Boston Bruins: Frank Vatrano Deserving Of Top-Six Role
Boston Bruins: Frank Vatrano Deserving Of Top-Six Role this Season
The weeks are getting closer to the start of training camp which means the start of the National Hockey League season is almost here. The Bruins seem to be done adding to their roster which now leaves the question of who will make the team and where they could be placed.
One player that will be interesting to look at is Frank Vatrano. The former UMass Minuteman had one heck of a season in the American Hockey League and the NHL in 2015-16. The 22-year-old scored 36 goals in 36 games for the Providence Bruins (AHL) and ended the season with 55 points.
With the big club, Vatrano played 39 games and totaled 11 points (8g, 3a). He seemed to rejuvenate a very inconsistent Bruins team. Vatrano, however, played a bottom-six role for a good portion of his stint with Boston.
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His spark was something the Bruins needed more of last season, and heading into the 2016-17 campaign, is something they will need from the start.
Heading into training camp I believe that Vatrano will be someone who does make the team. His performance last season just seems to be too good to not earn a spot at least to start the season at the NHL level.
For those questioning whether or not his 2015-16 success was a fluke, look no further than the World Championships this past spring when Vatrano tallied eight points (3g, 5a) in Team USA’s ten games in the tournament.
Vatrano is a gamer and he has shown it at every level he’s competed in. There shouldn’t be any problem with him making this Bruins team, and make an immediate impact.
As mentioned before, Vatrano spent a good portion of his time in Boston last year playing a bottom six role. He eventually worked his way up, however, and had some playing time with the Bergeron-Marchand line.
This season Vatrano should get top-six playing minutes based on his past performance and what he can do on the ice. You’re talking about a guy that can shoot the puck with the best of them. He has the ability to the goal scorer the Bruins have been desperately been needing for some time.
Vatrano is the type of guy that can hop over the boards and be an instant game changer. Pairing him with a line like the Bergeron and Marchand line can make one heck of a scoring threat every time they’re out on the ice.
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Even pairing him with a guy like David Krejci, who is one of the premier passers in the league, could make a great pair as well. Either way you slice it, Vatrano is fit to be a top-six forward on this team. He’s has too much upside not to be given this opportunity.