Prospect Info: Hunter Brzustewicz: 75th Overall 2023 Draft (Kitchener) - RD

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Discuss.

EDIT:

EliteProspects Profile - Hunter Brzustewicz at eliteprospects.com

Rankings:
Ranked #53 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #52 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #51 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #54 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #58 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #44 by THE HOCKEY NEWS
Ranked #52 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #66 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #61 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #41 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #82 by HPR/SHANE MALLOY
Ranked #48 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #56 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #32 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #91 by SMAHT SCOUTING

Click to read more...

 

[biturbo19]

Yeah I can understand that thinking really beyond CHL bias - despite the points I wouldn't say he's been fabulous this year. Takes a lot of risks and makes turnovers unnecessarily at times. I think he's capable of playing solid 2-way hockey but that's not been his MO this year apparently. Offensively he's smart but also not the most dynamic player. Lots of upside as an NHL prospect definitely but can understand if USA feels right now the upside is not worth the risk (again, even though he's shown he can play solid hockey, he hasn't chosen to do so many games this year).

Yeah. You can cry "CHL bias" 'til you're blue in the face, but it's not an entirely unreasonable thing for him to not really be in serious consideration. The CHL bias thing is grounded in the idea that the US like to grab people who have stuck with and played up through the NTDP and NCAA systems. That's literally what it is, and what it's for. To develop the National Team. That means they've got closer watch on those guys, as well as a lot of baked in familiarity amongst the players...who are obviously steered toward certain colleges where they have more established presence and influence on things.

The reality is...that's especially relevant when it comes to something like the offensive/powerplay defencemen they might want to take. They often prefer to fill those roles internally, with guys who have been working together for years and playing on the same powerplay, so there's less time required for getting special teams to "gel". With Brew Guy, he's not strictly part of that, as he's got others who filled that role even within his age group through the U18 team.

What they want out of most of the rest of those roles, is safe, steady defencemen and guys who are going to contribute to the PK, etc. That's not really Brzustewicz wheelhouse at this point. So not only is he outside the "familiarity" bubble of the NTDP, he's a largely redundant skillset within his age group.


The US just don't select their team in a completely open free for all the way Canada does. Really, Canada is pretty much the only country that actually does approach it that way. It's actually more the outlier to not have a substantial "home program" bias and prefer players who have come up playing particular roles with their peer group internationally.

 

[Warh1ppy]

Hunter doesn't get an invite?

Goes full Samuelson ala 2010 after the Sweden snub, destroys the CHL hits the roster and gets first year Calder nominations

Just things we wanna see happen

 

[Hodgy]

Yeah. You can cry "CHL bias" 'til you're blue in the face, but it's not an entirely unreasonable thing for him to not really be in serious consideration. The CHL bias thing is grounded in the idea that the US like to grab people who have stuck with and played up through the NTDP and NCAA systems. That's literally what it is, and what it's for. To develop the National Team. That means they've got closer watch on those guys, as well as a lot of baked in familiarity amongst the players...who are obviously steered toward certain colleges where they have more established presence and influence on things.

The reality is...that's especially relevant when it comes to something like the offensive/powerplay defencemen they might want to take. They often prefer to fill those roles internally, with guys who have been working together for years and playing on the same powerplay, so there's less time required for getting special teams to "gel". With Brew Guy, he's not strictly part of that, as he's got others who filled that role even within his age group through the U18 team.

What they want out of most of the rest of those roles, is safe, steady defencemen and guys who are going to contribute to the PK, etc. That's not really Brzustewicz wheelhouse at this point. So not only is he outside the "familiarity" bubble of the NTDP, he's a largely redundant skillset within his age group.


The US just don't select their team in a completely open free for all the way Canada does. Really, Canada is pretty much the only country that actually does approach it that way. It's actually more the outlier to not have a substantial "home program" bias and prefer players who have come up playing particular roles with their peer group internationally.

He used to be in the USNDP but left to for his draft year because he wasn’t getting the opportunity he wanted. So, if he doesn’t get an invite, the US probably just thinks, rightfully or wrongfully, he’s dominating lesser competion and isn’t good enough.

