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Just a quick one-off: Walking into the Bell Sensplex, Tim Murray was beside me talking to someone, stating they were still talking about whether Benoit will be returning or not.
Development Camp Day 1:
Curtis Lazar – Sporting 27, Lazar had a decent first day. Flashed a very dangerous looking backhand all afternoon, and has very good vision when parked out front tipping shots and cleaning up rebounds. Very average looking size-wise, but very slippery in the corners and along the boards. Only knock I could see was his conditioning seemed a little behind compared to other players, which for day 1 of the camp, isn’t a big deal.
Matt Puempel – Showed off his newfound speed that made him a goal-scoring machine for Kitchener last season. Looks like he is progressing very well, and should have a good year in Bingo. The biggest thing that’ll hold him back from an NHL try-out is he needs to get stronger on the puck. Numerous times today he got out-muscled when fighting for the puck.
Stefan Noesen – Looked slightly bigger then the camp roster has him listed at. Really based on size alone he looks like he’s NHL ready. Based on what I saw today, Noesen has plenty to like about him. Very strong on the puck and down along the boards, and looked very aware of everything developing around him. In all honesty if anyone knew is going to make the Sens roster this year it’ll be Noesen.
Shane Prince – I’m pretty sure every year people say the same thing about Prince: He is very fast. The most amazing thing about his speed is how effortless it looks when he hits high gear and separates himself from others. Once again he was showing off an absolute rocket of a wrist-shot. I couldn’t find any real knock on him today.
J.G. Pageau – Not much to say that the collective hockey world has already noticed. Very fast, and creative with the puck, and very strong when he gets low, no one seemed able to separate him from the puck 1-on-1.
Troy Rutowski – Don’t know much about him to start, but his slick-hands were what stood out to me. For a defenseman, he seems creative with the puck, and confident in his puck-skills. Very strong and smart while back-checking, and seemed to read the play well. Looked like he could stand to bulk up a bit more.
Cody Ceci – My first thought was something looks wrong with Ceci. I’m not sure what it was but nothing about his performance today looked right. He got a little better as the day progressed, but he looked more like a walk-on then a 1st round pick. Here’s hoping he is just sick or injuried.
Buddy Robinson – Undrafted and late joiner to Bingo last year, Buddy is an absolute man-beast. Roster has him listed at 6’5” 225, but a few others and me felt he was easily 6’7”. Biggest guy at the camp for sure. He’s not the fastest skater, but a very smooth and strong skater for his size. His hand-eye seemed to be very good too. Could be an absolute diamond in the rough for the Sens, definitely a guy to watch in Bingo nest season.
Tobias Lindberg – Our new Swede-player, Lindberg showed flashes of his skill, but was clearly uncomfortable on day 1. Stuck close to Zibanejad when he could, and seemed to be always skating with his head down.
Fredrik Claesson - Not much to say, mainly because he is a shutdown D-man by nature. It’s clear he’s been working on his skating, was one of only a few that seemed capable of playing against Pageau, Conacher and Zibanejad. I’ve always loved what he brings, so I may be a bit of homer in regards to him.
Cory Conacher – He is so friggin short, it’s just crazy. Like Pageau not much is needed to be said about Conacher, his skill-set looks much further ahead than most of the prospects here.
Max McCormick – I didn’t try to focus on him, but he stood out today. One of the harder working players today, McCormick never gave up on any play/drill until the whistle was blown, even throw a decent hit. Has a real nice snapshot.
Derek Grant – Didn’t follow him much today, but he looks like he has rounded out nicely, similar to Colin Greening.
Jakub Culek – Was nowhere to be found today, not sure if was just late arriving to town or if an illness or injury kept him out today.
Mika Zibanejad – Clearly a man among boys. Big-Z is at camp to be a ‘veteran’ player and lead by example.
Mark Stone – Stone was kept separate from main camp, instead skating with Maidens and a trainer on a separate sheet of ice. Clearly still recovering from his post-season injury.
Jarrod Maidens – Skated with Stone on separate ice, and spent majority of time working on his skating.
Big-Z and Conacher spent sometime after the practice with a trainer to help Ryan Dzingel with some skating drills.
