Medford Bronco
06-20-2008, 09:46 PM
I hope he plays like he says like Danny Briere. I would love that.
Only time will tell, Good luck Zach.
Now Canes we need defenseman badly, please get some in FA or maybe trade one of our talented forwards that is up soon. Ray Whitney or Eric Cole?
I love those guys but anything to improve my team to make it back to like 06 I hope. :salute:
Boychuk making teams take notice Jun 20, 2008, 9:13 PM EDT
Despite his size (5'10", 175lbs), center Zach Boychuk made use of his speed and quickness to pot 72 points in 61 games with Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2008.
Get your 2008 Draft Center Ice hat now!
All the talk regarding the 2008 Entry Draft seems to surround Steven Stamkos and a rich stock of defenseman.
That leaves a talented crop of quality players feeling a little unappreciated.
"They're obviously great players and they deserve to be rated that high," said Zach Boychuk. "I just hope that I can eventually get drafted and create an opportunity for myself to fight for a spot on an NHL team."
It's not a question of if Boychuk gets drafted, it's how early in the first round the Lethbridge Hurricanes center gets taken.
Ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting -- the No. 3 forward -- Boychuk has all the attributes to excel in today's NHL.
Despite measuring in at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Boychuk has the speed and elusiveness that can leave bigger defensemen flat-footed.
"I think the one thing that really sticks out is his speed," said Tyler Myers, the Kelowna Rockets defenseman who played against Boychuk in the Western Hockey League and is one of the elite draft-eligible defenseman. "He has unbelievable speed. He's one of the fastest guys I've ever played against, and one of the fastest guys in the league."
Boychuk likes to use that speed to attack. He had 33 goals and 72 points in 61 regular-season games, and then led the WHL playoffs with 11 goals, and was second in scoring with 21 points.
"(Boychuk) might be the best two-step quickness guy in all of junior hockey," said NHL Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire. "In two steps he is at top speed and he can hit the brakes and delay the play with the best of them, as well. Zach is an all-around offensive player who sees the ice well and just a treat to watch.
Name:
Zach Boychuk
Position: Center
Born:
10/04/1989
Birthplace: Calgary, AB
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175
Shoots:
Left
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Links:
Top 30 North American prospects
Top 30 European prospects
2008 NHL Entry Draft index page
Draft Dandies archive
Complete Prospects archive
More NHL.com features
"The question is whether or not his average size is enough to get him through the rough periods and the checking. There are other players in the NHL who have beaten that rap; Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner are two great examples this year. There is no reason why he shouldn't be a top offensive guy in the NHL."
Boychuk says he patterns his game after another smallish NHL player -- Philadelphia's Danny Briere.
"I think we're similar in size (Briere is 5-10, 179)," said Boychuk. "We're both pretty small out there. I feel we both have similar speed and skill set. He's a guy that likes to score the big goals at key times, and that's similar to me, as well.
"He works hard; he's pretty thick for being a small guy. I hope that I can put on some weight this summer and have a similar build as him. I know how hard he competes and I feel that's similar in my game. I certainly love to stand backdoor and wait for those little chip passes. Also, you see how much speed and skill he has; he gets so many breakaways with that. I try to play like him, for sure."
Get your 2008 Draft Center Ice Stretch Fit Hat now!He's also trying to play a more sound defensive game. He was a plus-19 two seasons ago and a plus-26 this past season.
"The past few years I've tried to work on my defensive game," he said. "I know it takes strong defense to win championships. If you can't play defense you probably won't be able to make it to the next level. I definitely have been working on that the past few years and I think it's shown in my game. I've been a lot more aware, and with my team I've gotten a lot more time on the penalty kill, and my plus-minus has been going up and up."
He sets his expectations high, also. Boychuk says there's no reason he should be overlooked for an NHL roster spot as soon as next season.
"I'm a guy that likes to set my goals high," he said. "Anything can happen. It just inspires you to see guys like Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner and all those guys, kind of smaller skill guys similar to myself, who had great rookie seasons in the NHL, and it makes me push that much harder. Once that day comes when I get drafted by a team, I'm going to put all my heart and soul into it and try to give myself an opportunity for a spot."
Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com.
Author: Adam Kimelman | NHL.com Staff Writer
Recent Team Info:►Boychuk making teams take notice►Hurricanes Agree to Terms with Tim Gleason►Hurricanes Acquire Rights to Darcy Hordichuk►Jason Karmanos Rejoins Hurricanes as Executive Director of Hockey Operations►Hurricanes Ink Gillies to One-Year Contract►Hurricanes Extend RBC Center Lease►Hurricanes Sign Goaltender Michael Leighton►Drafting Defense a Priority, But When?►Hurricanes Announce Coaching Changes for 2008-09►Hurricanes Sign Goaltender Daniel Manzato
Subscribe | More team news Statistics:
2007-2008 Regular Season
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
E. Staal 82 38 44 -2 82
R. Whitney 66 25 36 -6 61
E. Cole 73 22 29 5 51
R. Brind'Amour 59 19 32 0 51
M. Cullen 59 13 36 2 49
J. Corvo 74 13 35 17 48
S. Samsonov 61 14 22 -1 36
S. Walker 58 14 18 -3 32
T. Ruutu 77 10 22 4 32
J. Williams 37 9 21 2 30
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
C. Ward 37 25 5 .904 2.75
J. Grahame 5 7 1 .875 3.75
Full Team Stats >>
What position should the Hurricanes focus on drafting next week?
Defense
Forward
Goaltender
Best Available
Carolinahurricanes.com is the official Web site of the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina Hurricanes, carolinahurricanes.com and caneshockey.com are trademarks of the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club. NHL and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the NHL Shield and NHL Conference logos are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 2008 Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.
