2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp roundup- the forwards (1 of 2)
By Kirk Luedeke
With the fifth annual Boston Bruins prospects
development camp in the books and the players back home where most
of them (minus the NCAA players) will continue to prepare for main
camp in September, it’s time to review some of the
observations of individual performances in Wilmington. 
We’ll break the analysis up into a pair of posts, beginning with the forwards and finishing with the goalies and defensemen.
Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight (pictured right) led the way among the Boston prospects given their experiences from a year ago, but several of the newcomers impressed as well. Alexander Khokhlachev validated his selection in the early portion of the second round, while Brian Ferlin showed why the B’s grabbed the overager in the fourth (marking the third consecutive season the team has taken a previously passed-over prospect in that round: Lane MacDermid- ’09, Craig Cunningham- ’10).
Forwards
50 Alexander Khokhlachev, Center
Vitals: 5-10, 184
Acquired: 2nd round, 2011 draft (40th
overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Windsor Spitfires
(OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Highly skilled offensive player
showed off his high-end scoring potential in flashes, but was
overwhelmed at times with the physical demands of camp and
environment. Good skater with effective first-step quickness,
elusiveness and the ability to rapidly change direction. Not tall,
but strong on his skates and gets under would-be checkers, using
body leverage to gain position and maintain puck possession. Elite
hands and stickhandling skills. Quick shot with rapid release and
nice accuracy. Plays with passion and exuberance. Was not in the
kind of shape he needed to be, but should improve on that when main
camp rolls around in September and a year from now (assuming he
returns to development camp). English skills are raw, but
improving- he showed a willingness to take on any interviews and
did his level best with a smile. Has future rock star potential in
Boston if he can continue his upward developmental curve. Youngest
player in the 2011 draft, just making the Sep. 15, 1993 cutoff by
six days.
51 Anthony Camara, Left Wing
Vitals: 6-0, 194
Acquired: 3rd round, 2011 draft (81st
overall)
2010-11 Amateur Team: Saginaw Spirit
(OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive individual showing
from a player who was initially thought to be a reach. The Toronto
native isn’t all that tall at about 6-foot, but is around 195
pounds and is built like a fire hydrant. He skates well, with quick
jump and good straight-line speed. Camara also has above average
puck skills and a hard shot. While at camp, he showed a penchant
for shooting often and scored from the outside as well as in close.
Plays a physical game, finishing checks and relishing contact. Has
a reputation as willing and fearless fighter. Won’t turn 18
until Sep. 4- just five days older than Alexander Khokhlachev, the
youngest player in the NHL draft in June. Former 1st-round OHL pick
(15th overall) in 2009.
64 Ben Sexton, Center
Vitals: 6-0, 193
Acquired: 7th round, 2009 draft (206th
overall)
2010-11 Amateur team: Clarkson University
Golden Knights (ECAC)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Average size. Good skater with
quick initial burst, top speed and some slippery elusiveness as
well. Hands are average. Solid defensive hockey IQ, but may not
have the vision or offensive instincts to be a point-getter at the
highest level. Effective checker and penalty killer with an active
stick to take away passing lanes. Typical jack-of-all-trades,
master of none player who is an NHL longshot. Son of former
Panthers and Senators GM Randy Sexton. Drafted out of the Jr. B
Nepean (Ontario) Raiders where his coach was former Bruins defender
Garry Galley. Spent 2009-10 season with Penticton Panthers of the
BCHL before jumping to NCAA. Just finished his freshman season in
Potsdam, N.Y. with Clarkson, scoring five goals and eight points in
12 games.
66 Tyler Randell, Right Wing
Vitals: 6-1, 195
Acquired: 6th round in 2009 draft (176th
overall)
2010-11 Amateur team: Kitchener Rangers
(OHL)
Signing status: Signed; inked 3-year entry
level contract on April 17, 2011
Camp notes: Power forward prospect with fine
hands and a quick release. Average skater who is a little sluggish
off the mark but has OK straight-line speed and goes hard to the
net. Lacks east-west agility and is a more of a classic north-south
up-and-down winger. Hard nosed; finishes his checks and finished
with the third-most number of fights in the OHL with 20 last
season. Also scored 20 goals for the Rangers. Projects as a
bottom-six pro winger with enough offensive upside to keep an eye
on.
79 Alexander Fallstrom, Right Wing
Vitals: 6-2, 203
Acquired: From Minnesota with Craig Weller
and 2011 second-round pick (Alexander Khokhlachev) for Chuck
Kobasew
2010-11 Amateur team: Harvard University
Crimson (ECAC)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Demonstrated improved quickness
and first-step burst from where he was a year ago. Still has only
average top speed, but is a better skater and effective enough in
short areas with ability to rapidly close. Above average
puckhandler with the ability to take the puck into traffic, dangle
and finish off scoring chances in tight. Good two-way hockey sense.
