Category Archives: Axel Andersson

2019 offseason, Axel Andersson, Boston Bruins prospects, Dominic Tiano, Roman Bychkov, Uncategorized , , Leave a comment

Dominic Tiano: 2 Bruins Selected in CHL Import Draft

by

The Canadian Hockey League conducted it’s Import Draft today and as you scour the list to find your favorite Boston Bruins’ prospects, you’ll find two of them selected. Axel Andersson was chosen by the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the 30th overall pick while Roman Bychkov was selected by the Ontario Hockey League Champion Guelph Storm with the 98th pick – although he was the 73rd player chosen as 25 teams passed on their picks.

Andersson is a right shot defenceman who was drafted by the Bruins in the second round, 57th overall, at the 2018 National Hockey League Draft who signed his entry level contract on July 1 following the draft. Bychkov is a left shot defenceman and was selected in the 5th round, 154th overall, at last weekend’s draft.

The first question that needs answering is that neither player playing in the CHL will have an impact either way when it comes to the Seattle expansion draft as both would be exempt from the draft and don’t need to be “hidden” for a year by the Bruins.

The second question most asked is “why select a player already drafted in the NHL?”

Well, put simply, most players that end up in the CHL have played their entire life overseas on the larger ice surface and are not accustomed to the North American ice or way of life. Both players are eligible for the American Hockey League, but they might just not be ready for professional hockey and they can spend a year in the CHL where they have excellent billet families who help prepare them for life off the ice.

Most OHL General Managers know whether there’s a chance that the player may end up playing Major Junior. Storm GM George Burnett sounded pretty confident when announcing his selection today when he said “Our goal was to add an older defenseman to help solidify our blue line and we feel we’ve done that with our selection of (Roman) Bychkov.” He didn’t sound as confident when speaking about their first pick today.

As for Andersson, this is actually his second Import Draft. He was selected a year ago by the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL with the 51st pick but chose to stay in his native Sweden.

The only thing we know for certain today is the Bruins have an embarrassment of riches on the blue line, especially on the left side, so the possibility that management would like to have Bychkov playing in Guelph to begin his North American development is not out of the realm of possibility. The right side is not as deep for the Bruins, so having Andersson in Providence may be their first choice.

Going to the CHL shouldn’t be seen as a knock. Both organizations are very well run and coached. And both are great cities to begin life in a new country.

Here’s wishing both of them good luck in whatever option they choose.

2019 offseason, Axel Andersson, Boston Bruins prospects, Jeremy Swayman, John Beecher, Kyle Keyser, Nick Wolff, Oskar Steen, Pavel Shen , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

B’s 2019 Development Camp in full swing

by

None of us are there, so relying on second hand reports, but the second day of Boston Bruins Development Camp is ongoing and a few prospects are attracting notice from various observers.

Here’s a quick recap:

Drafted division

Oskar Steen, F- We’ll admit we weren’t thrilled with Steen’s selection in the 2016 draft, but the ’98-born forward is coming off an impressive breakout season in his native Sweden’s highest pro league, putting up nearly a point per game and finishing 10th overall in scoring. He played center, but whether he slots in the middle in North America or splits out to the wing remains to be seen. He’s fast, agile, skilled and plays with some p & v. During a camp interview posted on the B’s Twitter feed, Steen says he’s coming in to make the big club, but barring a major run at camp/preseason, he’ll likely begin the year in Providence.

John Beecher, F- Boston’s top selection in Vancouver did not disappoint onlookers with his impressive skating/speed, plus won locals over with his declaration that he and his brother broke with family tradition to root for the Boston Red Sox growing up in a New York Yankees household. The Elmira, NY native was a Buffalo Sabres fan on the hockey side, but he’s hitting the right notes in his first look after being taken 30th overall. He’s big, powerful and can really scoot for one so big- if his offensive skills improve, the B’s could have a real prospect on their hands.

Pavel  Shen, F- The 2018 7th-rounder and Russian pro looks the part: decent size, skating and skills. He was a standout for Russia at the 2019 World Jr. Championship tourney last winter and could be a sleeper to develop into a solid NHL player at some point. He can handle the puck in tight spaces and has vision/creativity to make plays. If he pans out, it could be another feather in the cap for a Boston scouting staff that is doing a nice job of finding players from all corners of the globe.

Axel Andersson, D- Boston’s top choice (2nd round) a year ago can really skate- his wheels/footwork is the most impressive asset he brings to the table. The slick Swede checks the boxes for what the Bruins tend to value in their players: highly mobile and sees the ice pretty well. We’re not sure about the overall skill level for Andersson to develop into a top-3 NHL defenseman, but he appears to have the tools to be a role player and special teams asset. Interestingly enough, he was drafted today in the CHL Import Draft 30th overall by the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL- that marks the second year in a row that a CHL team has rolled the dice to select Andersson.

