There could soon be some shuffling at the back end of the top 10 as well. A bigger sample size will be needed to drop anyone out of the top 10, but there are a few guys making a case to crack this list.
Knocking on the door is Boston University defenseman David Warsofsky, who earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors after the junior blueliner collected two goals and three assists in wins over Wisconsin and Notre Dame as the Terriers won the Ice Breaker Tournament on St. Louis. Size will always be an issue for the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Warsofsky, but there’s little doubting the skill.
At the other end of the spectrum is Providence forward Lane MacDermid. He’s got plenty of size and toughness at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, but the question with him is if he has the skill level to make an impact at the NHL level. MacDermid is still a work in progress, but he’s off to a good start this season with two assists and a plus-1 rating in two games.
That included a beautiful feed to Kirk MacDonald to set up a short-handed goal in Providence’s opener. MacDermid hasn’t forgotten his primary duties either, as he pounded out a decision over Springfield heavyweight Kyle Neuber that same night.
So with the knowledge that there are plenty of other prospects close to cracking the top 10, how do the Bruins’ top prospects stack up this week?
- 1
Last week: No. 2
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Joe Colborne, CAfter being one of the final cuts in Boston, Colborne got off to a bit of a slow start in Providence. He didn’t have a point and was a minus-1 with just one shot in two games. The points should start coming soon enough for the talented 6-foot-5, 216-pound center. The 2008 first-rounder still has the highest upside of anyone in the system, which keeps him at No. 1 in the rankings.
- 2
Last week: No. 2
Current Team: Peterborough (OHL)
Ryan Spooner, CAfter his strong showing in camp, Spooner continues to tear up the Ontario Hockey League. He has 4-5-9 totals in just six games. He is a minus-5, but that’s more a reflection of Peterborough’s struggles as a team than any holes in Spooner’s game. The Petes are just 2-6-0 and have been outscored 43-23. Spooner sparked them to their second win on Thursday, collecting a goal and two assists and finishing a plus-3 in a 5-4 win over Sarnia.
- 3
Last week: No. 3
Current Team: London (OHL)
Jared Knight, C/RWThe speedy Knight is nothing if not consistent. In his first week back in the OHL he had a goal and two assists. This past week he added another goal and two assists. The difference is that he collected these last three points in just two games, after needing four games for the first three. He had a goal in a 3-0 win over Bellville and a goal and an assist in a 5-4 shootout win against reigning Memorial Cup champion Windsor.
- 4
Last week: No. 4
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Matt Bartkowski, DThe first-year pro out of Ohio State was Boston’s final cut after impressing the Bruins’ staff with his heady play and puck-moving skills throughout camp. He accompanied the big club on its trip to Europe, but was cut before the regular-season opener in Prague. Bartkowski didn’t return to Providence until after the Bruins got back from the Czech Republic, so he missed Providence’s first two games of the season. He should make his AHL debut on Friday and make an immediate impact for the Baby B’s while remaining in line for a potential recall if injuries strike the Boston blue line.
- 5
Last week: No. 5
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Steve Kampfer, DKampfer was sent down just before the Bruins left for Europe, so he was able to start the season in Providence. And the former University of Michigan standout made the most of his chance with a goal and two assists to tie for the team lead in points with three in two games. He is also a plus-2 with five shots, displaying a solid two-way game that bodes well for the future.
- 6
Last week: No. 6
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Max Sauve, C/LWSauve didn’t manage a point in Providence’s opener, but made up for that with a hat trick in the second game in Springfield last Saturday. With those three goals he not only leads Providence this season, but he’s already surpassed the two goals he scored in six games when he joined the team at the end of his QMJHL season last spring. Sauve also leads the team with seven shots, and should get plenty of chances to add to his totals as one of the key offensive players in Providence this year.
- 7
Last week: No. 7
Current Team: Prince Albert (WHL)
Ryan Button, DButton didn’t manage a point in his first seven games back in the Western Hockey League this year, but he came alive this week. In his last three games he collected four assists and was a plus-6. Overall, he’s at 0-4-4 and a plus-9 in 10 games. After not making the playoffs in his first three seasons in Prince Albert, Button has helped the Raiders move within a point of first place in the WHL’s East Division with a 5-4-1 record.
- 8
Last week: No. 8
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Zach Hamill, CStarting his third full season in Providence, Hamill is looking more and more comfortable in the pro game. The 2007 first-rounder still has plenty of work to do, but he’s off to a decent start with an assist, a plus-2 rating and six shots in his first two games.
- 9
Last week: No. 9
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Yury Alexandrov, DAlexandrov’s first exposure to the North American game came with a predictable series of ups and downs last weekend. He showed flashes of his offensive potential and collected his first point with an assist, but also struggled at times in his own zone and was a minus-2 through two games. How he handles the physical play of the North American game will be a key to Alexandrov’s transition, and he at least can take some comfort from the knowledge that his new teammates will have his back. After he was run in the opener by Springfield’s Steven Goertzen, defensive partner Nathan McIver immediately came to his aid and dropped the gloves with Goertzen.
- 10
Last week: No. 10
Current Team: Providence (AHL)
Jamie Arniel, RWArniel didn’t manage to get a point in Providence’s first two games, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying, as he tied Sauve and MacDonald for the team lead with seven shots. If he continues to create opportunities, Arniel will start putting up points. But with the strong starts of guys like Warsofsky and MacDermid, Arniel could be in jeopardy of dropping off this list.