 

[biturbo19]

He used to be in the USNDP but left to for his draft year because he wasn’t getting the opportunity he wanted. So, if he doesn’t get an invite, the US probably just thinks, rightfully or wrongfully, he’s dominating lesser competion and isn’t good enough.

Yes, i'm aware. Which is what i'm saying about the fact that...even within his own age cohort in the U18 program, he wasn't the guy selected for that offensive/powerplay defenceman role. They've already got what they deem to be "better options" for that. Which makes him not just a guy who went outside of "The Program"...but a guy who was already an inferior redundant asset when putting together that team - even within just his own age group. Open it up more with the U20s and there's really just no place for him in their system.

 

[lawrence]

Dats f in b.s.

 

[Bobby9]

I don’t ever watch him. What are his short comings?

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I don’t ever watch him. What are his short comings?

He didn't invite me to his birthday party

 

[VanJack]

Kitchener is a dominant team in the OHL, with four of the top scorers in the league. And with the wide disparity of talent in the league, there are nights where they're just going to dominate.

That's why it's so hard to judge Brzustewicz, because his team has the puck all the time. But from all reports, the Canucks amateur scouting staff and player development guys work with every drafted player to communicate what they need to work on.

With Brzustewicz I suspect it would be his gap control and physicality in his own zone. But we'll get a better read during development camp next season and the Penticton Young-stars tournament.

 

[wetcoast]

I mean, Nick Leddy is going to play 1000 NHL games and has been a top-4 defender pretty much that entire time. If that's your downside here ... uh, that's pretty good.

Willander's skating absolutely pops and he's a high-IQ player. He might not be a PP1 guy in pro but even if that doesn't happen he certainly has Brodin/Lindholm sort of upside.

If we got a Nick Leddy type of player with our 3rd rounder's we wouldn't have spent so much time in the wilderness.

Madden and Lockwood both looked like great 3rd round picks the year after the draft and look how that turned out.

I really like Brzustewicz but his counting stats are going to raise unrealistic expectations IMO.

 

[F A N]

The US just don't select their team in a completely open free for all the way Canada does. Really, Canada is pretty much the only country that actually does approach it that way. It's actually more the outlier to not have a substantial "home program" bias and prefer players who have come up playing particular roles with their peer group internationally.

Well Team Canada (at all levels) have traditionally favoured players who wore Team Canada jerseys previously. Now a lot of it is just early identification of players and player development, but rarely do you see a player make the Team Canada WJC roster who wasn’t on Team Canada’s roster for the U18/U17/summit series. The exceptions probably had corresponding draft / pro hockey performance to fall back on.

 

[PavelBure10]

Apparently Brzustewics got the snub for team USA at the world junior camp.

Brutal. Leave out one of the hottest junior defenseman on the planet. Unreal. Musty got the skip too. What is team USA thinking?!

 

[LemonSauceD]

If we got a Nick Leddy type of player with our 3rd rounder's we wouldn't have spent so much time in the wilderness.

Madden and Lockwood both looked like great 3rd round picks the year after the draft and look how that turned out.

I really like Brzustewicz but his counting stats are going to raise unrealistic expectations IMO.

WADR, Madden and Lockwood both weren’t nearly as polished as Brzustewicz is.

Historically, guys who put up the numbers Brzustewicz is putting up are surefire NHL’ers. He’s currently having one of the best D+1 of his draft class that’s currently not in the NHL right now, and is certainly challenging for being one of the top defensive prospects in the NHL, currently.

The Rangers team wasn’t supposed to be this good. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them, and the plan was to trade Rehkoph, Mesar’s rights, Sop and Brzustewicz to kickstart their rebuild. By no means were they a juggernaut team and prior to this season were expected to be bottom feeders. Simply put, Rehkoph, Brzustewicz, Sop and Misaljevic have seemingly took significant strides in their development, coupled by a new coach who knows his shit and wasn’t a complete joke like their previous coach, and suddenly they’ve become one of the best teams in the OHL.

