Wonder Boy
Cam 'n' Cam
My thoughts from Buffalo tourney
The biggest takeaway for me watching this tournament vs. what the Bruins did last year at the tournament was night and day. The system they ran was much different and I quite enjoyed what I saw. Much more pressure on the attack and a lot more skating focused. The system created more offense and for the most part didn't give New Jersey or Buffalo much of a chance to get into games until the 3rd period.
As for the players, here are my thoughts...
DeBrusk: Was not a fan of him at all last year. I thought he was drowning in 6 inches of water. This year he played with more confidence and he had a good showing. I like that he goes into the traffic areas and the new system certainly helped given the type of player he is. There is potential here.
Cave: He was ok, solid AHL guy and fringe player at the NHL level.
Heinen: I thought he played ok, but my expectations were much higher for him. I liked that he played the point on the PP tonight vs. Buffalo, but he clearly didn't look too comfortable in that spot. You can see the IQ at work though and with a year or 2 in the AHL will do wonders for him.
Blidh: I love this guy. He just doesn't stop motoring and his shot isn't half bad. If there wasn't a numbers game I would pick this guy to be the 4th line LW in Boston this season. Especially if the Bruins play this newer system.
Kuraly: See above. He is everything you would want in a 4th line Center in todays NHL. He would be my darkhorse pick to win that job. If they didn't sign Moore I think the job would be his.
Hickman: He made some nice hits but he really lumbers along when he skates.
Gabrielle: I like this guy, but I still take Blidh and what he brings to the table over Jesse. He really ticked a few players off in the New Jersey game but they wouldn't do anything about it so he kept chirping them all game long. Against Buffalo he was good too and scored a decent goal off a nice feed. He doesn't have Blidh's skating but is entertaining to watch if you pay close enough attention.
Cehlarik: I've seen this guy play a few times in International play, including a few times last year at the WJC. He wasn't the oldest prospect out there but he did play like a man vs. boys. You can see the experience in his game developing in Europe. I remember hearing comparisons to David Krejci after he was drafted and the last 2 days was the first time I saw it. The previous viewings I didn't see it but now I see how cerebral Cehlarik is and it is very Krejci like. He doesn't appear to be a real threat and then he scores or makes a play for an easy assist. I am very interested to see what he does at training camp. He will be a guy to keep an eye on in Providence this year.
Hargrove: He was credited for a goal in the New Jersey game but I am 99.99% sure that Cehlarik was the one who actually scored. I was sitting next to a scout and he asked me who I thought scored as he didn't agree with the announcer either. Decent enough 3rd line AHL player, anything more would be a surprise.
Nacelrio: Didn't show me anything to merit remaining with the organization.
Rymsha: I thought he showed some promise. I like his game and I think he's worth keeping tabs on.
Stransky: I talked to this kid at the New Jersey game, he was sitting with Arnesson. Very polite and great with kids. Seems very positive and genuine and tonight against the Sabres he showed some skills. I am not sure if it was enough to warrant anything, but I was somewhat impressed with what he did.
Atkinson: I thought he had a decent tournament and didn't look out of place on the blueline as the 6th man.
Carlo: 2015 will be a very good draft for the Bruins and he is one of the reasons why. Lot's of promise with this kid and will benefit by getting decent minutes in Providence.
Zboril: He's not developing at the pace of Carlo, but he is still clearly developing as a player. He had a good tournament and moved the puck well. He also made some nice passes and played physical when he needed too. Patience with this guy, the tools are present.
O'Gara: I like this guy and think he could be a less physical but a better skating version of McQuaid in the future. He could be a 4th Defenseman possibly, but a #5 or a #6 are in the cards.
Lauzon: Another 2015 guy that I really like. He too seems to be developing faster than Zboril, but not at the pace of Carlo either. He should be a guy to compete for a spot in the future.
Webster: Pretty good size and will mix it up with the Forwards. I don't think his game gave him enough merit to continue on though.
