Prospect Info: John Beecher signs ELC - 925K AAV

[BruinsFanSince94]

Is Beecher more like Zach smith, evgeny kuznetsov or Valeri nischuskin?

What an odd group of players. He's more like John Beecher.

 

[Montecristo]

What an odd group of players. He's more like John Beecher.

All of those players I listed are big and fast but have bad hands with the exception of evgeny. So do we think he’ll develop hands and vision and be a top 6 guy. Or not and be a bottom 6 guy That’s how he looks to me in highlights

 

[BruinsBtn]

It's interesting to give a second read of what the different scouting reports had to say about John Beecher now that the draft is over and he is on the Bruins. Great size and balance, hard to move from the front of the net, knows how to use his body to win puck battles on the boards and corners, and dynamic passing vision. Now where have I heard this said about a Bruins center drafted in the first round before...

Yes I know it's silly to compare Beecher to Joe Thornton. Especially when Thornton was a number one overall pick and is going to be a first ballot HoF while Beecher just got drafted and won't see a shift in the NHL for at least a year, possibly two while developing at the University of Michigan. I just found it interesting that its been over two decades since the Bruins drafted Thornton and they end up drafting a center that is virtually identical in terms of size and play style to him in at #30 in the first round. I just hope Beecher lives up to what he is projected to be and doesn't end up being another first round bust like Zach Hamill.

Eh? Joe Thornton was 2nd in the OHL in scoring (behind a 20 year old Marc Savage) and was still 17 when he was drafted. His vision was all world. Beecher's vision the weakest part of the package.

 

[The don godfather]

His beecher highest ceiling a ryan Kessler? If he becomes that we hit a grand slam.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

All of those players I listed are big and fast but have bad hands with the exception of evgeny. So do we think he’ll develop hands and vision and be a top 6 guy. Or not and be a bottom 6 guy That’s how he looks to me in highlights

He'll develop soft mitts and be the next great 6'3" 225 lbs power center.

 

[Lobster57]

Eh? Joe Thornton was 2nd in the OHL in scoring (behind a 20 year old Marc Savage) and was still 17 when he was drafted. His vision was all world. Beecher's vision the weakest part of the package.

And if you had to summarize 18 year old Jumbo Joe's skill set with one word it would definitely be "speed"

 

[rocketdan9]

But why not someone with a ceiling above the third line?

Basically drafted another Sean Kuraly type

And we all saw the impact Kuraly made in the playoffs

Having a big good skating defensive reliable center (at min) and pairing with talented wingers looks like a good formula

 

[rocketdan9]

I think Beecher is more Coyle than Backes ( in terms of power forward-ness ) but we will see. Good prospect for us.

Naw. More Kuraly than Coyle. Though stylistically looks more like Coyle

Coyle has underrated puck handling, passing, scoring skills

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Naw. More Kuraly than Coyle. Though stylistically looks more like Coyle

Coyle has underrated puck handling, passing, scoring skills

What? More like kuraly but stylistically more like Coyle? Lol

Why does he have to be like a certain player? I've never understood the comparison fascination. Let him be John Beecher.

 

[Chief Nine]

 

[PacificNWBruin]

Looks like he has more skill then stats show. I don’t see another Kuraly.

 

[bearcountry17]

Looks like he has more skill then stats show. I don’t see another Kuraly.

Even just statistically,

Kuraly at 17, 6'1 192lbs

8-21-29p 45PIM in 51 games in USHL. 8th on his team behind guys like Blake Coleman(3rd Round) and Brian Ferlin(4th round pick)

Beecher at 17, 6'3 209lbs

15-28-43p 88PIM in 63 games for the US national u-18 team(9th on his team behind 6 top 15 picks from this draft)
6-14-20p 64PIM in 27 games for the USNTDP which plays against the USHL.

Beecher ,even at 16yo, had 9-16 25p in 34 games for the USNTDP



If Beecher can become a more skilled, bigger, and meaner version of Sean Kuraly sign me up.

 

[EvilDead]

Eh? Joe Thornton was 2nd in the OHL in scoring (behind a 20 year old Marc Savage) and was still 17 when he was drafted. His vision was all world. Beecher's vision the weakest part of the package.