To me, that is extremely impressive. If Brzustewicz was just a passenger putting up points because the team around him had top prospects and talent, I would be much more weary. However, that’s not the case, as the Rangers really don’t have much talent or depth on their roster and an injury to Brzustewicz would likely seal the fate of their team. Rehkoph boasts a high shooting percentage, which yes, on surface level, inflates Brzustewicz point totals quite a bit, but it’s really a mitigating factor when you consider hes involved in nearly 50% of all of his teams goals.

It’s apparent watching many Kitchener games that Brzustewicz really is their teams best and most important player and it’s not even close. Any prospect that happens to be the teams most important and essential player speaks volumes as to what type of player we can expect and effectively project at the junior level.

I’ve been extremely high on Brzustewicz, and I had him going near the tail end of the 1st round. To me, while it’s still surprising he’s putting up THAT much in terms of production, I’ve always felt Brzustewicz was capable of exceeding his point totals and contribution, considering he was Kitchener’s best overall player. Nothing much has changed, they still have 90% of their main guys, but a different coach.

 

[MS]

Apparently Brzustewics got the snub for team USA at the world junior camp.

Brutal. Leave out one of the hottest junior defenseman on the planet. Unreal. Musty got the skip too. What is team USA thinking?!

Seamus Casey and Lane Hutson already fill the smallish PP QB quota for the US and both are offensively destroying a higher level than Brz is.

 

[Canucker]

Seamus Casey and Lane Hutson already fill the smallish PP QB quota for the US and both are offensively destroying a higher level than Brz is.

For the sake of argument, Casey and Hutson aren't even "smallish", they're midgets...granted, they can play, and there are only so many spots for offensively oriented defenders...but IMO, Brzustewicz should be there to fight for a spot...if he gets beat out and cut, so be it, but I think he did enough to earn a try out at the very least.

 

[PavelBure10]

For the sake of argument, Casey and Hutson aren't even "smallish", they're midgets...granted, they can play, and there are only so many spots for offensively oriented defenders...but IMO, Brzustewicz should be there to fight for a spot...if he gets beat out and cut, so be it, but I think he did enough to earn a try out at the very least.

I agree. Brzustewicz has 30 pounds on Casey, and probably 50 on Hutson. While having a few a inches in height on both aswell. Both players are tearing up the NCAA and probably would of beaten out Brzustewicz regardless, but I thought Brzustewicz atleast deserved a tryout.

 

[tyhee]

This isn't going to be a popular view.

Much as we should be pleased with the production this season from Brzustewicz, it seems to me that people are placing too much reliance on his junior scoring. It is a very good sign, but whatever reasons he lasted until the Canucks took him in the 3rd round are not necessarily answered.

I too am happy about this season's production from Brzustewicz. It is a very good sign. However, one thing we've seen frequently through the years is that scoring in junior doesn't necessarily mean that a player is a good pro or international tournament candidate.

Sometimes when someone who scores a lot is passed over those passing him over are wrong and he turns out to be a good pro. More often when someone is passed over those passing him over have seen something that is real and there is a reason for it. Remember the famous line from a gm touted as an expert scout saying "why isn't anyone taking Kole Lind?"

Remember Dane Fox, a free agent steal for the Canucks when they signed him in 2013, when he then went on to lead the OHL in goals for the season, who followed that up playing three seasons in the ECHL, not good enough for a cup of coffee in the NHL and only 3 games in the AHL before he went to Europe?

I took a random WHL season, long enough ago to have players now in the NHL. In 2017-2018 the leading defenceman in scoring was David Quenneville, who had 80 points in 70 games that season and went on to play 31 AHL regular season games in between stints in the ECHL before heading to Europe with no NHL games. The top four scorers in the league that season were Jayden Halbgewachs (24 NHL games, now in Europe), Glenn Gawdin (who has had several tries in the NHL but mostly played in the AHL, where he has been exclusively this season), Aleksi Heponiemi (who has been an AHL player who got into 25 NHL games and is now playing in Europe,) Brayden Burke (who was an AHL part timer for 5 seasons before heading to Europe), Matthew Phillips (mostly AHL but this season playing in the NHL for the Capitals with 4 points in 16 games played) and Tyler Steenbergen (3 part time seasons in the AHL before he too went to Europe.)

