Apr 9, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Providence College Friars forward Noel Acciari (24) comes around the net against Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks goaltender Ryan Massa (31) during the first period of a semifinal game in the men’s Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at TD Garden in Boston. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
A few of the Boston Bruins undrafted veteran college free agent pickups stood out at Rookie Camp over the B’s new bumper crop of 1st round draftees, showing that a few more years of development can make all the difference.
Among the standouts was Austin Czarnik, who set up the winning overtime goal during an inter-squad game in Buffalo Sept. 13 versus the New Jersey Devils rookies and added two more assists the next night against the Sabres’ newbies.
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“The kid makes plays,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney told the Boston Globe. “He’s got a lot of courage at his size. He acquitted himself very well in these two games.”
Czarnik centered another B’s tournament standout in Frank Vatrano, whose heavy shot was on display with three goals over the two games. The two are undersized, but each offer something dynamic to Boston. Czarnik has the playmaking skills while Vatrano has the shot, and both have the drive the Bruins are looking for.
“The kid makes plays. He’s got a lot of courage at his size. He acquitted himself very well in these two games.” – Bruins GM Don Sweeney on Austin Czarnik
“Me and Frankie had some chemistry coming into it, so that really helped out, and obviously Hickman’s a big body, so he got in there and banged some guys around, got some pucks,” Czarnik said on the Bruins Blog. “So overall, pretty happy with how I did and how we did as a team. I would say definitely started in practice, getting a feel for each other. the goal scorer, I’m the passer, so that’s what I try to do — give him the puck, give him and Hicks the puck, and see how it goes.”
Vatrano, 21, 5’9”, 175 lbs, signed with the B’s on March 13 after scoring 18 goals and 28 points in 36 games for UMass-Amherst last year and winning WJC gold with the U.S. Under-18 Nationals in 2011-12 while chipping in 16 goals and 35 points in 60 games. He added a goal over five games for the Providence Bruins late last season. “He seemed to continually breathe new life into this young team, and he showed everyone watching why he was one of three players wearing an “A” on his chest,” according to the Bruins website after the rookies’ OT win against the Devils.
Meanwhile Czarnik, 22, 5’9”, 167 lbs, who signed with Boston March 31, brings exciting skills, excellent passing and speed to go with a good work ethic and leadership traits. He amassed 169 points in 159 games at Miami University of Ohio, and also got into a few games with Providence at the end of last season notching a pair of assists. After Czarnik signed, ESPN Insider Corey Pronman immediately tweeted, “ he becomes a top 10 prospect in their system. Skilled, smart, hard working player even if small.”
It will be interesting to see how Czarnik and Vatrano do as they move onto the B’s varsity camp Sept. 17 with potential to carve out solid spots and playing time on the Bruins depth chart in Providence and perhaps even hover around Boston’s 4th line. All 24 B’s rookies from the tournament practiced at TD Garden on Sept. 16 to prepare for the big camp.
Linus Arnesson, 20, 6’1”, 187 lbs, a 2013 B’s 2nd round pick out of Sweden known as a solid defensive defenseman and good skater, also played very well in the rookie tournament, netting a blast of a goal and throwing in an assist to boot. He’s another player that benefited from 11 games in Providence last season, while picking up 4 points.
Former Providence College captain and energy guy Noel Acciari, 23, added a goal, while Bruins goalie prospects Dan Vladar, an 18-year old 3rd round 2015 pick from the Czech Republic, and University of North Dakota star and 2010 pick Zane McIntyre, 23, each turned in solid performances in net over the two games.
Puck Prose
As for the Bruins three first round picks from June’s draft – defenseman Jakub Zboril and wings Jake DeBrusk and Zach Senyshyn — rookie camp was a mixed bag. It started rough when they each failed an off-ice endurance test, but picked up as they practiced while DeBrusk and Senyshyn played on a line with veteran Finnish League center Joonas Kemppainen during the two inter-squad games. The highlight for the 1st rounders came as time was ticking away late in the third period against the Devils, when they combined for the game-tying goal by Zboril with DeBrusk and Senyshyn assisting.
Puck Prose
“ is an active guy; he got in and out of there, so we needed it,” Providence Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told the Bruins website. “They had some looks, and Zach had a great chance (in) the second period — hit the post. I think DeBrusk was in at least two or three times; he’s got a good nose for the net.”
The teenaged trio were kept off the scoresheet in game two, as it became apparent the older, more experienced college standouts who had also benefited from some games in Providence were further along in their progression. Those additional years of experience and growth are monumental at this stage. But the trio’s participation at the rookie and main camps should serve them well when they likely return to their junior teams for further pivotal seasons of development.
Another highlight of Rookie Camp that served as a gut check for the Bruins and their fans was seeing 2015’s #2 overall pick and BU megastar Jack Eichel single-handedly take over the second game, sending a perfect pass through B’s defenders to tie it late and then finishing a beautiful charge to the net by Boston’s defense to win it with a wrister in OT. He dominated for stretches, and also controlled the game often during USA’s bronze showing at the IIHF Worlds in May against some top NHLers. It shows you what a game-breaking #2 pick can do, and what the Bruins were lucky enough to have once upon a time with Tyler Seguin and should have held onto because these type of elite gamechangers are on another level, very difficult to get and don’t come around often.