anyone feel complacency may have a role to play in his slow start with Providence?

It is a possibilty but if true It really puts his dedication and character into question.

 

[Over the volcano]

Ryan Fitzgerald getting lost in the mix? He’s turned a corner in Providence the last few weeks. Got a goal and assist tonight and on a bit of a run

 

[Gator Mike]

Studnicka has a goal and two assists tonight.

Wiley Sherman has a goal and Ryan Donato's got two as Harvard leads Quinnipiac 4-2 in the 3rd.

Jeremy Swayman and Maine headed to OT tied with Vermont 1-1.

 

[Gator Mike]

Donato finished off his hat trick.

Swayman and Maine actually tied Vermont, 2-2. My bad.

 

[DominicT]

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Its kind of weird not having a goalie prospect we are confident in, I know some feel really good about Zane but he has more question marks than Subban did and looks more likely to be a backup if he makes it. I'm interested to see how Vlader and Swayman develop over the next couple of years.

I’m sorry, but this is patently false.

McIntyre totally outperformed Subban last year at the AHL level.

Subban: 32 games, 2.41 GAA, .917 Save %

McIntyre: 31 games, 2.03 GAA, .930 Save %

In addition, last year was ZM’s second year as a pro, while Subban was in his 4th professional year. Based on this, how exactly were there “more questions” about ZM?

The only reason Subban is playing is because the two goalies in Vegas that were in front of him got hurt, but all of a sudden he’s starter material and McIntyre is “more likely to be a backup if he makes it”??

I’m not coming to the same conclusions you are.

 

[PlayMakers]

Any updates on Vaakanainen, Berglund, Koppanen or Steen?

 

[DominicT]

I’m sorry, but this is patently false.


The only reason Subban is playing is because the two goalies in Vegas that were in front of him got hurt, but all of a sudden he’s starter material and McIntyre is “more likely to be a backup if he makes it”??

Yes it is. Subban was acquired to be the backup not number 3. He immediately took over once Fleury got injured. What is not readily known is that it was Vegas' goaltending coach that pushed GMGM hard to take him off the waiver wire. He insisted "I can turn him into a number one goalie".

 

[PlayMakers]

I agree. There was nothing in Subban’s 4-year history that suggested he was ready to be a capable NHL goalie.

That said, one has to wonder if the Bruins are doing something wrong when it comes to the development of their goalies. Subban finds immediate success upon leaving. McIntyre looks to have regressed. Vladar hasn’t progressed. Even Tuukka has seen a steady decline in his numbers over the last 2+ years. Don’t know if the NHL and minor coaches overlap or what kind of structure there is but it is curious.

OT: Where can we get one of those guys that Vegas has? Guys who can recognize an undervalued or underutilized pro and say, “Grab him, in the right situation he will be a strong NHL player.”

OT2: I think the above is going to happen to us again with Frank Vatrano.

 

[DominicT]

I agree. There was nothing in Subban’s 4-year history that suggested he was ready to be a capable NHL goalie.
That said, one has to wonder if the Bruins are doing something wrong when it comes to the development of their goalies. Subban finds immediate success upon leaving. McIntyre looks to have regressed. Vladar hasn’t progressed. Even Tuukka has seen a steady decline in his numbers over the last 2+ years. Don’t know if the NHL and minor coaches overlap or what kind of structure there is but it is curious.
OT: Where can we get one of those guys that Vegas has? Guys who can recognize an undervalued or underutilized pro and say, “Grab him, in the right situation he will be a strong NHL player.”
OT2: I think the above is going to happen to us again with Frank Vatrano.

I don't know that the Bruins didn't think the same thing as Vegas when it comes to Subban (I certainly did and was dead against giving up on him). They certainly didn't want to lose him. But it does tell you that someone in Vegas spent a lot of time watching him. For a goaltending coach to insist to his GM that he can turn him into a number one says something. It also says something when the GM puts that much trust in his coaches/scouts.

And I agree about Vatrano. If everyone is healthy, (excluding Cehlarik for now) they'll have 14 forwards. McQuaid will be back soon and that's 8 d-men. Grizz will likely go back to Providence. Vatrano and Beleskey look to be the 13th and 14th forwards. Can't have over $4 million sitting upstairs. Which probably means Vatrano going the way Subban did.