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...

 

[M2Beezy]

It seems that we have 2 Nick Lidstrom in our system bois

But hopefully with better points stats

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Is this the first D-men in a long time that pans out for us as a later pick? Hopefully the kid keeps it up but so far so good. We need these late picks to pan out.

Rathbone also got a lot of hyped

Stilling hoping it carefully

 

[Knight53]

3 assists so far. Great play on his lastest assist. 16 points in 8 games.

Announcers are gushing about him - “noticeable and impressive every shift. He went in the 3rd round, absolute steal”

 

[Coffee]

3 assists so far. Great play on his lastest assist. 16 points in 8 games.

Announcers are gushing about him - “noticeable and impressive every shift. He went in the 3rd round, absolute steal”

Thank you for the updates

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

deleted

 

[iceburg]

Rathbone also got a lot of hyped

Stilling hoping it carefully

To be fair, Rathbone played so little and in an inferior league until he went to Harvard. Yes, he was hyped because he was such a smooth skater and had an aggressive offensive style. But the body of work just wasn’t there to make a proper assessment. I can’t imagine HB keeping this up for an entire season but, if he does, there’s plenty of reason for the hype.

 

[RobertKron]

To be fair, Rathbone played so little and in an inferior league until he went to Harvard. Yes, he was hyped because he was such a smooth skater and had an aggressive offensive style. But the body of work just wasn’t there to make a proper assessment. I can’t imagine HB keeping this up for an entire season but, if he does, there’s plenty of reason for the hype.

Folks were also pretty well justified in being exited about Rathbone coming out of college. Obviously there are always people who go way overboard, but Rathbone was a legitimate prospect who looked like he should make the show in some capacity. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but that doesn't mean he was retroactively always a bad prospect unworthy of excitement.

 

[iceburg]

Folks were also pretty well justified in being exited about Rathbone coming out of college. Obviously there are always people who go way overboard, but Rathbone was a legitimate prospect who looked like he should make the show in some capacity. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but that doesn't mean he was retroactively always a bad prospect unworthy of excitement.

Absolutely. And I was always a big Rathbone fan. Just putting some perspective in that Rathbone was D+3 when he came out of college and HB is just starting his D+1.

 

[alternate]

Does this win the most random post award or what?

As for Bunter, is the offense that big a deal? I get that dmen need a baseline of offensive production at lower levels to project them to NHL careers. But does more offense necessarily mean a better prospect?

Just curious, for those that have a better grasp on these things than I do. Not complaining or trying to be a wet blanket, just looking for a bit of context.

 

[HairyKneel]

Does this win the most random post award or what?

As for Bunter, is the offense that big a deal? I get that dmen need a baseline of offensive production at lower levels to project them to NHL careers. But does more offense necessarily mean a better prospect?

Just curious, for those that have a better grasp on these things than I do. Not complaining or trying to be a wet blanket, just looking for a bit of context.

It certainly doesn’t hurt his value unless he’s blowing a bunch of coverage in his zone or is a shifty defender. If he’s even average defensively he becomes a highly valuable asset. Think of a guy like Dunn or Montour.

 

[God]

Does this win the most random post award or what?

As for Bunter, is the offense that big a deal? I get that dmen need a baseline of offensive production at lower levels to project them to NHL careers. But does more offense necessarily mean a better prospect?

Just curious, for those that have a better grasp on these things than I do. Not complaining or trying to be a wet blanket, just looking for a bit of context.

Yeah, the baseline is definitely more important. Best example I can think of is probably Ryan Murphy, who was drafted by the Hurricanes and notably highly touted by Don Cherry on Coach's Corner. Great offensive defenseman at the lower levels but it wasn't enough to get him a regular spot in the NHL. Same with Ryan Merkley, who has fantastic offensive instincts, but just can't defend well enough to justify an NHL roster spot (amidst character issues as well) and left for the KHL recently.

On the other hand you have guys like Tony DeAngelo who are not great defensively but maintain an acceptable level of play. It really could go either way for Brzustewicz.

 

[Hit the post]

Didn't "defensive specialist" like Willie Mitchell put up some decent offensive numbers after he was drafted in junior?

