Friday, June 24, 2016

Draft Day: Turning Buffalo Scarlet




The 2016 NHL Entry Draft begins tonight in Buffalo with first-round selections, which are expected to include four Terriers—rising sophomore Charlie McAvoy and incoming freshmen Kieffer Bellows, Dante Fabbro and Clayton Keller (photo). The remaining six rounds are set for Saturday. TV coverage tonight begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, while Saturday coverage on the NHL Network starts at 10 a.m.

The last time four NCAA players from the same team were picked in the first round was a decade ago in 2006 when Minnesota’s Erik Johnson, Phil Kessel, Kyle Okposo and David Fischer were selected.

Another freshman, Chad Krys, is projected to be a second or third round pick. Other draft eligibles are rising sophomore Bobo Carpenter and incoming freshman Patrick Harper.

There’s been considerable buzz about the teams interested in the four likely first-rounders.  The Bruins are reportedly looking at McAvoy, a Hockey East All-Rookie selection last season, and Fabbro (photo), the top BCHL defenseman and only Junior A player to suit up for Canada’s World U18 squad, to fill their future blueline needs. Keller, who scored 107 points last season and became the NTDP career points leader, may go as high as the top ten, while Bellows, a 50-goal scorer last season, should hear his name called earlier rather than later tonight.

The Terrier coaching staff—head coach David Quinn, associate head coach Albie O’Connell and assistant coach Scott Young—along with Sports Information Director Brian Kelley, is on hand in Buffalo for the draft.

● College Hockey News 2016 NHL draft preview
College Hockey Inc.: Draft preview podcast
● McKeen’s: Keller draft profile
● Hockeysfuture.com mock draft
The Players Tribune: NHL Job Application-Charlie McAvoy 


► Check back later for more news about BU's incoming freshmen class.

In addition to their interest in McAvoy and Fabbro, the Bruins are reportedly among the teams seeking to acquire former BU All-American Kevin Shattenkirk from St. Louis.
● Eagle Tribune: Bruins: Trade or Draft

Looking back
2015 All-American and Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Eichel was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team. The center from Chelmsford, Mass., ranked second among rookies in goals (24) and points (56) while playing in 81 games. He also led all rookies in power-play goals.
● NHL.com report


Former Terrier Craig Sanders alerted THFB to several more BU connections to the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Andy Saucier, who was BU’s video coordinator from 2004 to 2010 and also has been a video coordinator for the US Olympic team, currently handles that position for the Penguins. Saucier is the grandson of legendary Terrier head coach Jack Kelley (photo), who served as president of the Penguins from 1993 to 2001. During the broadcast of game seven, broadcaster Doc Emrick gave a callout to both Saucier and Kelley.

Former Terrier standout and U.S. Olympian Clark Donatelli (Stanley Cup photo) is head coach of Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes Barre/Scranton, having succeeded Mike Sullivan who was promoted to Pens head coach in mid-December and led the team to the Stanley Cup title.
● Go Terriers.com report




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