Welcome to 2016!

Since the last stats update, two of Boston’s three 2015 first-round picks- Jake DeBrusk and Zach Senyshyn had impactful weeks with their respectful clubs.

DeBrusk, originally credited with a four goal outburst in Red Deer’s 10-0 drubbing of the Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday night, had to “settle” for three goals and five points in that one, raising his totals to 5 goals and 10 points in 4 games since being traded from Swift Current the last week of December. Brent Sutter has since added two more veteran forwards and the 2016 Memorial Cup host team is probably not finished- that bodes well for DeBrusk’s continued offensive output, as he finds himself suddenly in a significantly better situation on the Rebels than he was with the Broncos.

Senyshyn has scored goals in his last several games and has been noticeable and effective offensively with each viewing. He continues to beat defenders wide with his impressive speed and powerful skating stride. As long as that continues, he’s on pace to crack the 40-goal mark in the OHL this season.

2015 fourth-rounder Jesse Gabrielle had a tremendous week as well, netting a hat trick and rising to second place in goals scored for the entire WHL. He’s not only producing but providing his patented gritty, agitating game,

Alex Khokhlachev continues to demonstrate the dichotomy between his AHL season (highly impressive) and his limited NHL stint (can’t get out of first gear). He tallied two goals and four points Sunday after being returned to Providence from Boston after the disaster of a Winter Classic. I posted on Twitter that it’s hard to square the Koko we’re seeing in the AHL with the passive, unengaged chap who has been brought up (and sent back down) three times by Boston. Yes, he hasn’t gotten much ice time in his limited opportunities (multiple not singular) but at some point- you have to do something with the ice you receive in order to get more. It certainly looks like his days in the Boston organization are numbered, but then again- I felt the same way about Ryan Spooner at this point last year.

Now, here’s the update:

AHL

Seth Griffith, RW Providence Bruins

GP- 25 Goals- 10 Assists- 20 Points- 30 Penalty Min- 20 +/- -2

Griffith played two games in Boston (1 assist) but was sent back down to Providence after the Winter Classic. He posted three assists in Sunday’s win to hold Koko at bay for the team scoring lead.

Alex Khokhlachev, C Providence Bruins

GP- 23 Goals- 11 Assists- 18 Points- 29 Penalty Min- 2 +/- -2

Three AHL games since the last update- three goals and six points.

Austin Czarnik, C Providence Bruins

GP- 27 Goals- 9 Assists- 17 Points- 26 Penalty Min- 10 +/- 3

Czarnik’s passing has picked up- he added seven helpers in three games since the last update.

Colton Hargrove, LW Providence Bruins

GP- 26 Goals- 8 Assists- 6 Points- 14 Penalty Min- 30 +/- -7

Hargrove continues to be a pleasant surprise as a rookie pro- the former WMU product and seventh-round pick in 2012 was expected to be a bit player this season as he acclimated to the AHL, but instead, has opened eyes as an effective power play presence and consistent middle-of-the-roster option.

Chris Casto, D Providence Bruins

GP- 30 Goals- 2 Assists- 10 Points- 12 Penalty Min- 18 +/- -9

Tommy Cross, D Providence Bruins

GP- 26 Goals- 1 Assists- 10 Points- 11 Penalty Min- 45 +/- -11

Zack Phillips, C Providence Bruins

GP- 30 Goals- 3 Assists- 8 Points-11 Penalty Min- 4 +/- -11

The former 1st-round pick in 2011 is playing more effectively after recovering from a lower body injury that caused him to miss training camp and hampered him in the first couple of months.

Colby Cave, C Providence Bruins

GP- 34 Goals- 7 Assists- 4 Points- 11 Penalty Min- 8 +/- -11

Noel Acciari, C Providence Bruins

GP- 22 Goals- 3 Assists-3 Points- 6 Penalty Min- 9 +/- -1

Acciari returned to the lineup Sunday after being cleared to play post-surgery for a broken jaw.

Anton Blidh, LW Providence Bruins

GP- 32 Goals- 6 Assists- 0 Points- 6 Penalty Min- 14 +/- -5

Anthony Camara, LW Providence Bruins

GP- 17 Goals- 0 Assists- 1 Points- 1 Penalty Min- 31 +/- -4

Linus Arnesson, D Providence Bruins

GP- 21 Goals- 0 Assists- 1 Points- 1 Penalty Min- 2 +/- -2

Injured- has not played since last update.

Justin Hickman, RW Providence Bruins

GP- 28 Goals- 0 Assists- 1 Points- 1 Penalty Min- 27 +/- -7

The former Seattle Thunderbirds captain and undrafted free agent finally registered his first pro point last week. There is a lot to like about Hickman, but this season is a learning process for him as he will have to scrap for bottom line minutes.

Malcolm Subban, G Providence Bruins

GP- 19 MIN- 1141 GA- 51 GAA- 2.68 Spct- .904 W- 8 L-8 OTL 3 SO- 1

Two starts, two wins for Subban- he’s strung together a solid month of play after a brutal start to the season.

Zane McIntyre, G Providence Bruins

GP- 15 MIN- 842 GA- 42 GAA- 2.99 Spct- .885 W- 5 L- 6 OTL- 3

Injured- Brian Ferlin (upper body)- 1 game played.

OHL

Zach Senyshyn, RW Saulte Ste Marie Greyhounds

GP- 36 Goals- 24 Assists- 11 Points- 35 Penalty Min- 10 +/- -5

Three goals in four games since the last update- finished December with 11 goals, 17 points in 9 games.

