Eighteen-year-old Bogosian Has Sights Set On NHL

Published in The Hockey News 

ATLANTA – As a teen, Zach Bogosian dedicated his summers to taking long road trips across the Canadian border from his hometown Massena, NY to Ottawa to attend vigorous workouts with premiere NHL players like Daniel Alfredsson and Daniel Briere.
 
Ottawa is a three-and-a-half hour round trip from Massena. Bogosian made that trek routinely over three summers, sometimes hitting the road before dawn to make a scheduled skate. The training in Ottawa was much more intense and Massena offered little to no hockey that time of year.
 
Possessing these strong work ethics and born competitive to the core, it’s no surprise the seventeen-year-old American was selected No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 NHL draft.
 
Bogosian comes from a family of hard hitters with football chromosomes in their blood. His father, Ike, was a safety and captain of the Syracuse University football team and his Uncle Steve played defensive tackle at Army.
 
Too small to play football, Bogosian pursued hockey instead. He enrolled at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass. where NHL Hall of Famer Ray Bourque was an assistant coach. “That’s when I began taking hockey serious.” said Bogosian.
 
Knowing Bogosian was accustomed to competing against older players his entire life Bourque played the fifteen-year-old recruit against nineteen and twenty-year-olds, some who had attended previous NHL camps.
 
Against the older, more developed competition, Bogosian grinded out 17 points in 36 games. “Bourque taught me to be deceptive with the puck in the offensive zone to throw the forwards off. He also said to learn to play defense first then the offense would come later.”
 
As Bourque suggested, Bogosian mastered his defensive position first, then a few years later, as Bourque had promised, the offensive numbers improved.
 
While honing his skills playing with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL, Bogosian tallied 7 goals and 33 points in 2006-07. The following season he nearly doubled that point total, netting 11 goals and 61 points, becoming the only defensemen in the league to lead his team in scoring. The 6′ 2″, 200 pound hard-hitting blue liner also registered 135 penalty minutes over those same two seasons.
 
Along with the impressive offensive numbers comes a fierce competitor capable of playing with a mean streak. Watching him compete and battle on the ice, it’s no surprise his favorite movie is “Gladiator”.
 
When asked what player he wants to model his style after he responded, “Chris Chelios was always my favorite player. He’s a warrior and a leader. He’ll do anything it takes to win.”
 
Bogosian has adopted that same attitude about winning and has said he will do whatever is necessary to crack the Thrashers lineup this upcoming preseason. He began his quest by being a standout during last month’s NHL Thrashers Prospect Camp, dominating during many of the scrimmages while showing his ability to get physical at times. After that stellar performance, many expect him to be in uniform on opening night at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Oct. 10.
 
This off season, it was imperative for the Thrashers to address their need for defensemen after finishing worst in the league with a 3.24 GAA. In addition to drafting Bogosian, GM Don Waddell signed UFA defenseman Ron Hainsey to a multi-year deal.
 
Bogosian’s offensive-minded style is a perfect fit for new Thrashers coach, John Anderson. Anderson wants his defensemen to be aggressive with the puck and loves the style of play his young rookie brings to the Thrashers. “If there’s a lane open, he can take it. It’s up to the forward to drop back and cover.”
 
Never apprehensive about going to the net with the puck, Bogosian is a puck-carrying defenseman who can showcase his offensive attributes on an Anderson team. “I’m a defenseman so I need to take care of my own zone first. Then throw offense in.”
 
Although most young draft picks take years to develop before making a roster in the NHL, GM Don Waddell confirmed in an earlier interview that the Thrashers are giving Bogosian an open chance to make the team in 2008.
 
Bogosian’s journey from the small town of Massena to Atlanta, a city five million people strong, has been one full of challenges and commitments. The young prospect appears to be in position to snag a spot on the Thrashers roster many feel is in desperate need of new blood and new leaders.

Another Esposito In The NHL?

Published in The Hockey News 

ATLANTA – IN THE 1970′S, Esposito was a household name in Canada and the United States, the name made famous by two NHL legends who loved the game of hockey.

We remember ten-time All-Star Phil Esposito as a record-setting, Hall of Fame player who rewrote the record books in the NHL during the peak of his career. Phil became the first NHL player to break the 100 point barrier in a season when he beat the number by a landslide, tallying 126 points in 1969. Later he would score a record-shattering 76 goals during the 1970-71 season.

Phil’s brother, Tony Esposito, a Hall of Fame goaltender, took home the Vezina Trophy three times, was a five-time All-Star and has a resume overflowing with accomplishments of his own.

Decades later, another Esposito is emerging, hovering over the NHL, pursuing the opportunity to make a name for himself.

As a five-year-old attending kindergarten, Angelo Esposito was asked a question by his teacher, a question he continues to hear as he pursues his dream of playing in the NHL. “It’s probably the most common question I get in interviews and that question goes way back to when my kindergarten teacher asked if I was related to Phil and Tony Esposito. I told her I have uncles named Phil and Tony. She asked for their autographs and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll get you their autographs.’”

Young Angelo was thrilled and ran home to tell his parents that his teacher gave him the assignment to get Uncle Phil and Uncle Tony’s autograph. “When I got home my Mom sat me down and explained there was a famous Phil and Tony Esposito who played hockey in the NHL but we were not related to them.” he said with a laugh.

Although they are not related, Angelo and Phil have several similarities. The two happen to share the same birth date, Feb. 20, wear No. 7 and as teens possessed offensive skills that demanded attention from the NHL.

At age 16, while playing as a rookie for the Quebec Remparts during the 2005-06 season, Angelo tallied 39 goals and 98 points in 57 games. He went on to win the Michel Bergeron Trophy for offensive rookie of the year, the same award won by Sidney Crosby two years earlier. That performance shot him straight to the top where he was suddenly projected as the future No. 1 pick overall.

