Bruins Prospect News and Notes

ngruz25

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The offside review came from the NCAA. I remember really annoyed by it whenever I watched college games, and then it came to the NHL to dump all over the games I care about.
 

TheRealness

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Been watching the Minnesota vsND game and it's my first extended look at Bjork. Man, he is a force out there. Has two goals and has been generating chances all game.
 

cshea

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BU lost. JFK and Charlie report to Providence, please.

Also, Donato appears to be awesome
 
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jk333

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Bjork sets up the OT game winner for ND. They go to the Frozen Four.
He can really fly! That was what jumped out at me, he had another gear versus just about every other player. Interesting to see him at the next level!

It was a great season for Lowell. On their end, Smith looks like he could be a nice pickup for an NHL team.
 
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veritas

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Kirk Luedeke‏ @kluedeke29 3m3 minutes ago
Expect Charlie McAvoy to be first domino to fall- hearing Bruins working on deal & expect it to happen. Soon. No specifics.
Does he play this year? Should he?

I'm fine with him going to Providence tbh. He'd probably be taking Colin Miller's spot if he were to start. If it was McQuaid, that would change my opinion but I don't see that happening.
 

jk333

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Does he play this year? Should he?

I'm fine with him going to Providence tbh. He'd probably be taking Colin Miller's spot if he were to start. If it was McQuaid, that would change my opinion but I don't see that happening.
I just want next year to be the first of his 3 ELC years. I don't want them to burn one of the years this year. We will see how negotiations go
 

The Napkin

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The only way he should play this year is if it's the only way he agrees to sign. They should do anything they can to avoid burning a year of his ELC this year.
 

cshea

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I think Bjork is the only potential college signee that could step in and help immediately. He could fill a pressing need (2nd line LW). At the moment I don't think D is as big an issue and certainly not worth burning an ELC year on McAvoy. It's also harder to plug and play a D than it is an F.
 

TheRealness

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I think Bjork is the only potential college signee that could step in and help immediately. He could fill a pressing need (2nd line LW). At the moment I don't think D is as big an issue and certainly not worth burning an ELC year on McAvoy. It's also harder to plug and play a D than it is an F.
I agree with this. They have Carlo, K. Miller, C. Miller and McQuaid as all right shot D. I love McAvoy, but I don't know that he will be a significant upgrade on them *this year* given he has no experience in the system or the NHL. Defenseman take longer.

Watching Bjork as much as I did over the weekend, I think he could fit in right now. Not only do they have an opening, but man is he talented. Felt like he single handedly compelled ND to the Frozen Four. His 3 assists against a stellar defensive team in UML, and his 2 goals in the game before, were the main reason ND advanced (outside of their good goaltending). Kind of disappointing to see him not be available for about 2 more weeks, but I think he's the closest. I was really excited by what I saw from him over the weekend. Stellar talent.
 

Spaulding Smails

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I watched Bjork up close four times in the past month and he is the real deal. Tremendous talent and creativity on offense, excellent skater with a high hockey IQ. No knock to Zach Aston-Reese, but I thought Bjork was the best player in Hockey East this year.
 

GammonsSpecialPerson

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What is the next step after the ATO expires (after one day)? Why do this instead of a standard contract that allows him to play in Providence for the rest of the season without burning the year of service time?
 

Salem's Lot

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What is the next step after the ATO expires (after one day)? Why do this instead of a standard contract that allows him to play in Providence for the rest of the season without burning the year of service time?
He can only play in the NHL for one day on a PTO. He can play in the AHL for Providence on it for the rest of the season. Many players do this. The guys listed in that article were one day emergency goalies on NHL rosters.
 

GammonsSpecialPerson

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So he plays the remainder of this season in Providence, and cannot be called up to Boston, and then what? Signs another "ELC" for next season? Is he tied to the Bruins after signing the ATO and that renews as a standard contract?