Like I said, I know the comparison isn't the best. Joe Thornton was a standout talent in the OHL at the young age of 17, Beecher at 18 was good center behind arguably three elite players in Hughes, Turcotte, and Zegras when playing for the USNTDP as well as that Thornton and Beecher rely on different strengths in their game as you just alluded to. I just found the things said about Beecher to be eerily familiar.

 

[Montecristo]

Like I said, I know the comparison isn't the best. Joe Thornton was a standout talent in the OHL at the young age of 17, Beecher at 18 was good center behind arguably three elite players in Hughes, Turcotte, and Zegras when playing for the USNTDP as well as that Thornton and Beecher rely on different strengths in their game as you just alluded to. I just found the things said about Beecher to be eerily familiar.

Thornton wouldn’t have been buried behind Hughes turcotte and Zegras. He would have been the one burying them

 

[crimsonace]

Even just statistically,

Kuraly at 17, 6'1 192lbs

8-21-29p 45PIM in 51 games in USHL. 8th on his team behind guys like Blake Coleman(3rd Round) and Brian Ferlin(4th round pick)

Coleman was the USHL & USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year that year and has had a decent career with the Devils so far. Ferlin would've been an NHL regular if not for injuries. He looked *really* good in his brief stint with the Bruins and I thought he was likely not long for the AHL. Kuraly was a depth player in his 17 year-old year who wasn't skating top-line minutes in Indy. He was being rated by the CSB and the Sharks took him in the fifth round. If that draft were being held today, he would probably have been a first or second-round pick. He's had a better NHL career than about 10 players who were picked in that first round.

The next year, Kuraly was the top-line center in Indy and had 70 points, and then made the WJC roster the following season. Kuraly's linemate Daniil Tarasov (who had a cup of coffee with the Sharks and later went to the KHL) seemed like the guy with the *really* high upside and offensive skill set on that team and had 88 points, but he never stuck in the NHL and is now playing for Dynamo Moscow.

 

[UncleRico]

All of those players I listed are big and fast but have bad hands with the exception of evgeny. So do we think he’ll develop hands and vision and be a top 6 guy. Or not and be a bottom 6 guy That’s how he looks to me in highlights

He’s closer to Sean Kuraly than anyone you listed

 

[Montecristo]

He’s closer to Sean Kuraly than anyone you listed

If his skill set best compares to Sean kuraly then I think it’s a bad pick. Kuraly is fantastic for Boston in the bottom 6 but most of what kuraly does well cant be quantified. He elevates his game in the playoffs and kuralys best skill is the fact that he’s a gamer. If someone has kuralys skill set but not his clutch gene all you’re drafting in the 1st round is a 25-30 point player

 

[LouJersey]

If his skill set best compares to Sean kuraly then I think it’s a bad pick. Kuraly is fantastic for Boston in the bottom 6 but most of what kuraly does well cant be quantified. He elevates his game in the playoffs and kuralys best skill is the fact that he’s a gamer. If someone has kuralys skill set but not his clutch gene all you’re drafting in the 1st round is a 25-30 point player

Agreed would love to get another Kuraly, but in round 4, not round 1.

Sounds like everyone expects him to be more than that though.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

What? More like kuraly but stylistically more like Coyle? Lol

Why does he have to be like a certain player? I've never understood the comparison fascination. Let him be John Beecher.

He doesn't have to be like a certain player, but hearing comparisons always helps for those that don't get to see the player often.

 

[EON]

This pick makes me a bit nervous, seems like they went too safe like the Frederic pick, but he seems to be a better skater. Studnicka seems promising and extending Coyle would be great, so maybe he can turn into at least a 3C, maybe a 2C, and they can have Studnicka/Coyle/Beecher down the middle when Bergeron/Krejci eventually retire.

 

[b in vancouver]

At 30th overall you're just hoping you get a guy whom can be a decent/borderline NHLer for a few seasons. Anything more is gravy as most guys don't more than a cup of coffee.
The one thing that I've noticed over the past few drafts is that they've seemed to put as much emphasis on attitude and coachability, and guys whom play an NHL-style game, as overall skill and without knowing him as well as a lot of you he seems to fit that profile. They trust their coaches and development to get the most out of these players and so far it's worked out really well. - That's actually why I'm kinda surprised Senyshyn and Zboril haven't taken that next step as they both seem to fit that mould.

