Camp wrap, Day 4

Is it too early to qualify Hamill as a bust? I have read all the excuses, still young, injury, etc... . But it seems odd to me that this is his 3rd development camp and yet he still isn't head and shoulders above the 1st timers and was uncomfortable earlier in the week? Hopefully Arniel has matured off the ice and will not make poor choices, as he did post-draft, if he is playing in Providence.

I don't like to hear that Colborne doesn't like to go in the corners and pound the net. It sound like Joe Thornton syndrome to me.

//Is it too early to qualify Hamill as a bust?//

A 20-year-old bust? Are you serious?

How did David Krejci look when he was 20 years old?

Man, does hockey suffer from the "phenom" curse or what? If a kid takes time to grow and develop (not to mention recover from surgery), and isn't Sidney Crosby right off the bat, he's a "bust."

I would give Hamill at least another full year in Providence before classifying him as a bust.
Yuri Alexandrov sounds exactly like the type of player the Bruins need on D. Fluto, how far away from being NHL ready do you think he is?

fluto, does the lack of a write-up on Caron mean that he looks out of place? I know he's still young and I'm not going to write him off or put him on a pedastal after his first development camp, just wondering if he looks like a legit first round draft pick or not.

Hey Fluto, way to mail it in this week jeeze.

FWIW, I saw Caron at camp yesterday and he looked solid and very much in place. He maneuvers well on his skates, not a jaw-dropping stickhandler but not bad, and he's rugged, with a low center of gravity, and hard to knock off the puck. Hard to tell just from drills, but what little I saw, I liked.

I agree with duinne. Saw Caron and he met expectations. I agree with your analysis of the low center of gravity and ability to control the puck. I don't think Caron is a high risk pick. He's gonna be a player, we'll just have to see how how a ceiling he has.

Bostonguy, completely agree its too early to give up on Hammill. The kid is WAY too talented to give up on. I actually think he looks a lot better this summer. But THIS SEASON is a huge one for Matt IMO. I just wonder if he's a real deal scorer. I want to see him Finish --and have some doubts. He plays like Savard but he needs to put up numbers in Providence for sure.

duinne- It was a question? Not a statement. I just get the feeling by listening and reading that the B's management is not happy with his progress and have some doubts. As a first round pick 8th overall and leading scorer in juniors, he needs to be on the first line down in Providence. I think that he needs to see the inside of the weight room a little more frequently. I know his strength numbers have increased each year at these development camps, but even if you don't work out, at 18,19, 20 you are going to get stronger. His weight has remained the same and to me that is an indication that he is not putting in the necessary work of a first round draft pick. If he was training properly, he would be adding at least 5 lbs. a year of muscle.
In addition, 5 of the 7 guys picked just in front of him payed significant minutes for their NHL club already.
One thing is for sure, this is a make it or break it year for the kid.

Eric,
You seem to know it all. Why don't you get a job as an NHL scout? Maybe the Bruins front office has a space for you and your expert armchair analysis. You're making statements that he was not head and shoulders above the first timers yet you weren't even there. Maybe John Whitesides needs and assistant since you seem to know so much about strength and conditioning too. Ugh.

Caron: Looked fine. Good speed, nice touch around the net. Scored one of the two goals in the scrimmage. He'll go back to juniors in 2009-10 and develop his game. Will be a future NHLer.

Hamill: Yes, too early to call him a bust. Seems like he's a player who needs some time to adjust to each level. Needs to be an impact player in Providence in 2009-10.

thanks for the Caron observations fluto, duinne, and gardensupporter. like i said before, not forming my opinion on him after his first development camp, just curious as to how he looked.

Easy, Zach, easy. It's only chit-chat.

Fluto-
I love ya' -- you're the best. But, as an out of state B's fan that never gets to watch these things the two-sentence tidbits on 5 or 6 players is leaving me hungry for a little more. I know you can't draw much for conclusions from these practices, but really, any observations are of interest. Scoring, hits, darkhorses, personality, guesses for training camp invites, line combos...etc.
I know, I know, get a life...

Hamil, a natural talent.He needs to enter boot camp.He needs someone to bust his balls.He needs to admit to himeself and his Providence coach he has got nowhere else to go.Saw that in a movie one time.

Everyone from USA hockey down, to the state program and town programs, believe that 1/2 and 1/3 sheet drills and games are the key to returning Massachusetts hockey to where it used to be - just the opposite of what you suggest.

Massachusetts hockey has suffered because for more than a decade the emphasis was on games instead of practices and skills. No one - no one - believes full sheet ice is the solution. Small games make the players move the puck in a confined space, and allow 1 on 1, 2 on 2, and 3 on 3 drills and scrimmages that force the kids to acquire the tight skating and stick-handling skills that the Canadian and European players show up at camp with.

Now, if you're saying that ice is too expensive for the number of hours the kids should have, then you should blame the former governor who privatized the public rinks - drastically increasing the cost of an hour of ice - because he believes more in the profit motive for people who can buy rinks than in providing ice as a service to the kids in a community - you know, like the Canadian and European kids have.

Hey Medford, I love your passion for the game.Untill you bring back full lenghth ice drills the kids legs will never develop, the strenghth and the strides.They can have all the game and skills but they will never be able to skate with the big boys.Have you ever watched the cross ice sprints,2 3 4 strides and the kids coast to the boards,thats not how they should develop.Hockey is a full sheet of ice last time I checked.

Fletch, I recommend the HF boards for the sort of info you're seeking. Scroll past the rumor threads and you'll find a lot of detailed obersvations from folks who go to rookie camp, traing camp, etc. etc.