@MarkDivver
Jacob Bengtsson of Lake Superior State is in the transfer portal. Six-foot-three defenseman is a two-time Hobey Baker Award nominee
Dick Rosenthal {l Wrote}:Somewhat surprised Gauthier hasn't signed with the Flyers at this point. Flyers shitcanned most of their front office a week ago and Danny Briere needs a win if he is going to hold onto the GM role. I wonder if Gauthier is apprehensive about playing for Torts. Kreider had a rocky relationship with Torts at times and he isn't exactly known as the nurturing type for teenage players.
Would be huge for BC if he came back for one more year, but in today's NHL it seems unlikely.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:nesterenko gone, not shocking
BostonCollege1 {l Wrote}:Mitch Andres and Liam Izyk in the portal, 1 year of eligibility each.
Logitano {l Wrote}:BostonCollege1 {l Wrote}:Mitch Andres and Liam Izyk in the portal, 1 year of eligibility each.
Well, bye.
Gauthier is still a bit of an unknown, but the odds favor him returning. Like I said last week, there is a lot of turmoil in Philadelphia right now, so it may take some time for that all to be worked out. If I were a betting man, I would bet on Gauthier playing one more season at BC, but it is not set in stone.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:@MarkDivver
Jacob Bengtsson of Lake Superior State is in the transfer portal. Six-foot-three defenseman is a two-time Hobey Baker Award nominee
bc appears to be favorite
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing Cutter Gauthier, drafted 5th overall by PHI in 2022, will return to Boston College for his sophomore season. Don’t think this is a huge surprise, and seen as the right move for his development.
One last bit of news- I am hearing that BC will be hiring a third assistant within the next few days. Under a new NCAA rule, programs can have an additional paid assistant starting this fall. According to my sources, BC will be hiring Brent Darnell, who was most recently the NTDP assistant director of player personnel. Darnell recently selected the most recent crop of 2007 birthdates to the National Program and is a Michigan State alum. With Brendan Buckley staying put after going through the process at Bentley, BC now has their full coaching staff in place for the upcoming season.
4. San Jose Sharks: William Smith, C, USA U-18 (NTDP)
March 17, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 180 pounds
Tier: NHL All-Star
Player comparable: Evgeny Kuznetsov
Background: Smith is the No. 1 center and leading player on this year’s U.S. NTDP team. He has been one of the most productive players ever in their U18 season with the program. Smith was invited to USA’s world juniors camp but was cut. He was named the MVP of the 2023 U18 World Championships. He is committed to Boston College.
Analysis: Smith is a dynamic offensive player who stands out every game with his talent. He has tremendous puck skills, vision and overall offensive creativity and projects to be a major asset on an NHL power play. He skates well and makes so many high-difficulty plays at a strong pace, which lends well to his pro projection. Smith is a high-end passer who is also able to finish chances from the dots. The only real wart in his game is I wouldn’t call him an overly physical or high-energy player. I don’t think he lacks effort. He’s around the puck a ton whenever he’s on the ice and even at times killed penalties for the program.
Thoughts on the pick: In Will Smith, the Sharks get a potential No. 1 center of the futute. He’s a dynamic player with his skill, vision and pace, a player who would be in the No. 1/No. 2 pick conversation in a number of recent drafts. The Sharks have a long road ahead to turn their organization around, but Smith becomes the most important component to their future.
8. Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
January 21, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 190 pounds
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Player comparable: Artturi Lehkonen
Background: Leonard has often been the top-line right wing on the U.S. NTDP playing a ton of minutes in all situations. He was invited to USA’s world juniors camp but was cut. He scored the golden goal in overtime at the 2023 U18 worlds. He played the most out of all the 2005-born players with the 2004 age group in the 2022 season. Leonard scored five goals and six points in five games at the 2022 U18 World Championships. He is committed to Boston College.
Analysis: Leonard is a versatile winger with a lot of elements to his game that an NHL coach will covet. He’s a strong skater who competes very well, with a direct style of play and despite an average-sized frame he has a lot of physicality in his game. He combines that with excellent hands and an ability to make highly skilled plays with the puck at full speed. His playmaking isn’t great but there’s vision and finishing ability in his game to score at higher levels. Leonard may never truly stand out at either end of the ice, but he will never give a coach a reason to sit him and projects as a quality top-six wing.
Thoughts on the pick: Leonard is a very good all-around and competitive forward. He’s not dynamic with the puck, but he has excellent skill and scoring ability as well. What I think Washington fans will also like is how physically advanced he is, and there is potential for him to be in Washington in two to three years due to that and his complete game.
23. New York Rangers: Gabriel Perreault, RW, USA U-18 (NTDP)
May 7, 2005 | 5′ 11″ | 163 pounds
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Player comparable: Lucas Raymond
Background: Perreault is the first-line wing for the U.S. NTDP this season. He’s had one of the highest point-per-game rates in the program’s history this season and broke Auston Matthews’ single season point record, which was shortly followed by teammate Will Smith breaking it as well. He is the brother of Anaheim 2020 first-round pick Jacob Perreault and the son of former NHL player Yanic Perreault. He is committed to Boston College.
Analysis: Perreault is an extremely skilled and intelligent winger who can make a ton of positive things happen inside the offensive zone. Perreault makes highly-creative and unique dekes and passes with the puck at a high rate, both off the perimeter and in small areas. His puck game is clear NHL power-play quality, and he will score as a pro. The issues on Perreault’s game is his 5-foot-11 frame and his lack of footspeed. He shows good second effort and can win puck battles at the junior level, although whether he can do that versus men is a concern. His hockey sense is so elite though that I think he can overcome those issues and become a very good top six winger.
Thoughts on the pick: Perreault is one of the most skilled and intelligent players in the draft. I thought he’d go higher, but his frame, a barely 5-foot-11 winger who is skinny, combined with his subpar skating, gave a lot of NHL scouts pause despite his tremendous offensive abilities, so I’m not stunned he got to No. 23. He has a long way to go to look like an NHL player, but he has the talent to be a top six wing for the Rangers down the line. In an ideal world, the Rangers would have added size, and they wouldn’t have picked another wing, but Perreault was too much talent to pass up at this point in the draft for them.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 64 guests