 

[Montecristo]

At 30th overall you're just hoping you get a guy whom can be a decent/borderline NHLer for a few seasons. Anything more is gravy as most guys don't more than a cup of coffee.
The one thing that I've noticed over the past few drafts is that they've seemed to put as much emphasis on attitude and coachability, and guys whom play an NHL-style game, as overall skill and without knowing him as well as a lot of you he seems to fit that profile. They trust their coaches and development to get the most out of these players and so far it's worked out really well. - That's actually why I'm kinda surprised Senyshyn and Zboril haven't taken that next step as they both seem to fit that mould.

I think they put an emphasis on drafting players who were on teams with a lot of talent and were hindered in terms of their ice time because of it. Senyshyn was on a deep veteran laden team and played on the 3rd/4th line. Bruins thought there was more to his game than the stats would imply based on a lack of ice time. Frederic was behind Matthews and Keller and Logan brown internationally. Beecher was behind hughes turcotte and Zegras. They think that had beecher or Frederic or Senyshyn been on a lesser team that gave them big time minutes that they would be drafted higher. They think there is value in that. I do too. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to look for diamonds in the rough in the first round. I like the attributes Beecher has. I’m not saying he can’t be a good middle 6 center. I just think you don’t need to look for a diamond in the rough when you’re in the first round. Just take a more obvious diamond as opposed to trying to be smarter than everyone

 

[The don godfather]

If beecher doesn't pan out we can try to get a solid center free agent.

 

[b in vancouver]

I think they put an emphasis on drafting players who were on teams with a lot of talent and were hindered in terms of their ice time because of it. Senyshyn was on a deep veteran laden team and played on the 3rd/4th line. Bruins thought there was more to his game than the stats would imply based on a lack of ice time. Frederic was behind Matthews and Keller and Logan brown internationally. Beecher was behind hughes turcotte and Zegras. They think that had beecher or Frederic or Senyshyn been on a lesser team that gave them big time minutes that they would be drafted higher. They think there is value in that. I do too. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to look for diamonds in the rough in the first round. I like the attributes Beecher has. I’m not saying he can’t be a good middle 6 center. I just think you don’t need to look for a diamond in the rough when you’re in the first round. Just take a more obvious diamond as opposed to trying to be smarter than everyone

I see that part also and don't really disagree with that view, however when you're consistently a good team like The Bruins have been and drafting later you have to trust that your guys are the smartest ones in the room and find those guys that were over-looked for whichever reason. It recently netted them Pastrnak and McAvoy. It's a tough line to walk as if you just go for the stable pick you'll simply lose ground to the teams drafting much higher - but the only diamond in the rough style pick that was recently drafted guy that hasn't panned out so far is Senyshyn.

When I'm talking about the same kinda style though, attitude - it's kinda hard for me to word properly. Like Carlo and DeBrusk are sort of the poster children for what I'm referring to. Styles are different but they both buy in, play there roles, work hard and you can see them wearing an A one day. I didn't know as much about Carlo before he was drafted but really liked DeBrusk in juniors as he would do anything that was asked of him and played an NHL styled game. They aren't trying to hunt down guys like Hamilton, Colborne, Spooner or Kokolachev, Lashoff or Button anymore - meaning guys whom had the talent but never really bought in. They seem to be more focused on better versions of guys like Knight, Kalus, Caron. - if any of that makes sense.

I really liked Hamill in Everett also and was happy The Bruins picked him. He was really good, incredibly hard-working and saw the ice beautifully. Always surprised he never panned out - but heard there were a few mental health issues that kind of derailed things also. I actually think their experience with Hamill and Koko made them, understandably, shy away from Barzal. - while also illustrating why I know my thoughts on it are pretty much guesses.

 

[BruinsBtn]

If beecher doesn't pan out we can try to get a solid center free agent.

I think it goes without saying that the Bruins will need to find a centre via free agency in around 3 years. The great news is that Boston is now viewed as an ideal place for a free agent to go. Barkov, Trotchek, Rickard Rakell, Couturier and Zibinejad will be a free agent in 3 years. Mackinnon, Horvat and Monohan in 4.

Imagine going from Bergeron to Barkov?