I’ll be back again tomorrow at the Camp and I’ll post another run down tomorrow.
Development Camp Day 1:
Curtis Lazar – Sporting 27, Lazar had a decent first day. Flashed a very dangerous looking backhand all afternoon, and has very good vision when parked out front tipping shots and cleaning up rebounds. Very average looking size-wise, but very slippery in the corners and along the boards. Only knock I could see was his conditioning seemed a little behind compared to other players, which for day 1 of the camp, isn’t a big deal.
Matt Puempel – Showed off his newfound speed that made him a goal-scoring machine for Kitchener last season. Looks like he is progressing very well, and should have a good year in Bingo. The biggest thing that’ll hold him back from an NHL try-out is he needs to get stronger on the puck. Numerous times today he got out-muscled when fighting for the puck.
Stefan Noesen – Looked slightly bigger then the camp roster has him listed at. Really based on size alone he looks like he’s NHL ready. Based on what I saw today, Noesen has plenty to like about him. Very strong on the puck and down along the boards, and looked very aware of everything developing around him. In all honesty if anyone knew is going to make the Sens roster this year it’ll be Noesen.
Shane Prince – I’m pretty sure every year people say the same thing about Prince: He is very fast. The most amazing thing about his speed is how effortless it looks when he hits high gear and separates himself from others. Once again he was showing off an absolute rocket of a wrist-shot. I couldn’t find any real knock on him today.
J.G. Pageau – Not much to say that the collective hockey world has already noticed. Very fast, and creative with the puck, and very strong when he gets low, no one seemed able to separate him from the puck 1-on-1.
Troy Rutowski – Don’t know much about him to start, but his slick-hands were what stood out to me. For a defenseman, he seems creative with the puck, and confident in his puck-skills. Very strong and smart while back-checking, and seemed to read the play well. Looked like he could stand to bulk up a bit more.
Cody Ceci – My first thought was something looks wrong with Ceci. I’m not sure what it was but nothing about his performance today looked right. He got a little better as the day progressed, but he looked more like a walk-on then a 1st round pick. Here’s hoping he is just sick or injuried.
Buddy Robinson – Undrafted and late joiner to Bingo last year, Buddy is an absolute man-beast. Roster has him listed at 6’5” 225, but a few others and me felt he was easily 6’7”. Biggest guy at the camp for sure. He’s not the fastest skater, but a very smooth and strong skater for his size. His hand-eye seemed to be very good too. Could be an absolute diamond in the rough for the Sens, definitely a guy to watch in Bingo nest season.
Tobias Lindberg – Our new Swede-player, Lindberg showed flashes of his skill, but was clearly uncomfortable on day 1. Stuck close to Zibanejad when he could, and seemed to be always skating with his head down.
Fredrik Claesson - Not much to say, mainly because he is a shutdown D-man by nature. It’s clear he’s been working on his skating, was one of only a few that seemed capable of playing against Pageau, Conacher and Zibanejad. I’ve always loved what he brings, so I may be a bit of homer in regards to him.
Cory Conacher – He is so friggin short, it’s just crazy. Like Pageau not much is needed to be said about Conacher, his skill-set looks much further ahead than most of the prospects here.
Max McCormick – I didn’t try to focus on him, but he stood out today. One of the harder working players today, McCormick never gave up on any play/drill until the whistle was blown, even throw a decent hit. Has a real nice snapshot.
Derek Grant – Didn’t follow him much today, but he looks like he has rounded out nicely, similar to Colin Greening.
Jakub Culek – Was nowhere to be found today, not sure if was just late arriving to town or if an illness or injury kept him out today.
Mika Zibanejad – Clearly a man among boys. Big-Z is at camp to be a ‘veteran’ player and lead by example.
Mark Stone – Stone was kept separate from main camp, instead skating with Maidens and a trainer on a separate sheet of ice. Clearly still recovering from his post-season injury.
Jarrod Maidens – Skated with Stone on separate ice, and spent majority of time working on his skating.
Big-Z and Conacher spent sometime after the practice with a trainer to help Ryan Dzingel with some skating drills.
I’ll be back again tomorrow at the Camp and I’ll post another run down tomorrow.