QMJHL

Jeremy Lauzon, D Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

GP- 28 Goals- 5 Assists- 29 Points- 34 Penalty Min- 52 +/- 24

Missed the last couple of games due to injury.

Jakub Zboril, D Saint John Sea Dogs

GP- 21 Goals- 3 Assists- 6 Points- 9 Penalty Min- 26 +/- 2

After Zboril’s Czech squad was eliminated in the quarterfinal match against USA (7-0) he’ll be back in the Sea Dogs’ lineup this week. Zboril earned player of the game honors against USA in a contest that did not give the Czechs a whole lot to be positive about.

WHL

Jesse Gabrielle, LW Prince George Cougars

GP- 39 Goals- 25 Assists- 18 Points- 43 Penalty Min- 57 +/- 10

Gabrielle has really picked it up, scoring a hat trick this past week in a dominant performance against Vancouver and drawing raves from at least one other NHL team’s Western Canada scouts. He’s currently second in the WHL in goals and is outperforming more than a few players drafted well before he was. The 105th overall pick is feeling it- and grabbing a lot of notice in the process.

Jake DeBrusk, LW Red Deer Rebels

SCB: GP- 24 Goals- 9 Assists- 17 Points- 26 Penalty Min- 15 +/- -5

RDR: GP- 4 Goals- 5 Assists- 5 Points- 10 Penalty Min- 0 +/- 2

DeBrusk has looked every bit the 14th overall pick this past week playing on the top line with (undrafted) Ivan Nikolishin (son of former NHLer Andrei) and Sharks 2015 draft pick/overager Adam Helewka. There’s a lot more offense coming from this trio if Sutter keeps them together- they combined for 5 goals and 13 points in the Brandon game.

Brandon Carlo, D Tri-City Americans

GP- 22 Goals- 2 Assists- 12 Points- 14 Penalty Min- 57 +/- -5

Carlo’s Team USA squad faces Russia today in the WJC semifinal match- he’s been his club’s top defensive player and continues to demonstrate high-end shutdown potential at the next level.

NCAA

Ryan Fitzgerald, F Boston College Eagles (HEA)

GP- 17 Goals- 11 Assists- 10 Points- 21 Penalty Min- 33 +/- 18

Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, C Boston University Terriers (HEA)

GP- 18 Goals- 4 Assists- 10 Points- 14 Penalty Min- 10 +/- -2

JFK’s Sweden team takes on the impressive Finnish offensive juggernaut featuring offensive whiz kids (with size and skill) Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine. JFK has been very good in the tournament thus far and should return to BU with elevated confidence regardless of the WJC’s final outcome.

Anders Bjork, LW University of Notre Dame (HEA)

GP- 17 Goals- 5 Assists- 11 Points- 16 Penalty Min- 4 +/- 17

With Team USA at WJC.

Danton Heinen, LW Denver University Pioneers (NCHC)

GP- 18 Goals- 5 Assists- 6 Points- 11 Penalty Min- 0 +/- -3

No points in two games against Notre Dame, but it’s not for a lack of trying. Heinen is playing well and creating numerous scoring chances on a line with Trevor Moore and Dylan Gambrell, but the Pioneers ran into a hot goaltender (Cal Petersen) on Saturday night.

Ryan Donato, C Harvard University (ECAC)

GP- 10 Goals- 4 Assists- 5 Points- 9 Penalty Min- 10 +/- 6

With Team USA at WJC.

Cameron Hughes, C University of Wisconsin (Big Ten)

GP- 14 Goals- 1 Assists- 8 Points- 9 Penalty Min- 6 +/- -6

No games since last update.

Sean Kuraly, C Miami University (NCHC)

GP- 18 Goals- 2 Assists- 5 Points- 7 Penalty Min- 19 +/- -4

Matt Benning, D Northeastern University (HEA)

GP- 19 Goals- 2 Assists- 5 Points- 7 Penalty Min- 17 +/- -13

Matt Grzelcyk, D Boston University (HEA)

GP-6 Goals 2 Assists- 3 Points- 5 Penalty Min- 12 +/- 2

Grzelcyk is still out with a lower body (knee injury).

Wiley Sherman, D Harvard University (ECAC)

GP- 12 Goals- 2 Assists- 2 Points- 4 Penalty Min- 6 +/- 5

No games since last update.

Rob O’Gara, D Yale University (ECAC)

GP- 12 Goals- 0 Assists- 4 Points- 4 Penalty Min- 16 +/- -4

No games since last update.

Europe

Peter Cehlarik, LW Lulea (Sweden)

GP- 24 Goals- 7 Assists- 6 Points- 13 Penalty Min- 0 +/- 3

Emil Johansson, D HV71 (Sweden)

GP- 28 Goals- 0 Assists- 2 Points- 2 Penalty Min- 12 +/- 0

Maxim Chudinov, D St Petersburg SKA (Russia)

GP- 40 Goals- 6 Assists- 8 Points- 14 Penalty Min- 77 +/- -7

USHL

Daniel Vladar, G Chicago (USHL)

GP- 13 MIN- 737 GA- 26 GAA- 2.12 Spct .925 SO- 2; 3-5-3

Vladar will be back in the USHL this week.

Jack Becker, C Sioux Falls (USHL)

GP- 29 Goals- 4 Assists- 6 Points- 10 Penalty Min- 6 +/- 0