Hunter Brzustewicz | D

[AK-19]

On 11/23/2023 at 6:18 AM, kettlevalley said:

You can tell a few things about the team potentially dragging him along vs him dragging the team along by looking at team stats.  

 

1.  He is second in team points so obviously a team offensive driver.

2.  He is more then triple the next d man on his team in points (currently 39 to 12).  

3. He is third on his team in d man plus minus.  Implying that he plays a lot more PP and is getting a lot of PP points.  

 

This is a puck moving d man with PP quarterback skills, a decent shot, decent size and good skating.  Like Quinn this year, he is on pace for a very impressive season.  

 

Now we get to sit back and see if they can keep it up.  

 

You don't get a plus when you score on the PP. If anything, it's a credit to him his +/- if he is playing a lot on the PP because he can only possibly pick up a minus there. 

[Artemus]

8 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said:

An overage player is 20 years old or older not 19…

 

The CHL currently places a cap of three 20-year-old-or-over players per team, commonly known as "overage players". The CHL also allows up to four 16-year-olds on each roster.

 

Yes. 

 

The key point with determining whether it's a player's overage year is the date that they turn 20.

Sept. 15th is this specific date.

A player in the CHL that is 20 on this date is said to be an overager. This player could and many do, turn 21 before the season is over.

 

Hunter has several seasons to go before he would be an overager.

 

Don't see any reason to rush him to the AHL next season which would be his 19 year old season, even though it would be technically possible to do so.

[Elias Pettersson]

1 hour ago, Artemus said:

 

Yes. 

 

The key point with determining whether it's a player's overage year is the date that they turn 20.

Sept. 15th is this specific date.

A player in the CHL that is 20 on this date is said to be an overager. This player could and many do, turn 21 before the season is over.

 

Hunter has several seasons to go before he would be an overager.

 

Don't see any reason to rush him to the AHL next season which would be his 19 year old season, even though it would be technically possible to do so.

Hunter is on pace for over 100 points. I don’t see any value in returning him to junior next season. He will be in the AHL unless he’s part of a trade to get us a top 6 power forward or a top 4 RHD. 

[Artemus]

8 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Hunter is on pace for over 100 points. I don’t see any value in returning him to junior next season. He will be in the AHL unless he’s part of a trade to get us a top 6 power forward or a top 4 RHD. 

 

Yes, he may have a lot of points at the end of this year but he will still be 19 and physically immature when compared to the 20 plus year olds in the AHL (I read that he is 6' and 190 lbs but this does not nesessarily correlate directly with being physically mature). He may not get a lot of all situation playing time. Perhaps only a power play specialist with spot duty at 5 on 5 play for that year.

If this is the case, will it be best for his development?

 

What I envision for Hunter is first we sign him. Then our Player Development Department in conjunction with Hunter's advisors determine where he should play next year. If he is overwhelmed in the A, then he could possibly be returned to his junior team.

Also, I believe that his ELC could slide next year (his 19 year old season) if he signs this year. So there would be no detriment in ELC years from having him in the AHL.

 

Will be interesting to see where he is next year and how he progresses.

[Alflives]

2 minutes ago, Artemus said:

 

Yes, he may have a lot of points at the end of this year but he will still be 19 and physically immature when compared to the 20 plus year olds in the AHL (I read that he is 6' and 190 lbs but this does not nesessarily correlate directly with being physically mature). He may not get a lot of all situation playing time. Perhaps only a power play specialist with spot duty at 5 on 5 play for that year.

If this is the case, will it be best for his development?

 

What I envision for Hunter is first we sign him. Then our Player Development Department in conjunction with Hunter's advisors determine where he should play next year. If he is overwhelmed in the A, then he could possibly be returned to his junior team.

Also, I believe that his ELC could slide next year (his 19 year old season) if he signs this year. So there would be no detriment in ELC years from having him in the AHL.

 

Will be interesting to see where he is next year and how he progresses.