We should be delighted that Brzustewicz is having a good season. Much as we can take the scoring as a sign of hope that he will become a good pro, we should not make the mistake of expecting that because he is a very good WHL scorer he will necessarily make a good NHL player nor even necessarily a good international junior best on best tournament player.

I'm not down on him at all. I'm just seeing what seems to me to be the sort of unrealistic expectations about the likelihood of pro success we saw about Dane Fox, Jordan Subban, Cole Cassels (touted on these boards as our McDavid defender) and others.

 

[Breakers]

Eiserman is more shocking than Brzustewicz

 

[Jerry the great]

This isn't going to be a popular view.

Much as we should be pleased with the production this season from Brzustewicz, it seems to me that people are placing too much reliance on his junior scoring. It is a very good sign, but whatever reasons he lasted until the Canucks took him in the 3rd round are not necessarily answered.

I too am happy about this season's production from Brzustewicz. It is a very good sign. However, one thing we've seen frequently through the years is that scoring in junior doesn't necessarily mean that a player is a good pro or international tournament candidate.

Sometimes when someone who scores a lot is passed over those passing him over are wrong and he turns out to be a good pro. More often when someone is passed over those passing him over have seen something that is real and there is a reason for it. Remember the famous line from a gm touted as an expert scout saying "why isn't anyone taking Kole Lind?"

Remember Dane Fox, a free agent steal for the Canucks when they signed him in 2013, when he then went on to lead the OHL in goals for the season, who followed that up playing three seasons in the ECHL, not good enough for a cup of coffee in the NHL and only 3 games in the AHL before he went to Europe?

I took a random WHL season, long enough ago to have players now in the NHL. In 2017-2018 the leading defenceman in scoring was David Quenneville, who had 80 points in 70 games that season and went on to play 31 AHL regular season games in between stints in the ECHL before heading to Europe with no NHL games. The top four scorers in the league that season were Jayden Halbgewachs (24 NHL games, now in Europe), Glenn Gawdin (who has had several tries in the NHL but mostly played in the AHL, where he has been exclusively this season), Aleksi Heponiemi (who has been an AHL player who got into 25 NHL games and is now playing in Europe,) Brayden Burke (who was an AHL part timer for 5 seasons before heading to Europe), Matthew Phillips (mostly AHL but this season playing in the NHL for the Capitals with 4 points in 16 games played) and Tyler Steenbergen (3 part time seasons in the AHL before he too went to Europe.)

We should be delighted that Brzustewicz is having a good season. Much as we can take the scoring as a sign of hope that he will become a good pro, we should not make the mistake of expecting that because he is a very good WHL scorer he will necessarily make a good NHL player nor even necessarily a good international junior best on best tournament player.

I'm not down on him at all. I'm just seeing what seems to me to be the sort of unrealistic expectations about the likelihood of pro success we saw about Dane Fox, Jordan Subban, Cole Cassels (touted on these boards as our McDavid defender) and others.

Dane Fox (sloth like quickness) was an overager playing on McDavid's wing......comparing his situation to Brzustewicz's doesn't make any sense IMO.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Dane Fox (sloth like quickness) was an overager playing on McDavid's wing......comparing his situation to Brzustewicz's doesn't make any sense IMO.

Agreed. Plus some of the questions that led to him going in the third round have been answered. He’s elite offensively.
Questions still remain about his defensive play but his standing in the draft would have risen if the teams knew he was going to have an offensive season like this.

 

[tyhee]

Dane Fox (sloth like quickness) was an overager playing on McDavid's wing......comparing his situation to Brzustewicz's doesn't make any sense IMO.

If you think I was suggesting that Dane Fox and Hunter Brzustewicz have been equivalent prospects, you've entirely missed the point.

 

[IComeInPeace]

This isn't going to be a popular view.

Much as we should be pleased with the production this season from Brzustewicz, it seems to me that people are placing too much reliance on his junior scoring. It is a very good sign, but whatever reasons he lasted until the Canucks took him in the 3rd round are not necessarily answered.