 

[Diversification]

If he keeps it up for the season (big if), he's on pace to beat Ryan Ellis' points total as a 19 year old (101 points in 58 games played), which is by far the most points by an OHL defenseman since 2000. Just a blistering start.

 

[Diversification]

Yeah, the baseline is definitely more important. Best example I can think of is probably Ryan Murphy, who was drafted by the Hurricanes and notably highly touted by Don Cherry on Coach's Corner. Great offensive defenseman at the lower levels but it wasn't enough to get him a regular spot in the NHL. Same with Ryan Merkley, who has fantastic offensive instincts, but just can't defend well enough to justify an NHL roster spot (amidst character issues as well) and left for the KHL recently.

On the other hand you have guys like Tony DeAngelo who are not great defensively but maintain an acceptable level of play. It really could go either way for Brzustewicz.

Brzustewicz's scoring pace is currently exactly what Jamie Rivers (also a 3rd round pick) accomplished in the 90s. Rivers carved out a pretty decent career but was nowhere near as offensively productive as he was in juniors.

 

[Coffee]

If he keeps it up for the season (big if), he's on pace to beat Ryan Ellis' points total as a 19 year old (101 points in 58 games played), which is by far the most points by an OHL defenseman since 2000. Just a blistering start.

Cool to know but, dude , you can’t be serious

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Cool to know but, dude , you can’t be serious

I checked.

Its true!

 

[nowhereman]

Didn't "defensive specialist" like Willie Mitchell put up some decent offensive numbers after he was drafted in junior?

No, he didn't.

 

[Josepho]

in the past decade i think ive done a pretty good job at teaching myself to not overhype late round picks but this is getting ridiculous

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

Yeah, the baseline is definitely more important. Best example I can think of is probably Ryan Murphy, who was drafted by the Hurricanes and notably highly touted by Don Cherry on Coach's Corner. Great offensive defenseman at the lower levels but it wasn't enough to get him a regular spot in the NHL. Same with Ryan Merkley, who has fantastic offensive instincts, but just can't defend well enough to justify an NHL roster spot (amidst character issues as well) and left for the KHL recently.

On the other hand you have guys like Tony DeAngelo who are not great defensively but maintain an acceptable level of play. It really could go either way for Brzustewicz.

I'm surprised these guys aren't moved to forward.

Brzustewicz's scoring pace is currently exactly what Jamie Rivers (also a 3rd round pick) accomplished in the 90s. Rivers carved out a pretty decent career but was nowhere near as offensively productive as he was in juniors.

Context included. Great comp. Jamie Rivers finished 6th in scoring. Brzustewitcz sits 5th rn i do belieb

 

[Jay26]

Does this win the most random post award or what?

As for Bunter, is the offense that big a deal? I get that dmen need a baseline of offensive production at lower levels to project them to NHL careers. But does more offense necessarily mean a better prospect?

Just curious, for those that have a better grasp on these things than I do. Not complaining or trying to be a wet blanket, just looking for a bit of context.

My thoughts exactly. I'm ultimately the most interested in his defensive ability at this point. The offense is secondary.

 

[Lindgren]

No, he didn't.

Yes, he did.

1996-97	Melfort Mustangs “A”	SJHL	64	14	42	56	227	-	|	Playoffs	4	0	1	1	23	-
1997-98	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA	34	9	17	26	105	25	|
1998-99	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA	34	10	19	29	40	13

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Does this win the most random post award or what?

As for Bunter, is the offense that big a deal? I get that dmen need a baseline of offensive production at lower levels to project them to NHL careers. But does more offense necessarily mean a better prospect?

Just curious, for those that have a better grasp on these things than I do. Not complaining or trying to be a wet blanket, just looking for a bit of context.

Wrong link lol, my bad

 

[HockeyNightInAsia]

Now with hindsight, reading his story and looking back to his D-2 injury, D-1 being slotted behind other offensive Ds, and then moving over to the OHL, it does smell like a possible draft steal. So, fingers crossed!

 

[VanJack]

Does Brzustewicz have a shot at playing for the USA World Jr. Team?

Unfortunately, sometimes kids playing in the CHL get short shrift from USA Hockey, who gravitate towards players in the NCAA, USHL or the U.S. Hockey Development Program.

 

[Knight53]