Position: Right wing
Age: 19 (turns 20 on Nov. 2)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 204 pounds
Shoots: Left
Acquired: 2009 draft, first round (25th overall)
2009-10 stats
Rimouski (QMJHL) 20 games, 9-11-20, plus-5, eight PIMs; Rouyn-Norada (QMJHL) 23 games, 17-16-33, plus-20, 16 PIMs; QMJHL totals 43 games, 26-27-53, plus-25, 24 PIMs; Playoffs: Rouyn-Norada (QMJHL) — 11 games, 7-11-18, plus-1, 15 PIMs
Analysis
Caron overcame a broken collarbone in the summer to put together a strong follow-up to his draft-year performance. He possesses good size and strength, soft hands around the net and a dangerous long-range shot. He's not a power forward in the traditional sense, as he's not known as a big hitter that drops the gloves often, but he does use his size well to protect the puck and win battles in the corners and along the boards. His skating is the main thing holding him back at this point. It's not horrible, but could use some improvement. His scoring touch and hockey sense, however, are both solid, and make it worth the investment of time and effort to help him improve his skating, as he does appear to have an NHL future ahead of him. Improving that aspect of his game has been his focus, and is part of the reason he hasn't packed on too many pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame.
"For now I think that's good," said Caron on Wednesday of his camp weight of 204 pounds. "I don't want to get too big. I need to work on my speed, so for now I think 200 [pounds] is good."
Notable
This will be Caron's first training camp with the Bruins, as he was unable to participate last year after suffering a broken collarbone on an open-ice hit by Colten Teubert at the Canadian World Juniors evaluation camp. That injury also kept him from the start of his junior season. … Caron still made Team Canada despite that setback, and finished with four assists and was a plus-8 in six games. … He was used in a checking role in that tournament, but the Bruins envision him eventually filling a top-six spot on a scoring line. … Was off to a point-a-game pace with Rimouski, but his game really picked up after a trade to Rouyn-Norada last year. … Finished his junior career with exactly 100 goals and almost exactly a point a game, with 203 points in 204 games. Had 33 points in 33 career playoff games in juniors. … Was also a combined plus-54 in four seasons in the QMJHL. … Only had three fights in those four seasons, with none last year. … Although he's just 19, Caron is eligible to play in Providence this season because he has already played four seasons of major junior. … Had a strong showing in this summer's development camp, skating mostly with 2010 top picks Tyler Seguin and Jared Knight. … Also showed some chemistry with Craig Cunningham, setting him up for a goal during 3-on-3 play in the final scrimmage.
Quotable
"Jordan's quiet, he's not going to tell you, but he knows the expectations are there," said Bruins assistant general manager Don Sweeney at July's development camp. "I just like their [Caron and 2008 first-round pick Joe Colborne] approach, their daily approach. It's no nonsense. It’s, 'I want to get better. I need to get better.' They recognize they need to get better, and that's an important aspect of anybody's development curve."
"Like everybody here, we're all here [to win] a job, and I want to come here and make the team, so I'm going to be working hard the next couple of weeks," said Caron on Wednesday. "It's much different [this time]. Last year wasn't very good because of my injury, but I think this year I'm ready and hopefully it's going to be a good experience."
2010-11 outlook
Caron will be looking to make up for lost time as he makes his first appearance in the Bruins' main training camp this month. He is fully healed from last year's injury with no lingering effects from the broken collarbone. His size and skill set give him an outside shot at earning a job with the big club, which could use an infusion of size up front and might have a spot for a new face or two with Marco Sturm injured and so many wingers underachieving last year. But it's still most likely that Caron will start his pro career in Providence this season and look to refine his game there for now.
NESN.com will count down our preseason Top 10 Bruins Prospects with one profiled each day.
Wednesday, Sept. 8: The No. 4 prospect, defenseman Yury Alexandrov.
Friday, Sept. 10: The No. 2 Bruins prospect is unveiled.
