Looking ahead at development camp
Joe Colborne will literally be the organization's biggest prospect to participate in this week's development camp. (Fred Chartrand/AP) |
Tomorrow is the kickoff to the third annual Bruins development camp at Ristuccia Arena. The campers will go through off-ice workouts tomorrow, then hit the ice for the first time on Wednesday.
Here are five things to watch for this week:
1. Who will emerge as the camp's standout? Two summers ago, David Krejci was far and away the best player. Last July, Blake Wheeler performed well and carried the momentum into training camp.
2. The development curve of Zach Hamill. The No. 8 overall pick of the 2007 draft had an underwhelming first year as a pro: 13-13--26 in 65 games for Providence in 2007-08. Hamill projects to be a skilled center, but saw mostly third-line action with Providence after starting the season on the shelf following thumb surgery. Hamill is only 20, so there's still time for his game to evolve. Somewhat surprising that he's back for his third camp, but the Boston bosses probably want him to be a leader and emerge as one of the better players this week. This is an important camp and summer for Hamill, who must assert himself as a top-two center in Providence in 2009-10.
3. How Joe Colborne is growing into his body and game. Big Joe currently checks in at 6 feet 6 inches, 196 pounds. That's an inch taller than he was last summer. He is arguably the club's brightest prospect because of his size and skill. Colborne will return to the University of Denver for his sophomore season.
4. If Adam Courchaine, Matt Dalton, or Michael Hutchinson can show indications of NHL potential. The Bruins are thin between the pipes and don't have a Grade-A netminding prospect with the graduation of Tuukka Rask to the NHL. Kevin Regan would be first in line for a promotion in case of injury to Rask or Tim Thomas, which isn't the best scenario for the Bruins.
5. What kind of game Yuri Alexandrov will bring. The Russian defenseman was selected 37th overall in the 2006 draft, 13 slots ahead of Milan Lucic. The 6-foot, 185-pound Alexandrov, who turned 21 last month, played with and against men for Cherepovets in the KHL in 2008-09. The Bruins are hoping Alexandrov could give them some much-needed help on the blue line in Providence. Five of the defensemen are free agent invitees, indicating the lack of blue-line depth in the organization.
Comment
Permalink
Email
My predictions:
Colbourne will blow up the college circuit.
Hamill will be a bust (I hope not) he is to slow and to small.
Rask will be in Providence again, B's will sign a veteran backup to make sure they keep the 2nd string goalie cap hit a low rate.
The 2nd string goalie cap hit will be a low rate. Rask will count $850k against the cap, and he won't reach too many incentives because he will be a backup.
I don't how some people still can't get it through their heads that Rask is NHL ready and WILL 100% be with Boston this season.
I'm kinda hoping the Bruins have two or three breakout stars at camp that can scare the snot out of one or two vets. I have a short list of three or four players that I don't hate, but don't think are the bodies we need in those positions...
And the odds of Rask not being in Boston to start the season are something extraordinarily low. He'd either have to demand a trade or get injured in camp.
Agreed matt, Rask will be TT's backup this year. He's ready.
Joe needs to add some weight. 6' 6" 196 lbs. sounds like a small forward for the Celtics. It would be nice to see the kid reach at least 225.
Fluto - Bring the Camera with you so that we can see some highlight videos.
I would be more than happy to see big Joe sign a contract this summer. :)
So according to you Matt, Bill, and B&G Rask will be a back up for roughly 5 more years?
I don't see it. I suspect PC will let the pool of players shake out then go get a Vet. back up for a low salary.
anthony amico, what "vet back up", as you put it, is out there that will have a salary cap hit under $850k and will be a better option than Rask?? Do you think there is a cheaper/better alternative out there??? I just don't understand your position at all.......
Anthony,
Not one of us said five more years. We said this season. For one thing Rask's contract ends after this season.
Joe Colborne was hovering around 200 lbs last summer. After a year of solid weight training at the University of Denver, working with the Bruins nutritionists, and pigging out on pizza and pasta for over a year....he lost 4 lbs!!!
He should be selling diet tips on late night TV, not playing hockey. :-)
Dgg,
He may be the type that loses muscle ten minutes after he stops working out. If he is any injury that limits movement for a while is going to be a big issue, if he ever gets injured.
Rask isn't going to be a "backup" in the sense that Thomas will play practically every game. Thomas plays better when he get a reasonable amount of rest, and Tuukka will see plenty of action, and undoubtedly even more the following year as the Bruins ease him into a tandem situation.
I can't believe Colbourne actually got taller. And give him a couple years - he'll fill out. Looking forward to seeing him skate this week, and Alexandrov too.
That's great that he got bigger, as the b's centermen are undersized. Imagine a line that features Lucic, Colburne and Wheeler?
Colborne was listed at 195 last season at DU. And that was probably 10 lbs. heavy. Wiercioch (2nd round Ottawa) was listed at 185 by DU. Sens say he has gained almost 20 lbs. and is now up to 195?
Big Joe weighing 196 at 6'6" is probably more accurate than last year's 195
Letsy,
Surely you're not gonna claim that any athletes size was ever ah 'misentered', I mean seriously I have no doubts in my mind that Phil Kessel, Michael Ryder, David Krejci and Chuck Kobasew are all the same height at six feet even.
Perish the thought.
ANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Canucks added depth in the nets by signing free agent goalie Andrew Raycroft to a one-year deal on Monday worth $500,000.
Colborne said on "The Pipeline Show" at the end of last summer that he, "finally went over 200 lbs." That's a direct quote from him, so clearly he hasn't gained weight in the last year.
I bet he ate like a horse last year, hit the protein shakes and had the best nutritional advice available and he still didn't gain a pound. He'll eventually add 25-50 lbs and probably still look skinny. Look at his right wrist and forearm in the photo above, he's very thin framed right now. Just like many 18 year-olds.
Clearly he had a better Freshman year at DU than Wheeler did a couple of years ago at MN. so his upside is huge.
hahahahahahahaha.....andrew raycroft!?!? good grief....let's go get Alex Auld and Craig Billington while you're at it.....
That Raycroft comment was a joke, right?
no it wasn't that guy is probably thinking that Rask will have a cap hit of 3.2 million because he just can't seem to get it through his head that the bonus cushion is back. He will probably be the best backup in the NHL and among the cheapest
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Bruins Twitter
Waiting for Twitter...
Bruins audio and video
browse this blog
by categoryrelated links
INside Boston.com
in the area