Kalman: How Bruins' 3 First-Rounders Play Hockey Will Determine If Failed Run Tests Matter
WILMINGTON (CBS) -- Forward Zachary Senyshyn had 26 goals and 45 points skating for Sault Ste. Marie in the Ontario Hockey League last season.
He's widely expected to exceed those numbers this season with an expanded role for a solid team as an 18-year-old.
On Thursday he wasn't able to run three 300-meter sprints in less than a minute with limited rest time in between the off-ice testing on the opening day of Bruins rookie camp at Ristuccia Arena. This shouldn't cause anyone to write him off as a failure three months after the Bruins drafted him 15th overall in the first round.
The Bruins' other two first-round picks, defenseman Jakub Zboril and forward Jake DeBrusk, also failed to successfully complete the run, which was done off-site and on artificial turf because of precipitation. After general manager Don Sweeney revealed that some players had failed the testing and the trio of players admitted their guilt, social media went crazy. The Bruins, especially Sweeney, were ridiculed. Of course, social media has never been a bastion of perspective. Sweeney, for one, wasn't overreacting about his prized prospects shortcomings one day before leaving for Buffalo and a rookie tournament against the Sabres and New Jersey Devils.
"There's still an educational process. These are young kids and understanding they're now being evaluated as pros. And they have to compare themselves against the pros and established guys. And you'll realize that there's some work to be done and that'll be pointed out. Really it's about going forward for each and every one of them. Some guys will be returning to junior teams that will have the expectation next year that they have to pass. We expect them to pass. They'll have to do some work as a result of it if they don't. But it's still an educational process, as far as personal growth."
Although it's disappointing that after being given guidance at development camp in July about how to train to pass this test, the Bruins most recent high-profile picks didn't execute. Remember that these three players are not out of shape; they didn't arrive in Wilmington unable to fit through the door or smoking Marlboros. At least two of the three said they improved their times from development camp to rookie camp, and all three spent a significant amount of time training on and off the ice. That they weren't able to complete Bruins strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides test was more a sign that all three have to learn to follow directions better than they have to be in a lot better shape.
We'll find out more about these players when they get into game action over the weekend. All three sounded eager to put this whole affair in the past and prove that what they lack in speed off the ice they make up for with their skills on the ice.
"We all have something to prove," Senyshyn said. "And I don't think anything's a sure thing at all. And I think that everyone, whether you're a first-rounder or a seventh-rounder, you got to be able to show what you have to offer to be able to go to that main camp."
Ultimately these draft picks will be judged on what they do between the boards. That starts in Buffalo.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