Hunter B will be playing for Abby next season. Zero reason for him to play another year in junior. Kid is a brilliant player and another steal by Allvin’s scouting staff. Kind of cool what happens when the scouts are freed up to do their jobs; we fill up with good prospects. 

[Artemus]

19 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Hunter B will be playing for Abby next season. Zero reason for him to play another year in junior. Kid is a brilliant player and another steal by Allvin’s scouting staff. Kind of cool what happens when the scouts are freed up to do their jobs; we fill up with good prospects. 

 

Alf, you could be correct. Be cool if you are. The AHL is a pretty big step up for a 19 year old. At 19, Hunter would be one of the youngest players, if not the youngest player in the A. Hope that he gets to that 100+ point total by the season's end.

 

Guess we will find out next year.

Edited December 2, 2023 by Artemus
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[Artemus]

10 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Hunter B will be playing for Abby next season. Zero reason for him to play another year in junior. Kid is a brilliant player and another steal by Allvin’s scouting staff. Kind of cool what happens when the scouts are freed up to do their jobs; we fill up with good prospects. 

 

I also like how Allvin and his staff are performing at the Entry Draft.

[Alflives]

4 minutes ago, Artemus said:

 

I also like how Allvin and his staff are performing at the Entry Draft.

Yup. I don’t recall a time when we’ve had so many recently drafted guys doing well in their respective leagues. Lots of internal competition and see the cream rise to the top. 

[WeneedLumme]

I definitely don't see Hunter back in junior next year. IMO he will either be in Vancouver or Abbottsford. He currently has 33% more points than the next highest scoring Dman in his entire league. He is already too good for junior, another year there would be silly. And I don't think there is any chance he gets traded in the near future, unless he really craps the bed.

[Rip The Mesh]

 

[kettlevalley]

Don't juniors need to complete 3 years before they can step up to the AHL.  Remember Wright needed a special dispensation to play in the AHL this year.  Don't think a 3rd rounder will get that.  He may need to play in the OHL or in Europe or for the USNDP because he won't be NHL ready next year.  Kid is good and should have gone way higher in the draft.  

 

I get the feeling he is slowing down a little too though.  

[112]

56 minutes ago, kettlevalley said:

Don't juniors need to complete 3 years before they can step up to the AHL.  Remember Wright needed a special dispensation to play in the AHL this year.  Don't think a 3rd rounder will get that.  He may need to play in the OHL or in Europe or for the USNDP because he won't be NHL ready next year.  Kid is good and should have gone way higher in the draft.  

 

I get the feeling he is slowing down a little too though.  

 

It's been discussed a bit earlier in the thread, and Brzustewicz is eligible to play in the AHL in April 2024. I imagine he'll be in the AHL next season, if not in the playoffs this year.

[Boudrias]

21 hours ago, Artemus said:

 

Alf, you could be correct. Be cool if you are. The AHL is a pretty big step up for a 19 year old. At 19, Hunter would be one of the youngest players, if not the youngest player in the A. Hope that he gets to that 100+ point total by the season's end.

 

Guess we will find out next year.

Does he make the USA WJC squad? If he does and shines he will get even more attention as he finished up his D1 season. You have to know that as PA works on his Canuck team that Brzustewicz will be a regular ask by other clubs. 

[northern lights]

Hunter with 2 apples after 1 period so far today. 

[Diamonds]

5 hours ago, Boudrias said:

Does he make the USA WJC squad? If he does and shines he will get even more attention as he finished up his D1 season. You have to know that as PA works on his Canuck team that Brzustewicz will be a regular ask by other clubs. 

You have to think he's pretty much a lock at this point. Hutson and Chesley are the only potential returnees. Sam Rinzel and Seamus Casey also probably make strong cases to be on the team and Jackson Dorrington has a decent shot at being the #7 guy.

