Development Camp- Day 3
by ChrisAm on Jul 15, 2009 10:08 PM EDT
15 comments
Today I was back at Development Camp but only for the skating drills in the morning. Peerless has done a great job recapping both the scrimmage and the morning sessions but here, for what it's worth, are my 2 cents.
Group A started off by warming up with some puck work (Group B did not) and even in this relaxed setting, Perreault showed that he can put the puck where ever he wants to. He must have banged 7-10 pucks right off the posts in the upper left and right hand corners. The kid has got some skills.
First off, it is remarkable to me how much better some skaters are than others, even at this level. This was never more apparent than with Group A, where Breuss, Broda Perreault and Sean Backman stood out from the rest, with Breuss drawing the most attention. Breuss skates like he plays- with alot of aggression and explosiveness. He has a compact style, powerful legs and has great edge work, which allowed him to shine in all 4 drills.
The first drill had the nets placed almost against the endboards, with just enough space for the players to slip through. The players started at the far blue line with the boards on their right, skated toward the adjusted net, came out the other side and then were timed between the blue lines. The drill rewarded those who could carry the most speed through the corner and Breuss appeared to be the best (as Peerless points out, the times are not revealed so all I have are my observations), followed by Broda, Perreault and Backman. Broda is also powerful with Perreault and Backman getting good results with their graceful stride. Finley did better than I expected but was the only one to lose an edge in this drill.
The second drill had the skaters skate from blue line to blue line from a dead stop. Again, Breuss, Broda Perreault and Backman all excelled, with Breuss getting up to speed the quickest.
The third drill had the players skating around cones placed in an S formation. The first cone was to the players left, requiring a turn to the right with a left footed crossover and the second cone required a left turn with a right footed crossover. I mention the crossovers because I was surprised to see that not all the players were able to crossover with both feet.
The last drill was a mini suicide with the players starting at the blue line, going to the red, back to the blue, and then to the far blue line.
Again, Breuss, Broda Perreault and Backman all excelled, with Breuss getting up to speed the quickest.
In addition to these 4, Flemming and Mitchell stood out. They were not quite as fast as as the other 4 but they were fast. Flemming again stood out to me because the kid never stops trying even when he is clearly exhausted. Same with Breuss. Flemming and Breuss have the best combination of talent and work ethic in Group A and I have yet to see either one of them half-ass a drill or even part of a drill. What comes through is neither of these guys look they will ever take a shift off.
Finley did OK but was not particularly good or bad. The rest just kind of blended in.
While the talent level in Group A is fairly well defined, such is not the case in Group B. Except for some of the invitees, the Group B players are much closer in talent. Having said that, Eakin is the best skater, followed in no particular order by Carlson, Kugreyshev, SDR, Orlov and Bouchard.
Eakin is just so graceful and has such quick feet that he excelled at the drills. It's hard to say what his compete level is because he makes it look easy.
Carlson showed that he is the overall better skater than Orlov in these drills but not by much.
As someone else wrote about Bouchard, his effort shows that he really wants to stick. He went flat out in every drill and worked very hard, as did SDR. Kugreyshev is just fast.
I wrote in an earlier Post that Mestery is like Sarge. I'd like to amend that to say that Mestery is a better skater. He is more fluid and more coordinated and controlled. (full disclosure- I am huge Sarge fan).
Baby Gus was again average. He did well but not great- probably in the top 3rd. Of more concern to me is his attitude and ice presence. Maybe it is just me but he just doesn't seem to be competing and I usually feel like he could have done better if he had just given it a better effort.
Patrick Wey needs some work. He has a very upright skating style and doesn't look all that comfortable in his stride.
Godfrey is also a study in contrasts. He seemed to be very fast in a straight line but not so great at corners. In Group B he stood out for how he skated through the 1st and 3rd drills. He was one of the skaters who couldn't/didn't crossover and, as a result, he lost a lot of speed because he just couldn't carry it through the corners.
Finally, my boy Testwuide did well. He is a big guy and is no Eakin but he hung right in there.