Grzelcyk: I thought he played ok in the New Jersey game. I was expecting more like I was with Heinen, but overall he worked the new system very well and will benefit by developing his game in the AHL. I like his wheels!
Commisso: I like his jam, but I think he is behind in his conditioning to the other prospects. As the game went on he was behind in the play getting back.
Mistele: I like his size and I think he skates better than Hickman and Hargrove. I don't understand why LA didn't sign him as a depth prospect which leaves me wondering what the B's think of him?
White: Didn't do much when he played or showed enough promise vs. the other invites.
Arnesson: I had a nice long chat with him. He made a comment to me in the lobby as we got into the elevator and he followed me over to my seats. Nice kid and I made a comment that he looked "bigger" than last year, and when I said that his eyes lit up. He is clearly stronger and has matured from last year. Very friendly guy and is really hoping to make the most of his opportunity to play as a Bruin one day. As for the injury, there was nothing noticeable to the eye. Could be a bad bruise or something like that. Knowing his style of play from watching him last year he too would excel in this higher octane skating system.
McIntyre: He didn't have much work to do for most of the game but when he needed to make key saves he didn't. His SV% wasn't very good and to me he didn't look like he developed that much from what I saw of him last year at the tournament. I thought he showed more promise last year actually.
Darth Vlader: Still quite a raw goalie, but how can you not love his size. When he moves laterally across the crease his pads are wide open. That is something he will have to work on over the next few years in College. I thought he looked better than last year, but late in the game against Buffalo he started to collapse a little. He took a puck off the cage and then after that is when the slide in his game showed.
Overall I was quite impressed. The Defense for the future is a definite strength on the depth chart. Lot's of pieces competing for jobs in the future. It will be fun to watch and see which of these guys get the open jobs in the end. It should be a fun year if you are a Providence Bruins fan. The D is young but entertaining to watch.
Top 5 guys who should be the biggest threats right now to win a job....
1. Carlo
2. Kuraly
3. Blidh
4. Cehlarik
5. O'Gara
The biggest takeaway for me watching this tournament vs. what the Bruins did last year at the tournament was night and day. The system they ran was much different and I quite enjoyed what I saw. Much more pressure on the attack and a lot more skating focused. The system created more offense and for the most part didn't give New Jersey or Buffalo much of a chance to get into games until the 3rd period.
As for the players, here are my thoughts...
DeBrusk: Was not a fan of him at all last year. I thought he was drowning in 6 inches of water. This year he played with more confidence and he had a good showing. I like that he goes into the traffic areas and the new system certainly helped given the type of player he is. There is potential here.
Cave: He was ok, solid AHL guy and fringe player at the NHL level.
Heinen: I thought he played ok, but my expectations were much higher for him. I liked that he played the point on the PP tonight vs. Buffalo, but he clearly didn't look too comfortable in that spot. You can see the IQ at work though and with a year or 2 in the AHL will do wonders for him.
Blidh: I love this guy. He just doesn't stop motoring and his shot isn't half bad. If there wasn't a numbers game I would pick this guy to be the 4th line LW in Boston this season. Especially if the Bruins play this newer system.
Kuraly: See above. He is everything you would want in a 4th line Center in todays NHL. He would be my darkhorse pick to win that job. If they didn't sign Moore I think the job would be his.
Hickman: He made some nice hits but he really lumbers along when he skates.
Gabrielle: I like this guy, but I still take Blidh and what he brings to the table over Jesse. He really ticked a few players off in the New Jersey game but they wouldn't do anything about it so he kept chirping them all game long. Against Buffalo he was good too and scored a decent goal off a nice feed. He doesn't have Blidh's skating but is entertaining to watch if you pay close enough attention.
Cehlarik: I've seen this guy play a few times in International play, including a few times last year at the WJC. He wasn't the oldest prospect out there but he did play like a man vs. boys. You can see the experience in his game developing in Europe. I remember hearing comparisons to David Krejci after he was drafted and the last 2 days was the first time I saw it. The previous viewings I didn't see it but now I see how cerebral Cehlarik is and it is very Krejci like. He doesn't appear to be a real threat and then he scores or makes a play for an easy assist. I am very interested to see what he does at training camp. He will be a guy to keep an eye on in Providence this year.
