Bruins Sign Anders Bjork - 3 Year ELC
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As good as Heinen's production has been in the AHL playoffs, I have Bjork at the top of the winger depth chart for non-current Bruins (ahead of DeBrusk and Senyshyn). I'd really like to see him continue to build on his development and start off as a top 6 forward.
I think so. I would probably have a Marchand-Bergeron-Backes and Bjork-Krejci-Pastrnak combination to start. He's got dynamic talent, great speed, and was dominant in the NCAA tournament. He carried ND to the Frozen Four. He also dominated the rookie camp last year, so I think he is a real candidate to start out in the top 6.
It certainly is an interesting debate.
Heinen is a year older, but was a much better offensive player his first 2 years in College, Bjork might be a bit more well rounded in terms of his 200 foot game.
It will be interesting to see the battle between Bjork, Heinen, DeBrusk, and guys like Vatrano for the potential open wing spot (s), although there is a good chance some are not here in the fall
I figure the Bruins will have a max of 5 openings at forward heading into camp, depending on how things shake out over the next month with Spooner, Beleskey and Hayes. Basically 1 top 6 winger (LW), the entire 3rd line, and a 4th line spot. I feel like the most realistic scenario is Hayes and Spooner gone, Beleskey back. Vatrano, Bjork, DeBrusk, Heinen, JFK, Czarnik (RFA), Cehlarik and Kuraly should all be in the mix for the various available roles. Oh and Senyshyn will be starting his career. That's just the forwards too. We got a taste of McAvoy this year, and in comes Lauzon and Zboril behind him. I can't remember a time the Bruins had this many legitimate prospects in the system. They won't all hit, but an exciting time nonetheless. I feel like someone from group will be traded due to the sheer numbers, so Sweeney's job is to figure out who to keep and who they can afford to deal.
I don't know if I'm higher on him than most, but I watched a lot of ND in the tournament and he was just on a different level than everyone else. He could create space, create for his linemates, and had huge plays for his team.
I am very excited about how his talents will translate. I think his skillset is much more NHL viable than anyone else they have in the system at forward.
I watched him live three times last season and he was the best player on the ice all for all three. Granted it was against NCAA competition, but he was creative offensively and very quick. I think he can be a 2nd- 3rd line winger on an ELC for three years. Which is invaluable in a cap league.
To me the biggest difference is skating and playmaking ability. Heinen is a smart player, and he does well along the walls and with making plays out of dirty areas. DeBrusk is someone I liked in my limited viewings, as he was similar to Heinen in his intelligence, but with a better shot. Vatrano is a great goal scorer at the AHL level, but that hasn't translated to the NHL yet.
The big difference with Bjork is his skating. His speed and agility set him apart, IMO, and with his playmaking ability at speed I have a higher expectation for him than some others.
Watching Ottawa stretch out Pittsburgh, and now seeing Nashville outplay them in the first game, I think the Bruins could really be a contender next year if just McAvoy's play translates. If Bjork does what I think he can do? Watch out.
That's really exciting to hear. As others have said, it has been a long time since the Bruins had this many talented, young, home-grown folks capable of making the roster. If they could only land a stud defensemen and keep Krecji and Bergy healthy, they could be on to something. I am genuinely excited about the new additions this year though, and I haven't felt like that in a long time.
A lot of tough camera angles to really appreciate the highlight reel but the SH breakaway vs. BC where he hits L1 to swivel the hips and slow down only to then turn back around at full speed to score the goal was pretty special. Do like the variety of moves and shot release.
Will be interesting to see how his game translates against much bigger/stronger competition. Could be Pastrnak lite which would be very nice.
Will be interesting to see how his game translates against much bigger/stronger competition. Could be Pastrnak lite which would be very nice.
I'll be calling him Bjorn. Don't really care what anyone else does
I'll echo the excitement here, I think Bjork is the #2 prospect behind McAvoy in the deepest group I can remember.
Part of my excitement is that I think the Bruins were actually pretty good last year, a borderline top 10 team. They don't *need* all of these prospects to reach their ceilings immediately for the team to be really good next year. If McAvoy is a solid 2nd pair guy next year, and they get a couple forward prospects to be middle six contributors (not unrealistic expectations for McAvoy, JFK, Bjork), that's a huge bonus for a team that has no reason to expect any (overall) regression.
Part of my excitement is that I think the Bruins were actually pretty good last year, a borderline top 10 team. They don't *need* all of these prospects to reach their ceilings immediately for the team to be really good next year. If McAvoy is a solid 2nd pair guy next year, and they get a couple forward prospects to be middle six contributors (not unrealistic expectations for McAvoy, JFK, Bjork), that's a huge bonus for a team that has no reason to expect any (overall) regression.
They were pretty good last year. And while there are lots and lots of reasons to think they could be even better in the short- and medium- term, there should be some concern that it will take the prospects a season to adjust and that Chara - a literal huge reason they were pretty good last year - is going to start trending downward.
It would take a huge burden off Z if they were able to cash in several of the prospects for a top pair defenseman. Bumping Chara down to the 2nd pair, with McAvoy or Carlo, would be a huge step toward them being better than pretty good next year and beyond. I am very worried that because Chara has been such a stalwart that Sweeney will rely on him as heavily as they have in the past - and that the decline arrives sooner than we want. He's obviously still in top condition but can he still be what he once was? Or could he extend his career and effectiveness if there was someone else to log 25-30 per night on the top pair and allow him to play 18-22 high impact minutes on the PK and late game situations?
This is one of the reasons I am big on his potential versus players like Heinen and DeBrusk. Those guys need to be able to beat players out of the corners, and be able to win in dirty areas to be successful. Their physicality and strength is integral to their success, and thus their ability to do so against the bigger/stronger NHL players is much more of a difficult mountain to climb.
Then there are players that can create their own space with their speed and agility, as you note, a Pastrnak-lite. I think he's that type of player.