He has really impressed me so far this year. Although he hasn’t scored yet he has 11 assists through 9 games.
RD Hunter Brzustewicz - Kitchener Rangers, WHL (2023, 75th, VAN; traded to CAL)
- Thread starter Pavel Buchnevich
- Start date
The move to Kitchener has paid immediate dividends. He's running the first powerplay unit in Kitchener and involved in all aspects of the game. I'd suggest he'll end up a late 1st or early 2nd round pick at this point.
I am a Habs fan but I can see the Habs selecting him. They have Florida’s 1st round pick and I suspect that it will be in the 20-32 range. Mesar who was Montreal’s 1st round pick last year plays in Kitchener. I’m sure that Habs scouts will get many views of Brzustewicz this year. Plus he is a RD and that is Montreal’s biggest need.
Czechboy
Češi do toho!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 27,936
- 25,161
I was looking up Hamara and saw he was doing fine but the 2nd leading Dman on the team.. saw this name and assumed 'overager' and then clicked. This kid's awesome!
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
There's no place like Plrtz Glrb. 
-----
any of the letters silent?
i mean if B and R are silent, its easy to say
Otherwise you have to become a human-bee hybrid
-----
any of the letters silent?
i mean if B and R are silent, its easy to say
Otherwise you have to become a human-bee hybrid
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Coaches Coroner
Member
- Mar 12, 2009
- 7,514
- 7,783
This is correct.
The Rangers had a terrible start but he was the lone positive for a while. Just extremely solid at both ends of the ice, great defensive sitck and positioning. Handles the puck well, very good passer. Pretty good at getting shots through traffic. Seems to have "intangibles" that teams love in addition to the rest. Not the flashiest guy so far but he doesn't need to be in order to be very effective.
Tim Wallach
Registered User
I knew his skating was elite, but his vision and puck movement are terrific. He even has a sneaky, accurate shot when he chooses to use it. The next step will be trusting it more. He doesn't need a boomer to produce offence with the way he can find lanes and get it on net.
He skates his way to open ice to give himself a much higher probability of success. The escapability is pro level for sure. But it's the subtle plays he makes without hesitation that impress me. Unlike Schmidt (TB 2nd round) who hesitates and gets himself in trouble looking for the perfect play, Hunter understands that sometimes the easiest play is the best one. He's a very good one.
He skates his way to open ice to give himself a much higher probability of success. The escapability is pro level for sure. But it's the subtle plays he makes without hesitation that impress me. Unlike Schmidt (TB 2nd round) who hesitates and gets himself in trouble looking for the perfect play, Hunter understands that sometimes the easiest play is the best one. He's a very good one.
thefeebster
Registered User
Definitely the best OHL draft eligible defender that i've seen this year. Love his passing and vision. Very smart and sees lanes/plays well in advance. Very smart positioning defensively, active stick and wins his battles despite not being the biggest or most physical.
Just completed this video, taken from 5 games i've watched so far:
Just completed this video, taken from 5 games i've watched so far:
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Hey brother, I appreciate this and all your videos over the years.
flamebird
Registered User
- Jul 28, 2007
- 952
- 169
Talking to a friend after watching the same game... Had the same thoughts.
William H Bonney
Registered User
It's great to see him doing so well after an unlucky run with the NTDP. He was highly touted heading into the program but after missing basically the entire U17 season with injury, he didn't have the chance to play himself into a prominent role last season with Huston, Casey, and Chesley firmly entrenched in top roles already. He was fine last year but it was a sheltered role, so he didn't have much of a chance to show what he could do. Backing away from the Wolverines to take a prominent role in the OHL was a smart move and it's nice to see him taking advantage. It'll be interesting to see how high he can climb in the draft rankings if he keeps it up.
BlueBull
Habby Man
Thank you sooooo much for this.
I need to be able to pronounce what could be a future All-Star's last name!
MichaelFarrell
Registered User
The maturity in his game at his age is outstanding. He’s patient and confident with the puck and makes some great decisions. He doesn’t make many of your stereotypical young defenseman mistakes. It’s hard to believe this is his draft year because it’s hard to find many faults in his game.
I think he’s a safe pick to be a top 4 D in the nhl at some point.
I think he’s a safe pick to be a top 4 D in the nhl at some point.
I saw him play yesterday against Sudbury. Kitchener played terrible but he was a bright spot. I was impressed!
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 22,714
- 29,404
Coaches Coroner
Member
- Mar 12, 2009
- 7,514
- 7,783
A little bit. Most have him early to mid 2nd, but I think a team is going to get really lucky; he's been consistently good all season on a horribly inconsistent and poorly coached Kitchener Rangers team. Has to get stronger to be more effective physically at the pro level, but he's got really good positioning, good stick, uses his body to defend, good skater, great passer, good poise at the blueline. May occasionally get exposed defensively or outmuscled in corners by particularly big/strong players, but some of that is exacerbated due to a Ranger defensive system that is almost non existant.
I have been to around 10 Rangers games this year and am really impressed by Brzustewicz. I just don’t know how to project him for the next level.
His strength is that he is good at doing everything with a really high hockey IQ. He skates well, has good outlet passes, stick checks well, he is not the most physical. With his IQ and skill level he will be a NHLer for sure. I am thinking he will be a second pair defenceman who coaches will absolutely love. You can ride him for the last 10 minutes of a game when in need of a goal and to defend a lead. He is either going to be one of those all round players who will play in the top four or he will be a bottom pair defenceman who doesn’t have one standout quality that you can label them as an offensive or a defensive defenceman.
His strength is that he is good at doing everything with a really high hockey IQ. He skates well, has good outlet passes, stick checks well, he is not the most physical. With his IQ and skill level he will be a NHLer for sure. I am thinking he will be a second pair defenceman who coaches will absolutely love. You can ride him for the last 10 minutes of a game when in need of a goal and to defend a lead. He is either going to be one of those all round players who will play in the top four or he will be a bottom pair defenceman who doesn’t have one standout quality that you can label them as an offensive or a defensive defenceman.
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 22,714
- 29,404
Yeah there's absolutely a chance.
He's a RHD with top 4 upside. I have to imagine there are at least some teams in the league that will consider him in the 1st round.
He has been Rangers best D all year. The coaching in Kitchener by a lot of fans thinking is….horrible. So he is a player that probably has some more upside with the right coaching. He will be late 1st or earlier 2nd. Hopefully someone notices that there probably is room for him to improve and takes a chance on him in the 1st.
Deam78
Registered User
- Aug 16, 2017
- 2,060
- 1,501
I guess my real question is why isn't he ranked higher?
I've only seen him in full games maybe 2-3 times, but from what I've seen he's a safe prospect with a fairly high floor and some upside as a smart, poise, good puck distributor and evasive two-way top 4D. Did I only got good games and I'm missing something or is there real potential value at his projected rank?
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 22,714
- 29,404
I'm not sure. He's been good every time I've seen him too.
But a prospect getting underrated is nothing new.
