As the Boston Bruins welcome one NCAA signing to the NHL today—Charlie McAvoy will pair up with Zdeno Chara for the Bruins’ playoff opener tomorrow night—they’re still working on getting another into the fold at all. Joe Haggerty of CSNNE reports that the team is negotiating with Anders Bjork, the top player from the University of Notre Dame, to try and convince him to turn pro.
While it has long been rumored that Bjork would leave school following this season, Haggerty points out that he has strong ties to the school through his family and there is still a chance he could return for his senior year, especially after the dream run the team went on in the NCAA tournament. The fifth-round pick had 52 points in 32 games and would be a contender for the Hobey Baker should he return next season.
- Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports that Chaz Reddekopp will join the Ontario Reign on an amateur tryout. The WHL defender just completed his fourth season with the Victoria Royals where he scored 43 points in 51 games. We recently included Reddekopp on the list of unsigned draft picks set to become free agents should they not be signed by June 1st, meaning this is likely a tryout to see if the Kings want to sign him to an entry-level contract. Drafted in the seventh round, Reddekopp was outstanding for the Royals this year and has the size to be a solid player in the professional ranks.
- Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News profiles several young players in his latest column, including Jaret Anderson-Dolan of the Spokane Chiefs. The 17-year old Anderson-Dolan was just ranked at #21 among North American skaters on the NHL Central Scouting final draft rankings, a huge leap from his spot at #40 at mid-season. Kennedy is especially high on him, as he writes that Anderson-Dolan is a “smart, 200-foot player who works hard and has more offense to unlock.” The center had 76 points in 72 games this season, playing mostly with fellow top draft prospect Kailer Yamamoto. As Kennedy points out, the pair will likely both be back next season for the Chiefs, and will look to put up even better numbers.