Tonight, two of the best college hockey programs in the United States will meet at the TD Garden in Boston to battle for the ultimate prize in Boston sports, the Beanpot. Is there a rooting interest for Oilers fans? Unless you live in the Boston area or went to school in this city, no, there isn’t.
That said, when Boston University and Boston College take to the ice on the national stage in both the US and Canada (TSN), there will be some NHL talent suiting up. Some of these guys are draft eligible players while some are pending college UFA’s.
Players To Watch:
D Charlie McAvoy (BU) – The freshman defender is the highest ranked player for either team in the upcoming entry draft, checking in as the ninth ranked North American skater via NHL Central Scouting Service’s rankings. McAvoy is your typical NCAA puck moving defender.
He’s a solid skater, has a smooth stride, and can get the puck up ice with ease. He’s fit in well with the Terriers, a strong defensive team, because he’s taken the time to round out his game and be better in his own zone. Without a doubt he’s a first round talent and will go in the first 30 picks this June.
D Casey Fitzgerald (BC) – Another freshman defender, Fitzgerald is considerably less flashy than McAvoy is. While I expect he’ll be drafted in June, he’s ranked 108th among NA skaters, he doesn’t have the upside that his counterpart on BU does.
Style wise, he’s a similar player in the sense that he’s a solid skater and is more of a puck moving defender. He’s a project however, as he struggles in the defensive zone at the NCAA level and, honestly, is inconsistent when moving the puck to my eyes.
D Matt Grzelcyk (BU) – Drafted by the Boston Bruins a few seasons back, the senior captain is now BU’s top player, taking over a role held by Jack Eichel last season. Grzelcyk has a strong shot and an ability to put the puck in the net while playing a pretty tough style. He’s not overly flashy, but he’s a solid all around defender that I believe has the ability to make it to the NHL and have a solid career.
Grzelcyk is from the Boston area, but there is a thought process that maybe, just maybe, he opts to leave as a UFA this summer and sign with a team desperate for young defensive help. The odds this happens are low but if he does opt to test the market I suspect Peter Chiarelli, the man who drafted him, to be in the mix.
Final Thoughts:
Admittedly, this year’s tournament has considerably less star power than last year’s in terms of pending UFA’s and draft eligible players. There are some other prospects in this game to watch, guys who may come available via trade as we approach the deadline. For a team selling like Edmonton, that’s an important thing to watch.
Zach Sanford is a power forward for the Eagles who is under Washington control currently. He’s a bigger guy and has an offensive touch to him, something every team values. Minnesota Wild prospect Alex Tuch (2014 1st rounder) has really struggled for BC this season, but he’s found a way to post ten goals this season. Worth mentioning that he’s another biggish player that has some skill to him.
All said, tonight’s game should be quite an entertaining tilt between two bitter rivals desperate to claim bragging rights over an entire city. In the middle of that battle will be a number of young players looking to add to their resume as prospects. The Oilers should be paying attention to this one tonight.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
