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Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
It’s the “best form of a lifetime” season in the NHL as rookies and tournaments are in full swing.
Before getting into real NHL action, teams competed in rookie camps and tournaments across the United States. Traverse City, Arizona, Buffalo and Tampa are currently holding demonstration tournaments. It’s nice to see the action, but some fans overreacted to what they saw – it’s just natural hockey talk.
Here are some notable players from last week’s action with varying degrees of overreaction:
Yegor Chinakhov, AD, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets’ surprise 2020 first-round pick did just about everything in their power to justify the selection. After scoring 10 goals and 17 points in his rookie season in the KHL, the Russian striker is trying to get the Columbus roster out of the camp.
Chinakhov has been the buzz of Columbus rookie camp since Day 1. In Traverse City, he immediately put himself on the map, scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs with absolute laser fire in an eventual victory for the Baby Jackets. Chinakhov has shown that his shot, the reason he was drafted, is NHL ready. The real question: is everything else ready?
While some Jackets fans have listed him in the opening night roster, don’t be shocked if he starts the year in the AHL. And that might be the best choice for him, anyway. A Russian hopeful has a lot to learn on his first trip to North America, and there is no need to rush him.
Jack Studnicka, C, Boston Bruins
Coming to camp in the best shape of his life after spending the offseason in Boston to grow taller and stronger on his frame, Studnicka is expected to push for an NHL job at 22. results last season, Studnicka clearly took the fact that his slender figure was a bit more pushed against the best players in the world.
With a physique more ready for the pros, Studnicka can still face an uphill battle. The Bruins are – as always – a very good team and getting a place in the roster is going to be a challenge with the top nine seemingly well established. Studnicka’s best shot could end up finding a role on the right wing in the last six and find its way into the lineup if he plays well.
Dylan Guenther, AD, Arizona Coyotes
The ninth overall pick in the 2021 Draft has been a dark horse to be on the Yotes roster since draft day with the obvious lack of scoring on the roster. But since the opening of the camp, Guenther has been as good, if not better, than advertised.
The one thing the scouts and analysts all seem to agree on is that Guenther will be a rating threat to the next level pretty quickly. His offensive tools are of a high level in all areas. Guenther’s shooting is the top echelon among players in his age group. Guenther shows skill and intelligence in opening up space with his hands and feet.
There are concerns about the puck sometimes, but Guenther has shown his ability to make every play in the defensive zone, it will just take time and maturity to make it to the next level. He could be destined for some time in the NHL in the near future, at least to start the year.
Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy, C and LW, Minnesota Wild
The dynamic new duo of Marco and Matt started a fire big enough in Wild’s fanbase that they briefly seemed to forget about Kirill Kaprizov’s contract drama. The two prospects had a very different season last year. Rossi worried some fans and analysts as he was suffering from the long-term effects of his battle with COVID-19. Boldy bounced back from a top-down first year to have an outstanding second campaign.
Joining in a line at camp, Rossi and Boldy look like a match in heaven. They played smart, smart and fast hockey that puts the opponent on their heels at both ends of the ice. They are committed to playing on their own side and then attacking whenever they get the chance. It was a treat to watch the duo do their job.
Rossi insisted he wanted to be on the opening night roster and Boldy is also building a strong case. Could they form two-thirds of a line in the NHL this season? Does head coach Dean Evason trust them enough? Which veteran winger will go up to the shotgun as a mentor to the two young guns? There will be a lot of questions, but one that seems almost certain is that Rossi and Boldy should see time in the NHL this season.
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