I too am happy about this season's production from Brzustewicz. It is a very good sign. However, one thing we've seen frequently through the years is that scoring in junior doesn't necessarily mean that a player is a good pro or international tournament candidate.

Sometimes when someone who scores a lot is passed over those passing him over are wrong and he turns out to be a good pro. More often when someone is passed over those passing him over have seen something that is real and there is a reason for it. Remember the famous line from a gm touted as an expert scout saying "why isn't anyone taking Kole Lind?"

Remember Dane Fox, a free agent steal for the Canucks when they signed him in 2013, when he then went on to lead the OHL in goals for the season, who followed that up playing three seasons in the ECHL, not good enough for a cup of coffee in the NHL and only 3 games in the AHL before he went to Europe?

I took a random WHL season, long enough ago to have players now in the NHL. In 2017-2018 the leading defenceman in scoring was David Quenneville, who had 80 points in 70 games that season and went on to play 31 AHL regular season games in between stints in the ECHL before heading to Europe with no NHL games. The top four scorers in the league that season were Jayden Halbgewachs (24 NHL games, now in Europe), Glenn Gawdin (who has had several tries in the NHL but mostly played in the AHL, where he has been exclusively this season), Aleksi Heponiemi (who has been an AHL player who got into 25 NHL games and is now playing in Europe,) Brayden Burke (who was an AHL part timer for 5 seasons before heading to Europe), Matthew Phillips (mostly AHL but this season playing in the NHL for the Capitals with 4 points in 16 games played) and Tyler Steenbergen (3 part time seasons in the AHL before he too went to Europe.)

We should be delighted that Brzustewicz is having a good season. Much as we can take the scoring as a sign of hope that he will become a good pro, we should not make the mistake of expecting that because he is a very good WHL scorer he will necessarily make a good NHL player nor even necessarily a good international junior best on best tournament player.

I'm not down on him at all. I'm just seeing what seems to me to be the sort of unrealistic expectations about the likelihood of pro success we saw about Dane Fox, Jordan Subban, Cole Cassels (touted on these boards as our McDavid defender) and others.

Yep.

How much improvement has he shown in the areas where he was seen as needing to improve heading into the draft?

I have no idea.

46 points in 28 games looks great. But it won’t be what gets him to the NHL, or keeps him out of it.

Still, I’d say from a purely draft perspective he’s a guy we’ve hit on. The rest will be up to Hunter himself, and our development team.

 

[F A N]

This isn't going to be a popular view.

Much as we should be pleased with the production this season from Brzustewicz, it seems to me that people are placing too much reliance on his junior scoring. It is a very good sign, but whatever reasons he lasted until the Canucks took him in the 3rd round are not necessarily answered.

I too am happy about this season's production from Brzustewicz. It is a very good sign. However, one thing we've seen frequently through the years is that scoring in junior doesn't necessarily mean that a player is a good pro or international tournament candidate.

Sometimes when someone who scores a lot is passed over those passing him over are wrong and he turns out to be a good pro. More often when someone is passed over those passing him over have seen something that is real and there is a reason for it. Remember the famous line from a gm touted as an expert scout saying "why isn't anyone taking Kole Lind?"

Remember Dane Fox, a free agent steal for the Canucks when they signed him in 2013, when he then went on to lead the OHL in goals for the season, who followed that up playing three seasons in the ECHL, not good enough for a cup of coffee in the NHL and only 3 games in the AHL before he went to Europe?

I took a random WHL season, long enough ago to have players now in the NHL. In 2017-2018 the leading defenceman in scoring was David Quenneville, who had 80 points in 70 games that season and went on to play 31 AHL regular season games in between stints in the ECHL before heading to Europe with no NHL games. The top four scorers in the league that season were Jayden Halbgewachs (24 NHL games, now in Europe), Glenn Gawdin (who has had several tries in the NHL but mostly played in the AHL, where he has been exclusively this season), Aleksi Heponiemi (who has been an AHL player who got into 25 NHL games and is now playing in Europe,) Brayden Burke (who was an AHL part timer for 5 seasons before heading to Europe), Matthew Phillips (mostly AHL but this season playing in the NHL for the Capitals with 4 points in 16 games played) and Tyler Steenbergen (3 part time seasons in the AHL before he too went to Europe.)

