It’s getting drafty

With the NHL entry draft just 9 days away, we have more insights about Terrier recruits who are draft eligible. Chris Peters of United States of Hockey has posted about US-born draft “sleepers” and includes profiles of three 2012 recruits, Danny O’Regan, Matt Grzelcyk and Matthew Lane.

New England Hockey Journal’s Kirk Luedeke has posted a profile of Grzelcyk, who talks about his development during two seasons in the NTDP program and also his longtime friendship with 2013 recruit Collier, with whom he’s been skating since they were this old:

Photo courtesy of the Grzelcyk family.

NEHJ also has ranked the top 10 draft prospects from New England and provides profiles and scout’s comments on each. Half of that group are Terrier recruits: 2012s: #6 O’Regan, #8 Sam Kurker, #10 Grzelcyk; and 2013s #3 Robbie Baillargeon and #7 Collier.  Doyle Sommerby, also a 2013 recruit, was on Luedeke’s sleeper list.  A few excerpts:

“I like Baillargeon because he’s a skilled playmaker and underrated in the draft discussion, but also because he left the easy mark in prep school to play at a higher level against guys a lot bigger and stronger than he is. And you know what? He did a lot better than people thought he would.” — NHL scout, Western Conference

“I would say that (O’Regan) is probably the most skilled of all these New England prospects. He might surprise people with where he’ll be drafted. He has excellent hand and foot speed, thinks the game very well and is also a gritty, hard-nosed kid despite not having a lot of size.” — NHL Central Scouting Service scout Gary Eggleston

● Boston Herald report on New England draft prospects.

Looking back

Last night, ESPN’s John Bucciogross, who will do the play-by-play of next year’s NCAA Frozen Four, tweeted: “I'm hearing AHL Lake Erie Monster Head Coach David Quinn will be the new Avs Assistant Coach that replaces Sylvain Lefebvre.” 

This has now been confirmed by the Avalanche. Quinn, a former Terrier blueliner and later associate head coach under Jack Parker, now will assist another former BU skater, head coach Joe Sacco.

Stanley Cup trivia

Q-Which BU squads produced multiple players who later won the Stanley Cup?

A-
Ed Ronan (Montreal 1993) and Shawn McEachern (Pittsburgh 1992) (BU teammates 88-89, 89-90, 90-91)

Jay Pandolfo (NJ 2000, 2003) and Chris Drury (Colorado 2001) --BU teammates 94-95 and 95-96)

Drury (Colorado 2001) and Joe DiPenta (Anaheim 2007)   --BU teammates 97-98

Credit to USCHO Poster DaveStPaul