Bruins Prospect Snap Shot

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The Boston Bruins have been around for 86 years with 5 Stanley Cup’s in their trophy case. The last title came in 1972, and the Bruins last contended for the cup in 1990 losing to the Oilers. Boston has 3 times drafted first overall taking Barry Gibbs in 1966, Gord Kluzak in 1982, and Joe Thornton in 1997. That year the Bruins also took Sergei Samsonov 8th overall. In 2010 Boston will also have 2 first round picks (If they don’t trade one) thanks to the Phil Kessel trade with Toronto.

The Bruins top minor league team is in Providence. The baby Bruins won a Calder Cup in 1999, but are struggling right. As of this writing they were 7th in the Atlantic division.

Here now is a look at the top prospects of the Boston Bruins.

Top 5 Tuesday: From the AHL to the Show

As the NHL and AHL regular season wind down, we look ahead to next year for a second, and give you 5 AHL players who could be regulars in the NHL next year.

5. Ted Purcell-Manchester Monarchs-Undrafted
Ted Purcell's journey has been included a year at Notre Dame college in Wilcox Saskatchewan where the St. John's, Newfoundland product struggled and emerged to head south for the USHL. After 2 seasons with Cedar Rapids, his main goal was having a good season with the Black Bears of the University of Maine. Consider his plan a success, after 43 points in 40 games. The undrafted right winger left college after his freshman season and signed with the L.A. Kings in 2007. Since then he's played 46 games in the NHL collecting 18 points, including 15 in 36 games this year. His latest stint came after the 6.03 forward put up 38 points in 38 games with Manchester, which should be his last tour of duty in the AHL.

4. Corey Crawford-Rockford Ice Hogs-2nd Round Pick 2003-ChicagoCorey Crawford could get his PHD in patience. Since the Hawks selected him in the
2nd round of the 2003 draft, he's appeared in just 7 NHL games. Crawford was the 2nd goalie chosen in 2003, after Pittsburgh made Marc-Andre Fleury just the 2nd pipeman to be a first overall pick in a draft. Crawford spent 4 years with the Moncton Wildcats, setting team records for goals against, wins and tying the record for shut outs in 2003-2004 when the 'Cats lost in the league final. Since then Crawford has played more than 200 games in the AHL winning 110, including his 2nd season when he collected 38 victories in 60 games. It looked like Crawford would atleast get a shot at backing up Nikolai Khabibulin this year, until Hawks G.M. Dale Tallon signed Christobal Huet in the summer. But with the 'Bulin wall a unrestricted free agent, Crawford will get his chance next year, and don't be surprised if he challenges for the number one spot in the windy city. If not, I'm sure he'll have the patience to back up for a while.

3. Artem Anisimov-Hartford Wolfpack-2nd round 2006-New York
The New York Rangers don't have anyone with atleast 60 points this year. Do you think they could use a guy closing in on 80 with their farm team? Anisimov finish tied with Springfield's Ryan Potulny for 3rd in the AHL with 35 goals, and his 78 points are good for a tie for 4th. He's more than doubled his goal production and almost has twice as many points as he did last year. Anisimov showed he wants to play by coming over from Russia, unlike some other drafted players in the NHL and the Rangers need to give the 6.03, 187 pound centre a chance next year to boost their anemic offence.

2. Chris Bourque-Hershey Bears-2nd round pick 2004-Washington
The Washington Capitals have 3 pretty good left wingers already in OV, Alex Semin and former Moose Jaw Warrior Tomas Fleischmann, but if Chris Bourque can switch to the right side he might have a home in Washington as their top right winger Viktor Kozlov has just 39 points in 64 games. In Hershey this year, Bourque is proving he can dish it out with 51 assists, the 4th best total in the AHL. The son of Ray also has 21 goals in just 66 games. He's not very big at just 5.08 and 180 pounds, but has increased his point totals in each of his four minor league seasons.

