The Bruins recalled center Zach Hamill on Thursday, and with Daniel Paille getting suspended for four games on Friday for a hit to the head of Dallas forward Raymond Sawada, Hamill will get a chance to show what he can do in the next few games.
Hamill didn't show much early in the year, but turned things around after a slow start. He was second in scoring in Providence with 3-25-28 totals in 44 games. He was also one of the few P-Bruins on the right side of the plus/minus ledger at plus-4, no small feat on a team that had been outscored 146-118 going into Friday night's game with Springfield.
"There's been a long period of time, five or six weeks, where he's shown a heightening of his play," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said. "He's competing more. He's stronger, and it's a good time to have a look at him."
How long a look will be up to Hamill.
"It's a look," Chiarelli said. "It could turn into something longer or it could be a very brief look. We'll see how he plays. You have to earn your time, but he has earned a look."
With Hamill no longer eligible for the prospects list, let's see who has earned the right to replace him in this week's Top 10 Bruins Prospects list.
- 1
Last week: 1 1. Jordan Caron, LW/RWCaron could easily have gotten the call to return to Boston. He played well with the big club early in the season and after a slow start, he's really picked up his play in Providence as well. This week he had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over Portland and an assist in a 3-2 loss at Worcester. Overall, he has 6-10-16 totals in 24 games with the P-Bruins.
- 2
Last week: No. 2 2. Ryan Spooner, CSpooner was held scoreless in two games as Kingston dropped a pair of games, giving up two third-period goals in 3-2 losses to his old club Peterborough and Ottawa. Despite the quiet week, he still has 28-26-54 totals in 44 games this season.
- 3
Last week: No. 3 3. Jared Knight, C/RW
Knight also was held off the scoresheet in two games, as London dropped a 6-4 decision to Erie and beat Brampton 4-2 in OHL action. Knight was a minus-3 in the two games, but also still has impressive season totals at 21-30-51 with a plus-3 rating in 47 games.
- 4
Last week: No. 5 4. Matt Bartkowski, DBartkowski put up points in both Providence games this season, collecting an assist in the win over Portland and scoring a power-play goal at Worcester. He now has 5-11-16 totals with 27 penalty minutes and 102 shots in 41 games in his first pro season.
- 5
Last week: No. 4 5. Joe Colborne, C
Colborne had an assist against Worcester, but was a minus-3 in two games this week as he continues his adjustment to the pro game. He remains a work in progress, but has the kind of high-end skill worth being patient with. He has 11-14-25 totals and is a minus-8 in 47 games in Providence.
- 6
Last week: No. 8 6. Jamie Arniel, CArniel had an assist in the two games that counted this week, but was even more impressive in the one that didn't matter in the standings. Arniel was Providence's lone representative in the AHL All-Star game in Hershey on Monday, and collected a goal and an assist and was a plus-4 in helping the East to an 11-8 win. Arniel leads the P-Bruins with 14-16-30 totals and 158 shots in 46 games.
- 7
Last week: No. 6 7. Max Sauve, C/LW
Sauve was held scoreless and was a minus-3 in two games this week, but still has solid overall numbers despite missing time early in the year with a wrist injury. He has 12-5-17 totals and is a plus-1 in 28 games, with six game-winning goals.
- 8
Last week: No. 9 8. Craig Cunningham, C
Cunningham added another goal as Portland split a pair of games in the WHL this week. He is now tied for 12th in the league in scoring with 18-45-63 totals to go with 44 penalty minutes and a plus-7 rating in 51 games this season.
- 9
Last week: Unranked 9. David Warsofsky, DWarsofsky benefits from Hamill's recall as the Marshfield, Mass. native returns to the Top 10. Warsofsky, whose rights were acquired at the 2010 draft from St. Louis for Vladimir Sobotka, scored the game-winning goal in the third period as BU rallied for a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 at Maine last Friday. For the season, he has 7-12-19 totals with 46 penalty minutes, 42 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating in 26 games for the Terriers.
- 10
Last week: No. 10 10. Ryan Button, D
Button retains the final spot in the Top 10 despite remaining out with an upper-body injury. He should be back soon, and Seattle needs him if the Thunderbirds want to make a push for one of the final playoff spots in the WHL. Button plays a strong two-way game and has 3-22-25 totals and 39 penalty minutes in 49 games split between Prince Albert and Seattle.