I apologize for the possibly dumb questions, but y'all obviously know more than can be found in a simple GIS. Thanks.
 

veritas

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I can't find any evidence that he can't play 9 games without burning his ELC, only that college players often ask for a year to be burned in exchange for actually signing (and good for them for doing so -- Krug did this IIRC)
 

cshea

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It has to do with his age when he signs. I read somewhere about this with the Boeser and Keller signings. My understanding is ELC's can slide for 18 and 19 year old seasons. The age is determined by the age the player turns the year that he signs. McAvoy is 19 now but turns 20 in 2017, so it's considered a 20-year old contract and not eligible to slide. The year would be burned the second he stepped on the ice.

By comparison, McAvoy's teammate and fellow 2016 first rounder Clayton Keller just signed with Arizona and played last night. The 10-game rule applies for him because he is 18 and doesn't turn 20 until 2018.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Without understanding the negotiations, I can't really judge the decision. Maybe McEvoy is saying the only way he'll sign is if he can have the chance on the big club this year, who knows.

I have no problem with them giving him some experience this year if it helps sign him.
 

cshea

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I don't think they'll do it. Playing Liles over Miller seems to be an indication they want the vet experience for the stretch run. But what do I know. Burning a year won't affect his service time and time before he reaches UFA, just means they'd have to give him his 2nd contract (and if all goes well, a raise) a year earlier.

Side note, the remaining Providence games should be fun this year. They already have DeBrusk, Heinen, Cehlarik, Czarnik and Grzelyck as legit prospects. Fitzgerald and Johansson were added last week and it appears McAvoy this weekend. Seems JFK is up in the air, but he could theoretically join Providence soon. Then there's the CHL kids. The playoffs are underway, so Senyshyn, Zboril and Lauzon could theoretically join up in a week or two if any of their teams get bounced. They're on good teams so it's unlikely, but could be a good time to check out a Baby B's game the next 2 weeks + playoffs.
 

The Napkin

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That's the absolute only reason that's remotely acceptable to burning a year imho. If he's happy going to Providence and playing there the rest of the year it's senseless to bring him up.
 

timlinin8th

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It has to do with his age when he signs. I read somewhere about this with the Boeser and Keller signings. My understanding is ELC's can slide for 18 and 19 year old seasons. The age is determined by the age the player turns the year that he signs. McAvoy is 19 now but turns 20 in 2017, so it's considered a 20-year old contract and not eligible to slide. The year would be burned the second he stepped on the ice.
This link goes over some of the reasons why the Bruins may be opting to go with the ATO with McAvoy, as well as elaborating on the "slide" rule (the cutoff for the age is Sept 15th):

http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/clarification-on-boston-bruins-charlie-mcavoy-entry-level-contract-burn-vs-ato-options
 

kenneycb

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Apparently Fabbro and Bellows will be back per my cursory Google skills. Still unsure on Greenway. A mention of Bellows gives me an excuse to post this.
 

GeminiFish

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BU Coach David Quinn said in a recent interview that he expects Fabbro and Bellows to be back. Fabbro had a good season, but Bellows struggled in his freshman year. Quinn also believes that Greenway (MINN) and JFK (Bruins) will come back for their junior year seasons. I'm not sure how likely that both of them are back.
 

cshea

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So, I was listening to T&R this morning, and the scuttlebutt seems to be that the Bruins promised to burn an ELC year to sign McAvoy.
Yeah, it seems he's going to get into a game next week, probably Ottawa or Washington. KPD tweeted last night about it happening, and the team's handling of the situation points to it. Their typical MO with the college kids is to sign them to an ELC starting the next season, plus an ATO to finish the current season with Providence. This was how they handled Grzelyck, O'Gara and Heinen last season, plus Fitzgerald and Johansson this year. McAvoy has only signed an ATO, so signing an ELC for this year remains on the table.

