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Saturday, February 03, 2007

P-Bruins leading scorer traded

Kris Versteeg 20, the leading scorer for the Providence Bruins was traded for Brandon Bochenski, 24, of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins also included a conditional draft pick for Bochenski. Versteeg was leading the team with 22 goals and 27 assists and also had a +15 rating. Bochenski, in 35 games for the Norfolk Admirals, has 33 goals and 33 assists. He played 10 games for the Blackhawks this season just recording 2 goals. He was originally acquired, along with a second round draft pick, for Tyler Arnason on March 9th of last season.

Talent Analysis

Perhaps the best way to describe Bochenski is pure goal-scorer. He possesses a wicked wrist-shot. He has no trouble scoring and does so with great consistency and in bunches. He can also score those timely goals as well. He finished the 2003-04 season tied for sixth in the nation in game-winning goals with five. 11 of his 27 goals have come on the power play as well. He possesses a long reach and has very good passing skills. He’s willing to drive to the net and has the ability to “cash in” on those in-close rebounds given up by opposing netminders. Having good players who can set up also helps his game tremendously. He had that in Zach Parise this past season, but with Parise and Bochenski both going to the professional ranks in different organizations, he’ll have to find a new set-up man in Binghamton of the AHL.

The two greatest weaknesses Bochenski has are in his skating and his overall defensive game. His skating is average at best. How much it will improve in the future remains to be seen. His defensive game needs to improve if he ever wants to make it to the NHL level. His greatest weakness as far as the defensive side is concerned is his positioning when attempting to defend against opposing players one on one. More often than not, he’s not where he should be and it has led to some good scoring opportunities for opposing players, particularly in the slot and crease areas. At 6’2”/195, Bochenski possesses good size. While he has shown that he can be physical and make very good use of his size and strength, he doesn’t do it often enough. If he did, he would be even more difficult to play against than he already is.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is a great trade for the Bruins. Bochenski will end up being a great scorer someday in the NHL. Chiarelli knows what the kid can do from his time in Ottawa. I hope he's in uniform very soon.

9:25 PM  
Blogger Latrappe said...

It will be a great trade if Lewis let his offensive players use their creativity. It doesn't mean anything to have a 30 goals scorer on your team if the coach always held them with a silly defensive strategy. If Lewis successfully turned Boyes into a 4th liner in a mid-season and he can do it again. Yes, the players are not scoring but with, at least, 5 stone hands players on this roster; it's not surprising.

1:27 PM  

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