We should be delighted that Brzustewicz is having a good season. Much as we can take the scoring as a sign of hope that he will become a good pro, we should not make the mistake of expecting that because he is a very good WHL scorer he will necessarily make a good NHL player nor even necessarily a good international junior best on best tournament player.

I'm not down on him at all. I'm just seeing what seems to me to be the sort of unrealistic expectations about the likelihood of pro success we saw about Dane Fox, Jordan Subban, Cole Cassels (touted on these boards as our McDavid defender) and others.

Good post (except for calling him a WHL scorer). But since you mentioned Kole Lind, it’s an unusual draft. It’s not a historically deep draft like 2003 and I am not sure when Benning asked why isn’t anyone starting Kole Lind but somehow all but like two players drafted ahead of Lind from 15th overall pick are in the NHL while the 2nd round isn’t anything special. That’s highly unusual at this stage.

One thing about Brew compared to other Canucks prospects you mentioned is that he is putting up a big season in his draft +1 year at age 19. Subban never achieved that and he’s a lot smaller. At the end of the day prospects need to keep developing. A good example is Rathbone. By the time he turned pro he looked legit.

 

[Siludin]

This isn't going to be a popular view.

Much as we should be pleased with the production this season from Brzustewicz, it seems to me that people are placing too much reliance on his junior scoring. It is a very good sign, but whatever reasons he lasted until the Canucks took him in the 3rd round are not necessarily answered.

I too am happy about this season's production from Brzustewicz. It is a very good sign. However, one thing we've seen frequently through the years is that scoring in junior doesn't necessarily mean that a player is a good pro or international tournament candidate.

Sometimes when someone who scores a lot is passed over those passing him over are wrong and he turns out to be a good pro. More often when someone is passed over those passing him over have seen something that is real and there is a reason for it. Remember the famous line from a gm touted as an expert scout saying "why isn't anyone taking Kole Lind?"

Remember Dane Fox, a free agent steal for the Canucks when they signed him in 2013, when he then went on to lead the OHL in goals for the season, who followed that up playing three seasons in the ECHL, not good enough for a cup of coffee in the NHL and only 3 games in the AHL before he went to Europe?

I took a random WHL season, long enough ago to have players now in the NHL. In 2017-2018 the leading defenceman in scoring was David Quenneville, who had 80 points in 70 games that season and went on to play 31 AHL regular season games in between stints in the ECHL before heading to Europe with no NHL games. The top four scorers in the league that season were Jayden Halbgewachs (24 NHL games, now in Europe), Glenn Gawdin (who has had several tries in the NHL but mostly played in the AHL, where he has been exclusively this season), Aleksi Heponiemi (who has been an AHL player who got into 25 NHL games and is now playing in Europe,) Brayden Burke (who was an AHL part timer for 5 seasons before heading to Europe), Matthew Phillips (mostly AHL but this season playing in the NHL for the Capitals with 4 points in 16 games played) and Tyler Steenbergen (3 part time seasons in the AHL before he too went to Europe.)

We should be delighted that Brzustewicz is having a good season. Much as we can take the scoring as a sign of hope that he will become a good pro, we should not make the mistake of expecting that because he is a very good WHL scorer he will necessarily make a good NHL player nor even necessarily a good international junior best on best tournament player.

I'm not down on him at all. I'm just seeing what seems to me to be the sort of unrealistic expectations about the likelihood of pro success we saw about Dane Fox, Jordan Subban, Cole Cassels (touted on these boards as our McDavid defender) and others.

You named so many players who were in their 20/21yo seasons when they started to break out, or who were clearly undersized.
I'm not saying you aren't correct, but there must be some better examples out there?
Thinking guys like Ryan Merkley, Bode Wilde.

 

[Ernie]

Lots of mention of Brzustewicz's shortcomings on the defensive side. Anyone care to go into a bit more detail?

​

 

[theguardianII]

Lots of mention of Brzustewicz's shortcomings on the defensive side. Anyone care to go into a bit more detail?

​

He is not 6'6"?