Jeremy Swayman, G- Somewhat of a surprise pick in 2017 simply because there were other more highly-ranked goaltenders in the USHL available when the B’s grabbed him in the 4th round, the University of Maine rising junior has posted two solid seasons in the Hockey East. He’s got the size, athletic ability and production/pedigree to continue to rise up the prospect ladder within the organization. On the downside, fans won’t get to see a head-to-head matchup between Swayman and undrafted free agent Kyle Keyser this week- Keyser is being held off the ice (along with Jakub Lauko and Jack Studnicka) after he got nicked up at some point during his playoff run in the OHL and AHL (plus Black Ace duty with the B’s).

Undrafted division

Kudos to the Bruins staff for having an impressive group of current and rising NCAA players here this week who had notable junior hockey careers. Here are a couple:

Matt Brown, F- The smallish but highly skilled ’99 just finished a 30-goal season with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL and will play at UMass-Lowell in the fall. He’s dynamic with the puck on his stick and plays with some real jam as a feisty underdog who plays with a chip on his shoulder. Brown was a key member of the USA squad that captured gold at the World Jr. A Challenge last December, beating pretty much the same Russian team that knocked out the USA NTDP galaxy of all stars in April at the World U18s. Looking back on it, given some of the players who were picked in Vancouver, Brown should have had his name called at some point, even late in the seventh round- that was probably a mistake for the NHL’s 31 clubs.

Nathan Burke, F- The former NAHL standout with the Aberdeen Wings would have been a top USHL player, but went in to the University of Minnesota this past season. He’s a smart playmaking forward who has excellent vision/hockey IQ and works hard on the details of his game. Although still pretty lean for his 6-foot frame, he’s noticeable for the way he tracks back on pucks and finds quiet ice in the offensive zone. Burke was rumored to be a close candidate to be drafted a year ago as a late bloomer in his final window of eligibility but it didn’t happen. Watch for him to be a high-profile NCAA free agent in 1-2 years when he can pick his destination, and fans will catch a glimpse of what could be this week.

Nick Wolff, D- Two-time NCAA champion with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs is big and a nasty, tough competitor who helped anchor a suffocating defense in the NCHC last season. He’s massive at 6-4, and the skating isn’t a strength (especially when Scott Perunovich is flying around the same ice), but he’s a smart defender who uses his size, strength and stick effectively. The assistant captain from 2018-19 was rumored to be considering turning pro in the spring, but opted to return for his senior season, and he should sign a pro contract in the spring of 2020. Wolff attended B’s development camp a year ago and despite numerous offers by other teams opted to return to Boston in 2019. He’s a throwback type…if you liked Adam McQuaid, Wolff is a guy you’ll have time for as a defense-first, physical, hard-to-play against glue role D.

Cooper Zech, D- The B’s signed the Michigan native to an AHL deal after just one impressive NCAA season with Ferris State (where his teammates included Boston prospect Cam Clarke), putting up nearly a point per game. Although he never played in the USHL, Zech helped the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild win that league’s championship in 2018 and though he lacks size, is a fast, tenacious player who is already evoking comparisons to Connor Clifton. Zech doesn’t know Torey Krug personally, but according to Conor Ryan of Boston Sports Journal, Zech said that Krug’s dad Kyle once cut him from the Belle Tire 16U midget AAA team. That would put Zech in some pretty exclusive company…the elder Krug is famous for cutting another player back in the day you might have heard of…Mike Modano.

 

2018 NHL Entry Draft, 2018 NHL free agency, Anton Blidh, Axel Andersson, Boston Bruins, Curtis Hall, Dustyn McFaul, Jakub Lauko, Riley Nash, Sean Kuraly , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Recapping the Bruins’ draft & free agent signings

by

Okay, so we’re a little behind here, but wanted to do a blog post on the Boston Bruins most recent transactions, which includes the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas  and free agency, which opened with a boom on Sunday for the Toronto Maple Leafs, landing a true crown jewel in John Tavares, who leaves the NY Islanders in his prime (not yet 28) for his childhood team. The Bruins were in it as a possible Tavares destination, but in hindsight, it was probably the Isles or the Leafs and everyone else didn’t really have a shot. That’s life, but more on that later.

And, if the Isles need some comforting, they had what looks to be a successful draft, leveraging multiple first-round picks and value throughout the subsequent rounds into an impressive haul for them.

First up, the B’s draft recap:

Continue reading →