**NOTE** Not to single anyone out; my response is directed to multiple posts involving all of the above prospects***
Kills the buzz for what and what is this love affair with Barzal and Connor? How can so many people be on ONE side of the ledger or the other when NONE of these guys have even played a PRO game yet. The last time I checked the Bruins selected Zboril, Debrusk, and Senyshyn. There are reasons for each selection. I would be more than happy to address why if anyone would like. I had Connor in the mix too. However, I didn't see him play, never met with the young man personally (or see him up close; body type, leg girth, overall frame) or had the privilege of scouting him (I have though for the Bruins propsects and done film study). There were 14 other decisions made NOT to select him (or Barzal) at the Draft higher up by the rest of the NHL. There are reasons for this. His skill set and speed are fantastic from what I have seen on film. There is more to it than that though.
As for Barzal, I just never included him as a player to be targeted. Another smallish center who's main talent other than speed is distributing the puck. Injury prone, pass first, center. I think the Bruins wanted and needed some "puck in net", prime finishers, who can finish off plays and take pucks to the net. With Bergy, Krejci, Spooner, Czarnik, JFK (eventually) they have more than enough of that in my opinion.
Back to the BUZZ kill: how's this for stats
Barzal in the Finals: O Goals 7 Assists (5 on PP) -7 in 5 Games. My point is you have to look at things in a multi-directional manner. The whole scouting process is trying to determine and project who will be able to translate their skills at the PRO level and contribute in a consistent manner and help the team win. An immensely difficult task but how can we even attempt to judge at this point. In a few particular games I watched, DeBrusk showed me his skills in a variety of ways;
1) He blasted by a backchecker to join a rush and finished off a 2 on 1 (btw, he is a very good skater and moves laterally well too).
2) Worked the puck along the wall, took a hit, came out of the corner and set up a play
3) Got on his horse and backchecked to the slot and saved a goal
4) Made a slick play in O zone and then finished it off with a one timer goal from the high slot
So, a player who continues to improve and play a complete game while providing a high skill set and finish who is highly dangerous down low. Also, if I include stats (goals in this case and he did score 42 last season) it is to further my belief. That is, if a player you project to be a goal scorer scores goals at the highest level before being drafted to the NHL, you are investing in that player to make that particular ability translate at the next level. A prospect doesn't all of a sudden lose the ability of a goal scorer if he is in fact a goal scorer. He has that ability. Now, many times the player won't produce at the same clip in the NHL as he did in Junior but that's all the scouts have to go on along with a myriad of other characteristics in order to make that projection.
Look at Dougie Hamilton. 5 years into his NHL career and he still makes the same mistakes. He also doesn't have Z to clean up his messes. Even when Calgary lost Wideman and Russell, he still wasn't a top pairing D. He doesn't defend well, isn't physical, and didn't take pride in the Defensive aspects of the game. Just not in his DNA. Kind of a RED FLAG when you consider he's a DEFENCEMAN plus he wanted out!!! For him, Bruins got; (Senyshyn, JFK, Lauzon). Players with talent, ability, and character. Watch Lauzon play 30 min a night and skate, and hit, and defend well, while QB'ing a PP night after night.
Anyways, we shall see. Another huge and significant summer for DS and all Bruins prospects. Let's enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the Memorial Cup

Cheers