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Only time will tell, Good luck Zach.
Now Canes we need defenseman badly, please get some in FA or maybe trade one of our talented forwards that is up soon. Ray Whitney or Eric Cole?
I love those guys but anything to improve my team to make it back to like 06 I hope. :salute:
Boychuk making teams take notice Jun 20, 2008, 9:13 PM EDT
Despite his size (5'10", 175lbs), center Zach Boychuk made use of his speed and quickness to pot 72 points in 61 games with Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2008.
Get your 2008 Draft Center Ice hat now!
All the talk regarding the 2008 Entry Draft seems to surround Steven Stamkos and a rich stock of defenseman.
That leaves a talented crop of quality players feeling a little unappreciated.
"They're obviously great players and they deserve to be rated that high," said Zach Boychuk. "I just hope that I can eventually get drafted and create an opportunity for myself to fight for a spot on an NHL team."
It's not a question of if Boychuk gets drafted, it's how early in the first round the Lethbridge Hurricanes center gets taken.
Ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting -- the No. 3 forward -- Boychuk has all the attributes to excel in today's NHL.
Despite measuring in at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Boychuk has the speed and elusiveness that can leave bigger defensemen flat-footed.
"I think the one thing that really sticks out is his speed," said Tyler Myers, the Kelowna Rockets defenseman who played against Boychuk in the Western Hockey League and is one of the elite draft-eligible defenseman. "He has unbelievable speed. He's one of the fastest guys I've ever played against, and one of the fastest guys in the league."
Boychuk likes to use that speed to attack. He had 33 goals and 72 points in 61 regular-season games, and then led the WHL playoffs with 11 goals, and was second in scoring with 21 points.
"(Boychuk) might be the best two-step quickness guy in all of junior hockey," said NHL Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire. "In two steps he is at top speed and he can hit the brakes and delay the play with the best of them, as well. Zach is an all-around offensive player who sees the ice well and just a treat to watch.
Name:
Zach Boychuk
Position: Center
Born:
10/04/1989
Birthplace: Calgary, AB
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175
Shoots:
Left
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Links:
Top 30 North American prospects
Top 30 European prospects
2008 NHL Entry Draft index page
Draft Dandies archive
Complete Prospects archive
More NHL.com features
"The question is whether or not his average size is enough to get him through the rough periods and the checking. There are other players in the NHL who have beaten that rap; Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner are two great examples this year. There is no reason why he shouldn't be a top offensive guy in the NHL."
Boychuk says he patterns his game after another smallish NHL player -- Philadelphia's Danny Briere.
"I think we're similar in size (Briere is 5-10, 179)," said Boychuk. "We're both pretty small out there. I feel we both have similar speed and skill set. He's a guy that likes to score the big goals at key times, and that's similar to me, as well.
"He works hard; he's pretty thick for being a small guy. I hope that I can put on some weight this summer and have a similar build as him. I know how hard he competes and I feel that's similar in my game. I certainly love to stand backdoor and wait for those little chip passes. Also, you see how much speed and skill he has; he gets so many breakaways with that. I try to play like him, for sure."
Get your 2008 Draft Center Ice Stretch Fit Hat now!He's also trying to play a more sound defensive game. He was a plus-19 two seasons ago and a plus-26 this past season.
"The past few years I've tried to work on my defensive game," he said. "I know it takes strong defense to win championships. If you can't play defense you probably won't be able to make it to the next level. I definitely have been working on that the past few years and I think it's shown in my game. I've been a lot more aware, and with my team I've gotten a lot more time on the penalty kill, and my plus-minus has been going up and up."
He sets his expectations high, also. Boychuk says there's no reason he should be overlooked for an NHL roster spot as soon as next season.
"I'm a guy that likes to set my goals high," he said. "Anything can happen. It just inspires you to see guys like Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner and all those guys, kind of smaller skill guys similar to myself, who had great rookie seasons in the NHL, and it makes me push that much harder. Once that day comes when I get drafted by a team, I'm going to put all my heart and soul into it and try to give myself an opportunity for a spot."
Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com.
Author: Adam Kimelman | NHL.com Staff Writer
Recent Team Info:►Boychuk making teams take notice►Hurricanes Agree to Terms with Tim Gleason►Hurricanes Acquire Rights to Darcy Hordichuk►Jason Karmanos Rejoins Hurricanes as Executive Director of Hockey Operations►Hurricanes Ink Gillies to One-Year Contract►Hurricanes Extend RBC Center Lease►Hurricanes Sign Goaltender Michael Leighton►Drafting Defense a Priority, But When?►Hurricanes Announce Coaching Changes for 2008-09►Hurricanes Sign Goaltender Daniel Manzato
Subscribe | More team news Statistics:
2007-2008 Regular Season
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
E. Staal 82 38 44 -2 82
R. Whitney 66 25 36 -6 61
E. Cole 73 22 29 5 51
R. Brind'Amour 59 19 32 0 51
M. Cullen 59 13 36 2 49
J. Corvo 74 13 35 17 48
S. Samsonov 61 14 22 -1 36
S. Walker 58 14 18 -3 32
T. Ruutu 77 10 22 4 32
J. Williams 37 9 21 2 30
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
C. Ward 37 25 5 .904 2.75
J. Grahame 5 7 1 .875 3.75
Full Team Stats >>
What position should the Hurricanes focus on drafting next week?
Defense
Forward
Goaltender
Best Available
Carolinahurricanes.com is the official Web site of the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina Hurricanes, carolinahurricanes.com and caneshockey.com are trademarks of the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club. NHL and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the NHL Shield and NHL Conference logos are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 2008 Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.
SITE INFO | CONTACT US | JOBS | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | CODE OF CONDUCT | WEBMASTER | NHL.com TERMS OF USE