Boston Bruins: Top Five Players To Watch At Development Camp
The Boston Bruins Development Camp opens on July 14th, and Bruins prospects will be taking to the ice at Ristuccia Arena to show their abilities. While every player should be working their hardest to show their progress, here are five players to keep an eye on throughout the camp:
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1. Jakub Zboril – 18 – Defenseman
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The Bruins used their first selection in the 2015 NHL Draft on Czech born defender Jakub Zboril. The young defender stands 6’1 and weighs 185lbs. He skates with confidence and has the intelligence required to succeed at the NHL level. Zboril has good awareness in the neutral zone, and as a result, he’s able to play a very solid two-way game. His offensive numbers were decent in the QMJHL last season, scoring 13 goals and adding 20 assists for 33 points in 44 games. While those numbers aren’t off the charts, it is worth noting that he is a strong, puck moving defenseman who excels more at the defensive end of the ice, making his offensive production a plus.
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2. Joonas Kemppainen – 27 – Center
Joonas Kemppainen was signed at the end of May, and has the potential to contend for a bottom-six role on the Bruins this season. The 6’2, 213lbs Finnish center plays a responsible two-way game which will fit right into the system that Claude Julien employs in Boston. Kemppainen played in the Finnish Elite League for the last five seasons, and most recently put up 32 points in 59 games in the regular season, as well as 10 goals and 24 points in the playoffs, which was the highest point total in the league.
Kemppainen continued to show off his offensive ability at the World Championships, posting nine points in eight games. Kemppainen was signed to a one year deal, and with that in mind, he has an opportunity starting with this development camp that he will not want to waste.
3. Noel Acciari – 23 – Center
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Having just won the NCAA National Championship with Providence this season, Acciari brings a championship pedigree to the Bruins. Having scored a team high 15 goals and adding 17 assists for 32 points in 41 games this season, the 5’11, 205lbs center has a strong offensive upside, which is something the Bruins sorely missed last season. Acciari plays hard and isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice to score goals. The defensive awareness that Acciari brings to the Bruins is also an invaluable trait that could parlay itself into a bottom-six role for the Bruins in a few years, after some seasoning in the AHL.
4. Danton Heinen – 20 – Center
The Bruins 4th round pick  in 2014 really impressed this year at the University of Denver, scoring 16 goals and adding 29 assists for 45 points in 40 games, good for the team lead. It should be noted that the only freshman with more points than Heinen last season was Jack Eichel. Heinen is a very intelligent hockey player and is a threat to score a goal every time he steps on the ice.
His offensive game is where he shines the most. He is a responsible player in the defensive zone as well, which will set him up to succeed in Claude Julien’s system. Standing at 6’0 and weighing only 161lbs, Heinen will look to add some weight before he becomes a legitimate threat to make the Bruins roster.
5. Zane McIntyre – 22 – Goaltender Â
McIntyre, coming off of a very strong college season with North Dakota, was a Hobey Baker Award finalist. The former 6th round pick of the Bruins in 2010 went 29-10-3, posting a .929 save percentage with only 2.05 goals against. Those numbers are very impressive, and McIntyre will look to parlay his college success into success at the NHL level. With the backup goalie position in the air right now for the Boston Bruins, McIntyre is expected to fight tooth and nail to earn that spot, rather than settle for a spot in Providence for this coming season.
With training camp starting on July 14th, it will be interesting to see which players prove why they are there as the final few roster spots on the Bruins are left open for the cream of the crop.