Sea Dogs at NHL Development Camps

Development/prospects camps are winding down across the NHL.

While a few teams will be holding camps next week, most are wrapping up this weekend or already have. 

Plenty of current Sea Dogs attended or are attending summer camps. Here's a look at who is where:

Player	Team	Status
Nathan Noel	Chicago Blackhawks	Draft Pick
Luke Green	Winnipeg Jets	Draft Pick
Jakub Zboril	Boston Bruins	Draft Pick
Spencer Smallman	Carolina Hurricanes	Draft Pick
Matthew Highmore	Florida Panthers	Invite
Thomas Chabot	Ottawa Senators	Draft Pick
Samuel Dove-McFalls	Philadelphia Flyers	Draft Pick
Bokondji Imama	Tampa Bay Lightning	Draft Pick
Mathieu Joseph	Tampa Bay Lightning	Draft Pick

And here's a look at some other notable names - including former Sea Dogs - who received camp invitations.

Player	Team	Status
Matt Murphy	Anaheim Ducks	Invite
Olivier Leblanc	Arizona Coyotes	Invite
Jake Massie	Chicago Blackhawks	Draft/Trade
Jamie Armstrong	St. Louis Blues	Invite
Sam Povorozniouk	St. Louis Blues	Signee
Adam Marsh	Detroit Red Wings	Draft Pick
Marc Biega	New Jersey Devils	Invite
Joel Daccord	Ottawa Senators	Draft Pick

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Bruins not concerned about Zboril

The Boston Bruins announced Wednesday that the team’s development camp will begin next Tuesday, July 12.

Among the players named to the camp roster was Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Jakub Zboril. After recording 13 fewer points in 2015-16 than he did the previous season, the Bruins’ 2015 first round pick has gotten some attention.

The Bruins, though, say they are not concerned with the 19-year-old’s development.

“But everything is on track with him,” Bruins assistant general manager Scott Bradley told CSN New England on June 26. “He’s going to come to camp and hopefully shines, and has a good year this year…patience.”

Bradley talks more about Zboril in this article.

Meanwhile, Carolina Hurricanes development is underway, which features Sea Dogs captain Spencer Smallman.

.@ssmallman96 @nhlcanes @nhlcanesfans as I said many times. This kid is a player. #smartscharacter https://t.co/9LRpeLaPMU

— Doug Maclean (@DougMaclean) July 7, 2016

Former Sea Dogs forward Sam Povorozniouk is taking part in St. Louis Blues prospects camp. The Pioneer Press had a nice article on the Illinois native signing a tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves, which is the Blues’ AHL affiliate.

American Jamie Armstrong, a Sea Dogs prospect who was not selected in this year’s NHL Draft, is attending the Blues camp as well.

And while Ottawa Senators development camp has come to an end, the Ottawa Sun had a solid piece on the different paths prospects Thomas Chabot and Colin White are taking to the NHL.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Sens left wanting more from Chabot

The reviews from Ottawa Senators development camp are in, and they are not all positive for Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Thomas Chabot.

From Sportsnet:

“Average,” said Senators assistant general manager, Randy Lee when asked of the prospect’s performance. “I thought Thomas should have been a bit more intense. I think Thomas should have dominated.  

“Thomas and I have talked about it and I think he could have given a bit more to this camp.” 

The Ottawa Citizen has a similar article, where Chabot said, “I don’t think I did what they expected from me.”

The Citizen's Ken Warren went on TSN Radio 1200 to talk about Chabot’s development camp performance.

On the last day of #SensDevCamp, the boys had 3 on 3 round robin tournament.  Find out who took home the trophy!https://t.co/cu3qF46byf

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) July 5, 2016

The 19-year-old recorded 11 goals and 45 points in 47 games with Saint John last season, adding another three goals and 21 points in 17 playoff matches. He also played a key defensive role for Team Canada at the world juniors.

It’s certainly unusual to hear negative reviews about Chabot, especially given that his career has been on a steady rise for several years. But this may just be the Senators way of challenging a player that could be playing a regular role for the team in the near future.

Chabot has a shot at making the Senators this season. If he doesn’t, it’s back to the Sea Dogs as he is not eligible for the AHL. He’ll no doubt play a staring role for Canada at this year’s world juniors.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Alex Grant signs with Bruins

Embed from Getty Images

Alex Grant, the original Sea Dog, has signed with the Boston Bruins.

Alex Grant (#Bruins)
1 yr two-way @ $600,000
$225,000 AHLhttps://t.co/Q6ll16EHat

— General Fanager (@generalfanager) July 5, 2016

Grant was part of the Arizona Coyotes organization last year, appearing in five NHL games. He recorded 11 goals and 31 assists in 69 games with the Springfield Falcons in 2015-16, placing him 10th in AHL scoring by defensemen.

The 27-year-old has registered 43 goals and 174 points in 323 career AHL games, which has turned him into a coveted offensive defenseman at the minor league level.

Grant, who has appeared in seven career NHL contests, was Saint John’s first ever draft pick in 2005. He spent three-and-a-half seasons with the club.

The Antigonish native joins current Sea Dogs defenseman Jakub Zboril in the Bruins system.

Sea Dogs prospect named to US U-18 roster

USA Hockey released its roster for the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament last week.

Among the 21 players named to the team was Sea Dogs prospect Ben Mirageas, a 6’1” defenseman from Massachusetts.

The 17-year-old was a ninth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. He recorded six goals and 16 assists in 24 games with the Avon Old Farms School this past season. He also appeared in 12 games with the Neponset Valley River Rats U-18 team where he put up one goal and six helpers. As well, in four games with the USHL’s Bloomington Thunder, the d-man was held pointless in four matches.

The Thunder drafted Mirageas in the second-round of the 2015 USHL draft. According to Elite Prospects, he is committed to Providence College for the 2018-19 season.

The annual under-18 tournament takes place in early August in Breclav, Czech Republic and Bratislava, Slovakia.

Last month, Sea Dogs forward Joe Veleno and prospect Shane Bowers received invites to Canada’s under-18 camp.

And in other USA Hockey news:

Sea Dogs prospect Matthew Gould. https://t.co/LBBsBb1iud

— Anthony Stella (@A_Stellaa) July 2, 2016

Gould was a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft by the Sea Dogs. The 16-year-old forward - who's hometown is listed as Weymouth, MA, which is the same town that produced Charlie Coyle - is committed to Providence for the 2019-20 season.

Imama, Joseph light up Lightning camp

Two Saint John Sea Dogs had solid showings at Tampa Bay Lightning development camp this past week.

From Erik Erlendsson, former Lightning beat writer for the Tamp Bay Trubune (RIP):

Boko Imama led all goal scorers at #TBLightning development camp with 8 in 7 games
Imama and teammate Mathieu Joseph tied in points with 10

— Erik Erlendsson (@Erik_Erlendsson) July 2, 2016

And some more stats (which can be seen in full on the Lightning website):

This is how prospects did at TBL's development camp today. Happy to see how hard Imama is working. pic.twitter.com/BuCauf5EtB

— Achariya (@tanyarezak) July 2, 2016

The Tampa Bay Times has some reaction from Joseph and some comments on Imama from Stacy Roest, the Lightning’s director of player development.