1. Johnny Boychuk-Providence Bruins-2nd round pick 2002-Colorado
The Edmonton product didn't fit into the longterm plans of the Colorado Avalanche after last season, but it looks like he could be a big hit in the immediate future of the Boston Bruins. Boychuk was a big hitter with the Calgary Hitmen the last time they had as good a team as they have now, but showed some offence with 13 goals in his final junior season after getting traded to Moose Jaw. In 4 years with the Avs organization he notched just 27 goals, but with Providence this year, Boychuk scored 20 times and added 44 assists in 76 games. It was good enough for the Defenceman lead in AHL scoring and earned Boychuk the top blueliner award in the top minor league in the world. Boston has two top offensive D-men in Denis Wideman and Zedeno Chara, but traded Matt Lashoff to get Mark Recchi at the deadline. Boychuk could fill the void next season.

Just a reminder that tonight is our annual Frozen Four coaches show, Guy and I will speak with all 4 of the coaches trying to lead their clubs to NCAA supremacy. Check out the line up and more, or if you miss it live, like Guy say's click the archive, at TPS, where the future of hockey...plays here now.

Top 5 Tuesdays: AHL Stories to Watch

I was recently checking ou the AHL's official website and seeing which of my keeper league players were playing well and who wasn't when I came across several interesting items that I felt were worth keeping an eye on this year.

Here now are my top 5 AHL stories of interest that I'm going to follow as I'm not sure how they will end.

5. Jesse Joensuu – The big Finn was highly touted early on in his draft year but by June of 2006 his stock had fallen so far that the NYI eventually selected him at the end of the 2nd round (60th overall). A lot of Euros in his situation may have been content staying back home but give credit where its due; Joensuu is now in Bridgeport - can the 6’4, 210 lb forward reach the potential many had initially expected? So far he’s got 7 points in 13 games.

4. Russians in Syracuse – Maxim Mayorov and Nikita Filatov are bucking the stereotype of Russians who aren’t willing to come over and play in the AHL. Thus far the pair have 17 points together and are a +4. Can the yougn Russians keep their hot start going or will they fizzle out like many Europeans do in their first North American season, around Christmas time when they've got 35-40 games under their belt? Keep in mind that in Europe, they play much lighter schedules.

3. Johnny Boychuck was once a top prospect for the Colorado Avalanche who drafted him in the 2nd round of 2002. After a strong WHL career in Calgary and Moose Jaw he was a bust with the Aves organization. He was dealt to Boston and is now ripping it up for their farm team the Providence Bruins. Boychuck, now a more mature 24-year-old, has 15 points so far which is tied for tops amongst AHL blueliners. Is this a case of a late bloomer, lighting in a bottle or just a guy who needed a change of scenery and is making the most of it?

2. Remember Danny Syvret? The Edmonton Oilers drafted him as a 20-year-old after a fantastic season with the London Knights but he soon disappeared into obscurity in the minors. He was so bad that Edmonton willingly lent him to play in the Spengler Cup just to try and kick start his flatlining career. Last summer he was traded to Philly for Ryan Potulny, well this year he’s leading the AHL in blueline scoring (tied with Boychuck) with 15 points. The Phantoms seem to have rejuvenated his career as he leads the team in scoring as well. 2 months ago, Oiler fans didn't even care that Syvret had been dealt. It will be interesting to see who goes on to have a better career now - Syvret or Potulny.

1. Pint sized power in Portland – Tim Kennedy and Nate Gerbe may have butted heads at the 2007 NCAA National title game between Michigan State and Boston College but are teammates now with the Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate. Together the pair is ripping it up on the farm and have combined for 32 points. Both forwards are of the 'highly offensive but tiny' variety. Gerbe barely tips the scales at 5'6 and 160 lbs while Kennedy checks in at 5'10 and 170 lbs. With the way they are playing one has to wonder what will come first – a reality check or a promotion to the NHL?

Definitely worth keeping tabs on!