Boston Bruins Expect Big Things From Sean Kuraly
On June 30th when Sean Kuraly ascertained he was traded, he tore up his plane ticket to San Jose with a grin on his face. That’s because the 22-year-old center realized he had just become a NHL commodity in the eyes of a foreign team, the Boston Bruins.
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Back in late June as a Shark, Kuraly was preparing for yet another summer of development camp in San Jose, the team which drafted him in the fifth round in 2011. Kuraly had a chip on his shoulder for his rather high draft stock, and his eagerness to improve was palpable. With the Indian Ice in the USHL, Kuraly scored 32 goals alongside 38 assists in 54 games during his draft year, proving his offensive upside. Furthermore, the Bruins had inside access to Kuraly and his abilities as a smart, two-way forward.
John Ferguson(the Bruins’ executive director of player personnel) helped usher in the 6-foot-2-inch left-shot centermen. From 2008 to 2014, Ferguson was San Jose’s director of pro scouting, which inevitably led to Kuraly jetting to Boston. Ferguson found stark talent in Kuraly before and during the 2013 World Junior Championship with Team USA.
Young Kuraly proved his commodity value with good skating and size. At 209 pounds, Kuraly can mesh well against strong defenses as a center and left wing, which he played occasionally in the USHL and with Miami U. in college hockey. From the WJC of 2013, Ferguson was cognizant Kuraly would become a future NHLer. As Martin Jones became an expendable resource to deal, Ferguson urged general manager Don Sweeney to sweeten the deal and include the prospect Kuraly alongside San Jose’s first round pick in 2016. Although ambiguous currently, this may very well be a lucrative deal for the Bruins down the road.
Kuraly has bottom-six potential written all over him. Ferguson felt confident two years ago in the American when asserting, at the time with San Jose, Kuraly would assimilate into a bottom-tier role with the Sharks. Kuraly’s rights now belong to a team who is in dire need of young, speedy bottom-six support. It is reported, though, that Kuraly will remain at Miami for his senior season.
What is uncertain is his future after college hockey. His track record at Miami bodes well for the Bruins. Last season with the school, Kuraly netted 19 goals with 10 assists in 40 games. These stats, along with his looming 2015-16 season, may prove he does not need much AHL preparation.
The Bruins will expect big things from Kuraly the day he does become a member of the varsity squad. His history as a prospect deems him a valuable asset. He’ll be called upon to play with forwards like Ryan Spooner or Zac Rinaldo. The structure of Kuraly’s game as a two-way forward meets Coach Claude Julien’s standards. He’d fit seamlessly with a fourth line role.
Kurlay may be the commodity that shakes up the Bruins roster in time. He fits the blueprint for a forward on a NHL fourth line these days in the league. He’s young, durable, speedy, powerful, and most importantly, compatible with the Bruins’ identity.