The long run is vibrant for Brzustewicz, and his improvement in the direction of the NHL goes to be intently monitored
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By way of two video games on the Younger Stars Traditional event, Hunter Brzustewicz has already caught the attention.
His poise with the puck, potential to pick a move and the timing of his drive to the online earlier than he buried a one-timer towards the Winnipeg Jets prospects had been all the kind of issues that may get Calgary Flames followers very excited.
When Flames director of participant improvement Ray Edwards appears at Brzustewicz, although, he sees a 19-year-old who put within the work this summer time to get his physique able to transition to professional hockey.
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It reminds him somewhat of 1 former Flames prospect, specifically.
“In case you keep in mind (Andrew Mangiapane), his first yr with us, I don’t need to say he was a child or a he was a boy or no matter, however he understood after a yr that ‘oh boy, it is a completely different degree’ after which he actually determined to dig into the coaching,” Edwards mentioned final week at WinSport earlier than the Flames prospects flew to Penticton, B.C. for the weekend event. “We discuss intent and goal while you prepare, when you don’t have that intent and goal and have individuals round you who’ve that, it’s mediocre coaching and also you turn out to be mediocre. Mang knew he had to try this, so he did it.
“I see that with Hunter already. His physique is completely different than 4 months in the past … I have a look at him and suppose, ‘OK, he’s executed his half.’ Now, it’s, ‘OK, what does that flip into on the ice?’ “
The hope for Brzustewicz is that what occurs on the ice might wind up being extraordinarily thrilling. Two video games at a pre-season prospects event can solely inform us a lot, however the truth that he’s seemed so snug is definitely extra encouraging than if he’d seemed out of his depth.
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And his spectacular junior numbers present plenty of purpose for optimism, too.
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‘Huge-time poise’: Glimpsing the longer term for Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Brzustewicz
After getting drafted within the third spherical, 75th total, by the Vancouver Canucks final yr, Brzustewicz had a spectacular season with the Kitchener Rangers that noticed his inventory rise.
He scored 13 objectives and added 79 assists. That’s 92 factors in 67 video games. Solely fellow Flames prospect Zayne Parekh — drafted ninth total this yr — had extra amongst defencemen within the OHL.
In the course of the season, Brzustewicz had his future plans modified in a reasonably main approach, too, when he was a key piece acquired by the Flames within the commerce that despatched Elias Lindholm to the Canucks.
Brzustewicz landed in a state of affairs the place there are going to be alternatives on the blue-line going ahead. He ought to be a giant a part of that, and he started working this summer time attempting to place himself in one of the best place doable to profit from his first yr as a professional, whether or not that’s with the Wranglers within the AHL or — who is aware of? — with the Flames.
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“Energy, simply in my stride and fast turns, too,” Brzustewicz mentioned when he was requested what he had labored on this summer time. “I simply hold going daily, being myself. Maintain taking part in and doing what I do know and do. I simply hold going day-to-day, doing the identical issues I’ve been doing since I used to be 12 years outdated.”
Heading into coaching camp, Brzustewicz shall be one of the crucial closely-watched gamers skating for the Flames. It’s unlikely that he’s going to wind up within the NHL popping out of coaching camp and it might be a shock if he made many appearances with the Flames this yr. There’s a studying curve from junior to the NHL, and endurance is nearly at all times required, particularly with defencemen.
However the future is vibrant for Brzustewicz, and his improvement in the direction of the NHL goes to be intently monitored.
“I believe he’s executed the stuff off the ice, now he’s bought to make the changes on the ice and it’s going to be tempo, doing the whole lot sooner and his checking and defending,” Edwards mentioned.
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