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure this was a demand from the McAvoy end. I think the Bruins think and hope he can help the team. McAvoy doesn't have the leverage to make such a demand- he'd need to play 2 more seasons at BU before hitting free agency. His only play is to go back to college and all that really accomplishes is shoving his RFA date back a year.
 

RedOctober3829

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Yeah, it seems he's going to get into a game next week, probably Ottawa or Washington. KPD tweeted last night about it happening, and the team's handling of the situation points to it. Their typical MO with the college kids is to sign them to an ELC starting the next season, plus an ATO to finish the current season with Providence. This was how they handled Grzelyck, O'Gara and Heinen last season, plus Fitzgerald and Johansson this year. McAvoy has only signed an ATO, so signing an ELC for this year remains on the table.

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure this was a demand from the McAvoy end. I think the Bruins think and hope he can help the team. McAvoy doesn't have the leverage to make such a demand- he'd need to play 2 more seasons at BU before hitting free agency. His only play is to go back to college and all that really accomplishes is shoving his RFA date back a year.
Is it wrong to think that if they get into the playoffs that they would sign McAvoy to help them once they are there? He could get his feet wet in Providence for the rest of their season then come to Boston for the playoffs. Now, if they get the WC and play Washington is it worth it to burn that ELC year for what appears to be a losing cause? The better use of the burn year would be if they got into the Atlantic Division bracket and had a better chance of a deeper playoff run.
 

TheRealness

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Yeah, it seems he's going to get into a game next week, probably Ottawa or Washington. KPD tweeted last night about it happening, and the team's handling of the situation points to it. Their typical MO with the college kids is to sign them to an ELC starting the next season, plus an ATO to finish the current season with Providence. This was how they handled Grzelyck, O'Gara and Heinen last season, plus Fitzgerald and Johansson this year. McAvoy has only signed an ATO, so signing an ELC for this year remains on the table.

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure this was a demand from the McAvoy end. I think the Bruins think and hope he can help the team. McAvoy doesn't have the leverage to make such a demand- he'd need to play 2 more seasons at BU before hitting free agency. His only play is to go back to college and all that really accomplishes is shoving his RFA date back a year.
This I don't understand though, as I would assume he would still be behind Miller, Miller, Carlo and McQuaid given he has absolutely no pro experience.

I would have really loved to see Bjork signed and burn an ELC year, as I think he could help right now and they have a void where he could fill in. I love McAvoy, but I don't know that right now he could give the Bruins more than their current D corps given his lack of any pro experience.
 

cshea

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This I don't understand though, as I would assume he would still be behind Miller, Miller, Carlo and McQuaid given he has absolutely no pro experience.

I would have really loved to see Bjork signed and burn an ELC year, as I think he could help right now and they have a void where he could fill in. I love McAvoy, but I don't know that right now he could give the Bruins more than their current D corps given his lack of any pro experience.
Kevan Miller plays the left side, so I think the depth chart in front of McAvoy on the right is Carlo, McQuaid, C. Miller, Liles. C. Miller has been scratched for 2 games and Liles has spent most of the season as a healthy scratch. I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility they slot McAvoy 3rd behind Carlo and McQuaid. He's at least in the mix there with C. Miller and Liles. As I've ranted about elsewhere, C. Miller should be the no-brainer guy in the 3rd spot but they apparently disagree.

We'll see how it plays out. Providence has a 3-game weekend. It sounded like Charlie will sit tonight and debut tomorrow.

Elsewhere, the Bruins are meeting with JFK today and attempting to get him signed.

 

TheRealness

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JFK would be a really interesting potential fit for the Bruins awful "3rd" line. Would also give them more flexibility in moving Spooner, which everyone who has ever read anything from me over the past year or so knows I am a fan of.
 

MiracleOfO2704

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Jeremy Lauzon's coming up clutch for Rouyn-Noranda. He had a goal and an assist in the last 2 1/2 minutes to get the Huskies to OT at Halifax.