Protects the puck well. Projects as a bottom-six checking/energy
forward at the NHL level with some offensive potential- scored 80+
points to lead Shattuck St. Mary’s in scoring during his
draft year (taken in the fourth round- 116th overall by Wild).
80 Brian Ferlin, Right Wing
Vitals: 6-1, 200
Acquired: 4th round in 2011 draft (121st
overall)
2010-11 Amateur team: Indiana Ice (USHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive first impression:
displayed offensive hockey skills and scoring ability. Does not
possess ideal skating technique, but is effective, with explosive
first-step, good top speed with separation gear and solid lateral
movement as well. Fine stickhandler with a rapid and accurate shot.
Sniffs out scoring chances by being in the right place at the right
time. Sees the ice well and is an effective passer/playmaker.
Hustles and works hard along the walls. Shields the puck and was
highly effective on the cycle with Justin Florek, another
big-bodied winger on the same line. Native of Jacksonville,
Florida. Will attend Cornell University in the fall.
83 Craig Cunningham, Center
Vitals: 5-9, 175
Acquired: 4th round in 2010 draft (97th
overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Vancouver
Giants/Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Signing status: Signed three-year entry
level contract; July 14, 2011
Camp notes: Solid, unspectacular two-way performance. Good skater
with quickness and agility. Not a blazer, but slippery and shifty.
Strong vision and two-way hockey sense. Quick stick and ability to
take the puck into traffic and distribute well. Not a highlight
reel player, but shoots the puck well and can finish in close.
Effective two-way forward who initiates contact despite a lack of
ideal size. Highly respected teammate and utility player- former
captain of the Vancouver Giants before being traded to Portland in
late December.
84 Ryan Spooner, Center
Vitals: 5-10, 185
Acquired: 2nd round, 2010 (45th overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Peterborough
Petes/Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Has emerged as Boston’s
most skilled offensive player in the prospect pipeline. High-end
skater with explosive burst, top speed/separation to back defenses
up and the east-west lateral quickness to turn defenders
inside-out. Handles the puck very well and can make all his moves
at speed. Wicked shooter who can pick the corners and score in a
variety of ways. Outstanding playmaker and puck distributor.
Electrifying presence who has become a fan favorite in short order.
Playing style compares to Marc Savard, but with more foot speed and
quickness than the veteran possesses. Like the veteran when he was
younger, Spooner’s defense is still a work in progress but
has showed a willingness to address that and is getting better.
Grew up in Ottawa suburb of Kanata, Ontario where his favorite NHL
team was the Montreal Canadiens. Scored two goals and three points
with Providence Bruins in the AHL to finish out the season.
85 Justin Florek, Left Wing
Vitals: 6-4, 195
Acquired: 5th round in 2010 draft (135th
overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Northern Michigan
University Wildcats (CCHA)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Showed marked improvement over
where he was a year ago as a new Boston draft choice. Still filling
out his impressive 6-foot-4 frame, but is a good skater for a big
man. Quick and light on his feet. Tough to knock off stride when he
gets up to speed and goes to the net. Will be an even bigger load
to handle when he reaches his projected weight of 215-220 pounds.
Has a powerful shot that he unleashes quickly and can put anywhere
on net. Sees what the goalies give him and then puts the puck in
small spaces. Aggressive forward when around the net. Not a huge
physical presence but will initiate contact and shields the puck
well. Needs to focus on being consistent and working hard from
shift to shift, as he may lack the innate creativity to be a
regular point producer without the presence of a playmaker on his
line. May only project as a grinder in the pro ranks, but has shown
enough potential to be worth watching.
87 Jared Knight, Right Wing
Vitals: 5-11, 202
Acquired: 2nd round in 2010 draft (32nd
overall)
2010-11 amateur team: London Knights
(OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Along with Spooner, the best Boston player at
development camp. Showed off improved skating, especially in terms
of ability to accelerate and separate from would-be checkers.
Powerful skater who uses his strength and athleticism to fight off
bigger guys and get the puck to the net. Nasty shooter with
lightning release and accuracy. Hides his release point well and is
like a shark who smells blood in the water anytime there is a
scoring opportunity. Drilled goalie (and OHL, AHL teammate) Mike
Hutchinson on the first day by powering his way to the net (Hutch
was fine- no damage done). An old-fashioned north-south winger who
isn’t flashy but can create and make things happen with his
competitiveness and hockey sense. Grew up and matured a great deal
over the last season with London when the Knights traded away a
significant contingent of veteran players, establishing
career-bests in assists (45) and points (70) to lead the team.
Effective two-way player who may be the most NHL-ready of
Boston’s d-camp prospects in terms of physical and emotional
maturity plus skill. Will be in Lake Placid in early August to
attend Team USA World Jr. Evaluation Camp. Diabetes diagnosis of 18
months ago is under control and should not affect his ability to
compete at a high level.