Groenewold was a player the Bruins wanted, according to director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau.
www.bostonglobe.com
After selecting forward Dean Letourneau in the first round of the NHL Draft in Las Vegas, the Bruins traded center Jakub Lauko and their fourth-round pick (No. 122) to Minnesota to move up to No. 110 and secure defenseman Elliott Groenewold.
Groenewold was a player the Bruins wanted, according to director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau.
“Groenewold had a huge jump from Bishop’s College. Quick transition to the USHL at Cedar [Rapids] and then right to Quinnipiac next year. That’s a pretty quick timeline,” Nadeau said after the draft. “Looking at [the] upward trajectory of these players, when you take all of the strides that they made in the last year or two, they’ve all sort of got a development trend that we tend to believe in.”
Now, they’re getting to work.
“It’s been a wild week, being out in Vegas with the draft, and then right after hitting Boston, it’s been a lot of emotions, but they’ve all been really positive,” Groenewold said Tuesday.
Players have completed two days of the four-day camp, which were both split sessions for forwards and defensemen, plus two goalies in each group. Wednesday, they’ll move to full-group on-ice work, with some scrimmage play Thursday.
Groenewold said he feels one of his biggest strengths is his skating, and his speed was clear Tuesday morning. The defensemen moved through different blocking and shooting drills, before working on more technical aspects of skating such as blade angles and directional changes.
“I really take pride in playing defense and working in the zone,” he said.
As Groenewold moved through drills, his focus and intelligence made the 18-year-old stand out.
Growing up in Bellows Falls, Vt., just north of Brattleboro, Groenewold has always been a Bruins fan. He tries to model his game after Hampus Lindholm, because of his physicality and effort in the defensive zone, as well as his ability to contribute on offense.
“It’s always good when you model your game after a real solid NHL player like that,” Nadeau said. “He’s got a frame, he’s got good feet. He likes to play, likes the impact, he likes to get up the ice, he can play [with an] aggressive style, and puck play is pretty good.”
After the draft, Groenewold pointed out specific aspects of his game he’s looking to improve: “I would say my puck touches, and just my hands all over the ice. I think I can [become] pretty good in that area. And I’m working on the off-ice stuff. I think I can take my game to the next level and add a little bit of an offensive touch to my game.”
Fresh off a 16-point (five goals, 11 assists) season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Groenewold is committed to play for 2023 national champion Quinnipiac, and will head to Hamden, Conn., in the fall to continue honing his skills.
Groenewold and Johansson took extra time to listen to feedback from coaches and older prospects such as Jackson Edward. Groenewold and Johansson were two of the last to leave the ice, as Groenewold took shots with Frederic Brunet, and Johansson and Ty Gallagher spoke with coaches.
“The growth our guys have seen in his game from last year to this year, [he’s] more assertive,” Nadeau said of Johansson. “Play with the puck has improved while continuing to defend hard, and all that physical growth, as well. It feels like every time we meet him, he’s taller, he’s bigger. We’re just banking on the upward trajectory here.”
Off the ice, the organization is emphasizing to prospects the importance of the city and the organization. Prospects saw some of the sights on Monday afternoon, including taking a duck boat tour.
“It’s a great opportunity for the guys to get to know us, and for us to get to know them, and mainly understand what the Bruins mean to the city and understand the history,” said Adam McQuaid, player development coordinator. “That’s, you know, a major piece of this, building that relationship [with the city].”
www.eliteprospects.com
www.hockeyjournal.com
teamusa.usahockey.com
