Training Camp Talk - Winter is Coming

[Matthew]

September is the beginning of the New Year for Hockey Fans and players alike. Most Rookie Camps begin on the 10th/11th of September, with main camps beginning approximately 10 days later. This thread is dedicated to our own BBKL members' analysis, discussion, and excitement concerning our most and least favorite teams, players, and prospects.

The forums have been dead the past few days. I felt this was an appropriate time to start this thread.

[Matthew]

One prospect with whom I happily found a small tidbit on today was my own Rodrigo Abols. I took him in our most recent BBKL draft only to have him passed up in this season's NHL draft. He was, however, invited to the Canucks rookie training camp!

Rodrigo Abols is a 6'3 Center haling from Latvia. He spent last season split between the MHL and KHL, and has played in the last few world junior tournaments. Next year, he will be playing in the WHL.

Unfortunately, despite getting the call for an NHL rookie camp, it seems he is in a similar position to Tkachev last season. Tkachev played well enough, it would seem, to earn a contract with the oilers, yet was ineligible due to rules concerning Europeans in the CHL. I'm just hoping this showing will shed light on Abols for next years draft and a future contract.

[Fraser]

On the Canucks front. I am really excited to see what Cole Cassels does at this camp. I had very high hopes with the way he closed out his junior career.

[Fraser]

On the BBKL front while I am expecting big things from my top prospects the player I'm most intrigued in following in Ryan Haggerty. Had a real strong camp with NYR last year, followed it up with an impressive rookie sesason and now going into Chicago camp there is plenty of opportunity for a couple standouts to take spots in offensive roles on their wings.

[kimmer]

I didn't draft

[Lee]

All of my undrafted guys attending camps.

Nathan Noel. Kameron Kielly, Loik Leveille.

Edit: Holy alliteration, batman.

[kyuss]

gorgeous thread.

Abols sucks though

[The BBKL Insider]

good thread

i'm excited about Rasmus Andersson. My favourite prospect from this past draft.

[Nick]

From a BBKL perspective I'm excited to see how Joe Hicketts does, made a bold call on him that has come as true so far as one could possibly expect.

With the 90th selection in the 2014 BBKL entry draft the Tampa Bay Lightning select, from the Victoria Royals of the WHL, Joe Hicketts

I have a ton of prospects to/worth watching, but in terms of potentially really interesting my top three would be Brayden Point, Martin Reway, and just how NHL ready is Lawson Crouse. As a rebuilder I need Teemu Pulkkinen, Anthony Duclair, Stuart Percy, Dominik Masin, Julius Honka to meet expectation and to be very good, anything less is likely a letdown.


As a hockey fan I'll be fixated on the super-rookies: McSaviour, Eichel, Bennett, Leon Deon, season 2 of Ekblad, Marner, MDC, etc... always one who breaks out as teenager, this list could see more than 2 IMO.

[Matthew]

other non-prospect pieces I have interest in for my bbkl team training camp are the following:

Alex Wennberg - he finished up last season by getting 9 points in 11 games, and was being given a ton of ice time (similar to johanson), while playing lots of shtoi, and pptoi. Also, he began shooting the puck a lot more which is always a solid indicator. Management in Columbus seems to love him, so im hoping he gets some great opportunities this season to possibly even battle for 2C.

Trevor Daley - interested to see how he is going to be used in Chicago, and how the move will affect his numbers.

PAP - would like him to get a lot of pp time on a bad toronto team, and possibly revitalize his career on his new cheap contract.

Arcobello - last season was his first full season in the NHL. Before that he was throwing up close to 2 points per game in the AHL. He had 17 goals last season, solid fo percentage, and a quite good corsi. While I'm not sure he will be used much, I feel he may be one of my 22+ year old players with the most untapped potential. Will be keeping a keen eye to see how toronto uses him.

Hah. I guess I could go on and on, but really it is that I'm interested to see how teams use my players, and those players progression. Others I'm interested to see are paquette, scrivens, nylander, and andreas johnson.