[R3aL]

6 hours ago, Boudrias said:

Does he make the USA WJC squad? If he does and shines he will get even more attention as he finished up his D1 season. You have to know that as PA works on his Canuck team that Brzustewicz will be a regular ask by other clubs. 

 

 

Hunter Brzustewicz, D, Kitchener Rangers (VAN) -- UPDATED

I liked Brzustewicz’s finish to camp an awful lot and think he makes a lot of sense to play for Team USA in this tournament. They have a lot of puck-movers already, but Brzustewicz has 40 points in 25 games in the OHL – on pace for more than 100 points from the back end this season. Points aren’t everything, but Brzustewicz’s game has continued to mature from his NTDP days. UPDATE: Sources have indicated Brzustewicz may not be getting an invite to camp after all as USA already has a lot of similar players that have more defined roles for the team. I think he belongs in camp, but that may not be the case.

 

https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11538803-2024-world-juniors-team-usa-roster-updates-bubble-watch

 

If he doesn't thats a shame...

[Rip The Mesh]

The cupboard are not dry...

46 points in 28 games, 12 points clear of the next best defenceman and second overall in OHL scoring.

A growing defensive game, with a plus-20 mark playing top-pair minutes for the high-flying Kitchener Rangers.

What Hunter Brzustewicz is doing this season is special; a blistering points pace only elite offensive D-men taken in the draft lottery achieve before starring in the show.

But off the ice, the 2023 third rounder is in wait-and-see mode, with the proverbial golden ticket to the upcoming Team USA world junior championship camp yet to be sent.

“It’s always on your mind but sometimes you just have to tune it out as best as possible and if I don’t make it, it’s not the end of the world,” Brzustewicz told Postmedia on Thursday, a day after celebrating his 19th birthday with a big assist in 4-3 comeback win in Erie.

 

 

At this point, it’s out of his hands. What Brzustewicz can control, however, is the outcome of games, like he did on Wednesday with a game-tying assist late in the third.

 

“It was a fast-break regroup, my partner had it in the neutral zone and I like it when they’re changing and I can build a little bit of speed so I entered the zone with the puck, I kicked it out to my teammate and he dished it back to me on the drive and — I was gonna curl up but I heard my teammate Sopper call for it and I just slipped it to him,” he said.

Edited December 4, 2023 by Rip The Mesh

[qwijjibo]

He didn't get an invite for the WJC team 

[Integra250]

19 minutes ago, qwijjibo said:

He didn't get an invite for the WJC team 

https://thehockeynews.com/news/usa-hockey-reveals-preliminary-roster-for-2024-world-juniors

 

Yes that is correct. Too many similar players apparently.

[higgyfan]

13 minutes ago, qwijjibo said:

He didn't get an invite for the WJC team 

 

They have a preference for the college kids.  It's all good. 

We don't need to watch Hunter racking up the points against our Cdn boys.

 

 

 

[qwijjibo]

 

 

[Smashian Kassian]

I'd say Hutson & Buium are better than him at this point. It's too bad it worked out that they had his role filled, he's been great.

 

Oh well.

[Boudrias]

14 minutes ago, higgyfan said:

 

They have a preference for the college kids.  It's all good. 

We don't need to watch Hunter racking up the points against our Cdn boys.

 

 

 

Don't they also like the players who have been part of the Team USA developmental program? To bad but there might be an add later. 

[Blue]

Where does he go in a redraft at this point ? 

 

Id say mid to late first round 

[Miss Korea]

54 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

Don't they also like the players who have been part of the Team USA developmental program? To bad but there might be an add later. 

 

It's another way to say "We don't like guys who bolt for the CHL".  It's why Quentin Musty also wasn't called.  Politics in USA Hockey.

 

The rapid growth of their national development program across the country makes Hockey Canada look like absolute cupcakes (which they really are after all the scandals), but those guys in charge of team selection are turkeys.  Instead of picking the best players for the Olympics, they always deploy some kind of deliberate, underdog team of grinders.  Some of their snubs would've even made Team Canada.