At this point I feel safe in saying that Breuss and Flemming would kill someone-anyone- to make the team. They never stop trying even when it no longer matters. Bouchard, Backman and SDR are of the same ilk. I wish I could say the same about Baby Gus.
I'll be there all day tomorrow for the drills and the scrimmage if anyone else is going.
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wow didnt expect eakin the best skater in the bunch. hearing of him, orlov, and flemming, the Caps draft this year seems better and better
by hockeyman33 on Jul 15, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He was really, really good. I’d like him to control the play more than he did in the scrimmage, but MAN he’s fast, and doesn’t give up on the puck easily.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 16, 2009 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, he’ll be in the CHL given his age.
by David M. Getz on Jul 16, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do y’all think Eakin projects out to be a center or wing at higher levels?
by Gould Old Days on Jul 16, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve heard that he’s already in a spot where the powers that be (with his jr. team, or hockey canada) are ready to move him to LW, or at least think he might be more effective there. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him switched there more permanently given his role and size.
by brs03 on Jul 16, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He played LW for Team Canada at the U18s but that was partially a testament to their typical depth up the middle. Given his speed and slight frame I think he’d be better suited on the wing but he’s got a few years yet before that needs to really enter the conversation.
by Langway on Jul 16, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Orlov
wiped out and ate the boards on the S-drill…Anyone else catch this? (it was a little after noon when it happened).
I didn’t think much of Eakin (not saying he didn’t have a good day, I just didn’t notice him that often in the time I was there), but I totally agree with how fast Kugreyshev is and how much Bouchard wants it.
I’ll be there again tomorrow to watch the 11:15 group of skaters
All Things NHL. All the Time THW
by Simply Sensational on Jul 15, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really appreciate writing all of this up, even for a new person to hockey in general it’s great to hear about the young guys and especially for those of us that can’t get out there to see it ourselves.
by i12swim on Jul 15, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Finley did OK but was not particularly good or bad. The rest just kind of blended in.
Well that’s not too bad for a big man in a skating drill
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jul 16, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Baby Gus
I haven’t seen any of DevCamp, but I’ll throw this out there – perhaps baby Gus is taking it somewhat easy in order not to re-aggravate his back injury. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the team essentially came to him and said: “Look, we know you’d like to show off what you can do, but it’s better for your development if you stay healthy this summer and come to training camp in great shape. Just back it off to 7/10ths.”
Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking…
by D'ohboy on Jul 16, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If that’s the concern then he shouldn’t be skating. I’d like to believe there is an excuse for him looking disinterested (in other people’s eyes) but I can’t really think of an acceptable one.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jul 16, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
me neither. He’s going to get his lunch taken in Hershey if what has in fact transpired continues. Give me more Hauswirth, please.
I don’t give much truck to the lineage theory of projecting talent in the NHL…the Brett Hulls are the exception, not the rule.
/still bitter about Jordan Eberle
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jul 16, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Odd question here:
It seems to me that every year the reports out of development camp highlight the grinders above the skills guys (this applies to forwards only). Two years ago it was Beagle; last year it was Hauswirth and SDR, this year Bruess as well. Meanwhile the skills guys always seem to underwhelm.
Do y’all think there’s something about the format that gives the grinders more of a chance to shine? Or is this more of a statement about the relative areas of depth in the Caps’ organization?
by Gould Old Days on Jul 16, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Do y’all think there’s something about the format that gives the grinders more of a chance to shine?
I think partly yes. A lot of D camp is doing drills and in that context effort is at least as important as skill. Having skill and not trying looks much worse than not having skill and busting your ass. That helps grinders show off their best assets: skating and effort. But I also think the Caps haven’t had as many elite offensive player go through D camp since it moved to Kettler and the internet coverage gave fans a better understanding of the talent pool. Alzner, Carlson, and now Orlov have opened eyes there and gotten their hype. Backstrom is the only elite offensive player we have seen at D camp and IIRC he did pretty well also.
Or is this more of a statement about the relative areas of depth in the Caps’ organization?
I don’t follow any other organization nearly as closely as I follow the Caps but I’m positive that it’s the same for every team. It’s easier to find grinders than highly skilled guys so there will always be more grinder depth.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jul 16, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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