PITTSBURGHThe Bruins once again went back to the well with their final pick in the NHL Draft, selecting a prospective power forward in Colton Hargrove.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Hargrove is a power forward out of Fargo in the USHL, and he hails from Rockwall, Texas. Not exactly a hotbed of hockey in the Lone Star State, but it speaks to the draft-eligible talent coming from all over.
The 205th overall pick will be headed to Western Michigan University next season, so the Bruins will get a good long look at him throughout his college years. Hargrove makes no bones about what kind of player he is, and the Bruins are always happy to draft and develop size on the wing.
Id like to think Im a power forward. I like to hit, forecheck. I think Ive got some skill. I can score, said Hargrove. Thats kind of what a power forward is . . . kind of just a skilled grinder that likes to hit. So I think I can bring a physical game and some skill to the team.
He put up 16 goals, 38 points and 140 PIMs in 54 games for the Fargo Force last season, and its pretty clear the Bruins hope he can further develop his skills after four years of NCAA hockey.
As with any big man he'll need to improve his coordination and footwork to augment his skating abilities. His size and strength are already well in place for a 19-year-old kid.
Id like to improve upon my footwork. I dont have the quickest feet and I think I can definitely work on it this year. Being at Western Michigan the coaches are great, said Hargrove. The weight training has been awesome since Ive been up here. Its tough but its really good for me. So hopefully I can work on that.
Boston Bruins
Hargrove will also be reunited with Fargo goaltender -- and Bruins 2011 draft pick -- Zane Gothberg during next weeks Bruins Development Camp, and hes hoping to light up his former tender.
I actually just called him. He was like Hello? and I said Ill see you at camp in about a couple of days, and he was like Yeah I just heard about it, said Hargrove. So Im real excited finally get to see him again. I havent seen him in a while and hopefully were on opposite teams so I can score on him a couple times.
The Bruins are hoping Hargrove can do a lot of scoring, and potentially become a diamond-in-the-rough draft pick much like power forward Brian Ferlin, who has developed quickly over the last 12 months after the Bruins plucked him out of Jacksonville, Florida.