Cassidy, Sweeney Eye Bright Future as Development Camp Comes to Close

BOSTON - Each July, Bruins Development Camp provides a look - albeit a short one - into the future of the organization and, in turn, brings a renewed sense of hope and optimism for what is to come.
But this summer, there appears to be a somewhat added level of excitement coming out of camp, as Boston's prospect cupboard appears to be fully stocked.

And while most of the prospects on display at this year's camp are still years away from making an impact on the big club, there is a handful - among them forwards Anders Bjork, Jesse Gabrielle, and Zach Senyshyn and defensemen Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril - that will play their first full pro campaigns this fall.
Whether those games will be played in Boston or Providence is, of course, still to be determined by the likes of Don Sweeney and Bruce Cassidy. But Boston's decision makers no doubt liked what they saw over the four-day camp.
"We've been fairly committed to allowing our young prospects to try and grow and take some opportunity," Sweeney said before Sunday's final camp session. "Now, we've got some great competition and internal competition set up and I do believe there will be a couple players - and there are a couple that are here that got a taste last year -that along those same lines, will challenge, particularly up front.
"I think the most exciting part is the internal competition piece that we've set a plan in motion and I think there are players that will step forward and grab that opportunity."

Sweeney has also pointed to Peter Cehlarik, Jake DeBrusk, and Danton Heinen as players who may challenge for a roster spot this fall. None of them participated in this year's camp, but all are coming off their first pro seasons in Providence.
The idea of having a number of young forwards in the lineup intrigues Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, who is eager to get an even closer look at some of Boston's youngsters when training camp commences in the fall.
"That's going to be [Sweeney's] call. First and foremost, he may decide we're too young, guys aren't ready, we need more established guys," said Cassidy, who watched intently during each on-ice session from a perch above the ice at Warrior Ice Arena. "He may say, 'Let's let it play out and let the best man win,' which a lot of times is good, assuming you have guys that are capable.
"I like these young kids…and I'm hearing that these guys are ready to compete for NHL jobs. How far up the lineup can they play? Listen, on October 1, we're going to have to have some of those answers."
Cassidy said several prospects caught his eye over the four-day showcase and he tried to impart on some of the older players (he mentioned Jakub Zboril and Zach Senyshyn, both of whom are turning pro this fall) that at this level, it's the details that can be the difference.
"Jake - he's turning pro. It's about the focus that's necessary…and Zach is another one," said Cassidy. "You're the best at your level because you're good. Now, you get to this level, that talent gap closes in a hurry so the detailed part of the game is important. You try to just hammer away on it because I know they've heard it 100 times. And if it takes 150, that's what it takes to get it.
"But, it is so important that they learn those parts of the game and work on them in practice out there. Even though they know that they're good, they get away with their talent. They're not going to be able to do that in two months, or it's rare."

Should any of the youngsters win a roster spot this fall, Cassidy will have the challenging task of putting them in the right position to succeed. The Bruins bench boss admits it won't be easy, and could very well require patience from the team's veterans.
Cassidy pointed to the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins as a perfect example of a team that has blended youth (Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary) with its older stars (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin).
"You have to let these kids grow up on the job if they can handle it every day," said Cassidy. "I do believe that there needs to be a conversation with your leaders. Let's say [Patrice] Bergeron and Marsh [Brad Marchand] - we're spitballing here - but let's say one of these young kids goes and plays with that line. I have to convince those two guys that they have to pull this kid along, whatever kid it happens to be, because that will make us a better team if we can spread the wealth and use other players in different roles."
"Maybe if [David] Backes plays on a line with, let's say JFK [Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson], a 200-foot center that we have, if he starts in that role, that he would have to mentor. I think that's a conversation we have to have. Krech [David Krejci], if there's a young left winger on his side - 'You've got to work with this kid. You can get frustrated with him at times, but you have to work with him and you have to pull him along if we're going to be the team that we want to be.'
"Can these young kids handle it? That's the most important. Can they even play in those positions? If they can, they show the ability to do that, then we need the [older] guys to help them through the mental part of that. That's kind of a challenge, I think, for the coach, is to get those older guys to buy into it."
Not that Cassidy is overly concerned.

"I think they're terrific individuals and I think they'll do whatever it takes for the team's success," he said. "So, I'm actually looking forward to the conversations. I just don't know which players are going in there, obviously. But, I'm hoping we can mix some youth with our veteran, skilled, leadership guys."
Those answers will come soon enough, as the countdown to training camp begins. But for now, Cassidy hopes that Development Camp allowed the prospects to gain a better understanding of what it will take to crack Boston's lineup, while also becoming entranced in the Black & Gold philosophy.
"The beginning of the Bruins culture," said Cassidy. "We want to be a team that - fitness is very important to us. Our style of play - we want to be a team that is assertive. Again, we use the 'play fast' term. We have our meaning for it. We want to make sure that they're aware of what that means. Be a good teammate here."
The 2017 Boston Bruins Development Camp was presented by AT&T.