Boston’s 2021 Development Camp is winding down and it’s time to look at which players could be future assets
The Boston Bruins’ Development Camp is back for the first time since 2019, providing the organization with an opportunity to see how some of its draft picks and other invited players fare ahead of the 2021-22 hockey season.
While most, if not all, of the players invited will not see NHL action in the near future, there’s still a fair amount of talent on display. 2020 first-round pick Johnny Beecher highlights the group of draft picks that include the likes of Quinn Olson, Trevor Kuntar, and Brett Harrison.
But as is the case with most development camps, it’s the camp invitees who provide most of the intrigue. Often undrafted college players who are late bloomers, the occasional diamond in the rough will stroll through camp. Karson Kuhlman was once a camp invite who turned his summer audition into a full NHL deal.
Who’s the next summer find? Here are a few candidates on this year’s camp roster:
Ben Meyers – F, University of Minnesota
Meyers is a left wing who has put up consistent numbers over his first two seasons at Minnesota. In 68 games, Meyers has put up 54 points (22 goals, 32 assists) for the Golden Gophers. More impressive, he’s a career plus-22. At 5-foot-11 and a hair over 200 pounds, the rising junior has good size for the game and could be someone to watch over the next year in college hockey.
Parker Ford – F, Providence College
Ford is coming off another strong season at Providence College, where he has totaled 41 points in 56 games over the course of his collegiate career. The Wakefield, R.I. native also featured for the United States at the 2020 World Junior Championships and is gearing up for a bigger role with the Friars this season.
J.D. Greenway – D, University of Maine
The younger brother of NHLer and former BU Terrier Jordan Greenway, J.D. has had to carve out a different path to the pros. The former U.S. NTDP member and 2016 third-round draft choice began his collegiate career with two years at Wisconsin followed by a 2018-19 season back in the USHL before rounding out his NCAA eligibility at Maine. In his recent senior season, Greenway’s Black Bears weren’t allowed to play a home game due to the state’s COVID restrictions, seeing his numbers take a noticeable dip. His size and past pedigree, however, are reasons to be optimistic.
Travis Mitchell – D, Cornell
Mitchell hasn’t played in over a year due to the Ivy League cancelling the 2020-21 college hockey season. As a freshman in 2019-20 though, Mitchell made an immediate impact for the top-ranked Big Red featuring for a team that allowed just 45 goals in 29 games, recording 12 points and a plus-20 rating. The 6-foot-3 left-shooting defender had an impressive run with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers prior to making the jump to college hockey, with 43 points in two seasons.
Keith Petruzelli – G, Quinnipiac University
The Wilbraham, Mass. native chose not to sign with Detroit, opting to enter free agency following an impressive four-year career at Quinnipiac. In 94 games, Petruzelli posted a .915 save percentage, a 2.17 goals against average, and 51-27-8 record with 10 shutouts. Petruzelli’s senior season was perhaps his most impressive, with the netminder featuring in every game for the Bobcats going 17-8-4 with four shutouts. Petruzelli was seventh nationally in goals against average (1.89) and 12th in save percentage (.929).
Other names to watch: Matthew Kopperud (F, Arizona State); Anton Mahlstrom (D, Bowling Green); Zach Stejskal (G, Minnesota-Duluth).
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