Hargrove: He was credited for a goal in the New Jersey game but I am 99.99% sure that Cehlarik was the one who actually scored. I was sitting next to a scout and he asked me who I thought scored as he didn't agree with the announcer either. Decent enough 3rd line AHL player, anything more would be a surprise.
Nacelrio: Didn't show me anything to merit remaining with the organization.
Rymsha: I thought he showed some promise. I like his game and I think he's worth keeping tabs on.
Stransky: I talked to this kid at the New Jersey game, he was sitting with Arnesson. Very polite and great with kids. Seems very positive and genuine and tonight against the Sabres he showed some skills. I am not sure if it was enough to warrant anything, but I was somewhat impressed with what he did.
Atkinson: I thought he had a decent tournament and didn't look out of place on the blueline as the 6th man.
Carlo: 2015 will be a very good draft for the Bruins and he is one of the reasons why. Lot's of promise with this kid and will benefit by getting decent minutes in Providence.
Zboril: He's not developing at the pace of Carlo, but he is still clearly developing as a player. He had a good tournament and moved the puck well. He also made some nice passes and played physical when he needed too. Patience with this guy, the tools are present.
O'Gara: I like this guy and think he could be a less physical but a better skating version of McQuaid in the future. He could be a 4th Defenseman possibly, but a #5 or a #6 are in the cards.
Lauzon: Another 2015 guy that I really like. He too seems to be developing faster than Zboril, but not at the pace of Carlo either. He should be a guy to compete for a spot in the future.
Webster: Pretty good size and will mix it up with the Forwards. I don't think his game gave him enough merit to continue on though.
Grzelcyk: I thought he played ok in the New Jersey game. I was expecting more like I was with Heinen, but overall he worked the new system very well and will benefit by developing his game in the AHL. I like his wheels!
Commisso: I like his jam, but I think he is behind in his conditioning to the other prospects. As the game went on he was behind in the play getting back.
Mistele: I like his size and I think he skates better than Hickman and Hargrove. I don't understand why LA didn't sign him as a depth prospect which leaves me wondering what the B's think of him?
White: Didn't do much when he played or showed enough promise vs. the other invites.
Arnesson: I had a nice long chat with him. He made a comment to me in the lobby as we got into the elevator and he followed me over to my seats. Nice kid and I made a comment that he looked "bigger" than last year, and when I said that his eyes lit up. He is clearly stronger and has matured from last year. Very friendly guy and is really hoping to make the most of his opportunity to play as a Bruin one day. As for the injury, there was nothing noticeable to the eye. Could be a bad bruise or something like that. Knowing his style of play from watching him last year he too would excel in this higher octane skating system.
McIntyre: He didn't have much work to do for most of the game but when he needed to make key saves he didn't. His SV% wasn't very good and to me he didn't look like he developed that much from what I saw of him last year at the tournament. I thought he showed more promise last year actually.
Darth Vlader: Still quite a raw goalie, but how can you not love his size. When he moves laterally across the crease his pads are wide open. That is something he will have to work on over the next few years in College. I thought he looked better than last year, but late in the game against Buffalo he started to collapse a little. He took a puck off the cage and then after that is when the slide in his game showed.
Overall I was quite impressed. The Defense for the future is a definite strength on the depth chart. Lot's of pieces competing for jobs in the future. It will be fun to watch and see which of these guys get the open jobs in the end. It should be a fun year if you are a Providence Bruins fan. The D is young but entertaining to watch.
Top 5 guys who should be the biggest threats right now to win a job....
1. Carlo
2. Kuraly
3. Blidh
4. Cehlarik
5. O'Gara
Oh well hope he can turn his career around. That's it for me and Koko updates. Time to move on.
