Prospect Camp - Day 4 reaction

I did not get to see the practice portion of the last day of camp today but I did make it for the scrimmage.

First off -- way to represent Columbus!! Place was absolutely packed. Most people by far that I have ever seen at one of these deals and I have been to quite a bit of them over the years.

On to the scrimmage.

Lets start with the obvious.

Derick Brassard. Just echoing what a reader posted in the comments Brassard was beast out there today. Looked fantastic with and without the puck. Made things happen whenever he had the biscuit darting in and out of traffic. I know its just prospect camp but if we are counting on this kid to help out our top 6 he did nothing to show he isn't up for the challenge today.

Jakub Voracek. Really quiet during the scrimmage but he played with Brassard who had the puck a ton. Didn't really do anything good or bad but by all accounts this kid has been a stud this entire camp. Next stop for Voracek - NHL training camp.

Grant Clitsome - Continues to impress and word is the coaching staff feels the same way. He's just so calm and collected - no panic in his game. I have yet to see him get beat or lose a battle. I'll keep a close on his performance in camp but he's a lock at least for prime minutes in the AHL I think.

Adam Pineault - Pineault took part in the scrimmage although he's a pro whose been in town for off ice workouts. A friend of mine ran into him after the session and he said he was fried. He went onto explain that they have been concentrating on off ice workout and he hasn't been on the ice much and nothing can get you into game shape unless your out there skating. I was just wanting him to unleash that rocket he's got.

Andrei Plekhanov - Another player in town for workouts who participated today. Nothing fancy today out of Plekahnov just some solid defense. I think he took it pretty easy out there today not wanting to go 100% since I'm sure like Pinneault, he also hasn't had much time on the ice.

Maxim Mayorov - The hulking young Russian again flashed the skill and skating ability today. He started off the scrimmage and made some nice rushes and then tailed off a bit. No goals or points (heck no one on the red teams had goals or points) but again you saw the promise in his game.

Peter Pohl - As my buddy said "he's still in our system?" - sure enough there was the 2004 5th round pick mucking it up. He actually flashed some nice speed and had a couple of decent plays but will most likely be an ECHLr with some time in the AHL if he sticks.

Allen York - I've seen Christmas trees get lit up less than he did today. Whoa. Not all his fault of course as the ice was tilted in the white team's favor all game. He got stoned pretty good though. Stilll a big goaltender who needs to fill out and will get plenty of time to develop in the NCAAs.

Stepan Legein - Like Voracek he had a quiet scrimmage. Don't remember any plays that really stood out except for a poor shootout attempt -- remember though this is the guy who won the prospect shootout tourney last season.

Weber/Holden/Kosmachev - I group these three together as all just played solid defense and nothing spectacular. Tip from a friend was that a knock on Kosmachev is that he doesn't hold his stick with two hands enough so he'll need to work on that area. All three guys are huge with plenty of upside.

Matt Calvert - a little water bug out there who uses his speed well to create space for himself. He put up really good points in his first year of junior last year with 64p in 72g. He's certainly got some skill but how much will size be a factor? He'll be given plenty of time to develop.

Cody Goloubef - he had one play that made me think "wow" this kid has something. It was just a simple hard and quick tape to tape pass out of the zone. Exactly what we need more of.

Derek Dorsett - real hard for a kid like Dorsett to play his game in a scrimmage like that. Dorsett earns his keep by playing a rugged bang em up style. Kid showed a flash of that when he went straight to the net and bowled over York and the knocked the net off its moorings in the process. Moved well though. He'll get a long look in camp.

Johnathen Sigalet - for some reason I really like what he brough to the scrimmage today. You could tell he had more seasoning in his game and he made a few things happen offensively. Nothing spectacular but I liked him more today than I did on Monday. Plus you gotta love the fact this guy came on his own accord to get to know everyone within the org and get started on his career here.

Ryan Mior - the other goalie. Real small guy but had some amazing saves even playing behind the better white team.

Some other kids had their moments like Hughes and Kubalik as well.

Really the story was Brassard. Kid looked fantastic. There were also some pretty amazing shootout moves that had the crowd "oooohing" and "aaaahing".

Also had a quick chat with Jeff Rimer and told him how much I enjoyed him on the radio the past few weeks and not to let the blowhards Hooley and Riccordoti get to him. Not to worry of course as Rimer has been in this business long enough to know how to handle those clowns.

The Jackets staff also put on a nice event for some season ticket holders after the practice. Saw lots of smiles and happy fans out there today which is great to see.

This was with no doubt in my mind the greatest group of prospects Columbus has ever had at a camp. From the skill to the size to the competitive level Columbus is starting to get there.

Finally many thanks to "you know who" for the Hitch autos.

How many days til camp now? The appetite is now wet and I'm ready for the main course!!

Discuss - who stood out to you today? Who didn't?

-LTL