Over the next two seasons with the Remparts, his numbers dropped off along with the ultra-high expectations. When his time of eligibility arrived in 2007, Angelo was chosen 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins then was later traded to the Atlanta Thrashers as part of a package in the deal that sent Marian Hossa to the Pens at the trade deadline in 2008.

After surviving a pressure-filled journey over the past few years, the 19 year-old hockey star from Montreal seems determined to make a name for himself in the NHL.

No longer feeling pressure from the high expectations in 2006, Angelo arrived at this year’s NHL Prospect Camp in Atlanta with a clear mind and appeared focused and on a mission. “I couldn’t be happier than the situation I’m in right now. I’m here to work hard and earn my spot.”

In an earlier interview first year coach Anderson shared some of the suggestions he made to Esposito leading into the camp, “I told him the slate’s clean here . . . let your hockey do the talking.”

Angelo did just that. Watching the young center fly around the ice turning defenders inside out with moves a player can only be born with, he made a great impression on new coach John Anderson and GM Don Waddell.

Waddell was impressed enough that he signed Angelo to a multi-year contract on July 18, bringing the player one step closer to playing in the NHL.

When asked about coming to the Thrashers and the opportunities it presents, he is very optimistic. “Before the camp, Coach Anderson sat me down and made sure I had cleared my head and would relax and play my game. It’s a team that’s rebuilding, there’s a new coach behind the bench. I’m excited. It presents a great opportunity for me.”

Most would agree there is a great opportunity for Esposito in Blueland. The Thrashers have a roster full of young, developing talent that is expected to include their No. 3 pick overall in this years draft, 18 year-old Zach Bogosian. GM Don Waddell confirmed in an interview that Bogosian will be given an open chance to make the team.

Seeing Esposito and Bogosian, two future NHLers dominate at times during the Prospect Camp makes you expect both youngsters to make the roster at some point this upcoming season.

If he does make the cut, the young star from Montreal will have fullfilled his dream of making it to the NHL and may bring new fame to the “Esposito” name.

Thrashers Roster Has Huge Void To Fill

Published in Inside Hockey and San Fran Examiner.

ATLANTA – It seems like an eternity ago when the Atlanta Thrashers’ roster was overflowing with high-profile, star-caliber players, won the Southeast Division and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Philips Arena was rocking with wall-to-wall fans in blue with dreams of their team orchestrating a long playoff run . . . a run that could possibly lead to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

It may feel like distant history but that was actually April 2007, only fifteen months ago and that dream ended abruptly when that star-studded roster was easily swept by the New York Rangers 4-0.

Just like that, four games and out! Barely a week into the playoffs and the high-salaried, underachievers from Blueland had an early exit onto the golf course.  

GM Don Waddell carefully built that roster around proven veterans with tons of playoff experience and leaders who had been on Stanley Cup winning teams. The main acquisitions were Bobby Holik who signed for 4.25 million per year and Marian Hossa, one of the brightest NHL stars, who went on to tally a club record 100 points that season.

In addition to Holik and Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk, Slava Kozlov, Alexei Zhitnik, Keith Tkachuk and captain Scott Melanby wore Thrashers blue that year but a lot has changed in Blueland since then.

After under-achieving again last season and unable to make the playoffs, this year’s 2008-2009 roster is looking quite different. When the Thrashers take the ice at Phillips Arena this October, all the above-mentioned stars have exited through trades or free agency except for Kovalchuk and Kozlov.

Last year’s Thrashers Mark Recchi and Pascal Dupuis have also moved on and fan-favorite Eric Boulton (127 PIM) is currently testing the free agent market. The only transaction worthy of mentioning this off-season thus far is the signing of Columbus Blue Jackets puck-carrying defenseman, Ron Hainsey.

Hainsey, a former first-round pick is expected to add much needed help on the blue line but this current roster is packed with young and lesser-known players than the team that won the division in ‘07. A successful year depends on some of these prospects having break-out seasons and that is too big a gamble.

There is talent on this roster but much of it is still developing and the locker room is in need of established leaders. That is why Waddell made an aggressive attempt to sign premiere veteran free agents like Brian Campbell and Brian Rolston before they decided to sign in NHL cities where it snows several times a year.

Approximately 60 goals departed with Hossa, Dupuis and Holik and in today’s low-scoring NHL that’s a huge void to fill . . . rather than void, you may call it an abyss if the Thrashers are unable to land a few proven goal scorers.

Kovalchuk is one of the most talented players in the league but he will be forced to carry a majority of the load, game in and game out, and with a grueling 82 game schedule, it may wear him down to the point of inefficiency.

With this current roster, an injury sidelining Kovalchuk could put an immediate end to any hopes of the Thrashers having a productive season. Successful teams are built with a combination of youth and experience. Waddell had the right idea with the roster of the ’06-’07 season but the chemistry was missing, maybe due to coaching or not having the right foundation of players in place.

Time is running out as many of the quality free agents have signed elsewhere but there is still plenty of talent out there looking for new contracts. These remaining players may be available at a more affordable price allowing Waddell to add a handful of players to the roster as opposed to spending the bank on a single UFA like Campbell or Rolston.

Either way the Thrashers organization desperately needs to make a few moves to spice up their current roster and they need to make them soon. Working against them may be Atlanta being perceived as one of the least desirable places to play in the NHL.

The Lightning’s Dan Boyle who loved it in Tampa finally agreed to waive his “no trade clause” when he was threatened with being placed on waivers and landing on the Thrashers. He was then traded to the San Jose Sharks.

With a new man behind the bench, John Anderson, who has never coached at the NHL level, it may be more challenging to get established veterans to commit.

Atlanta as a city and organization have a lot to offer NHL players, including money, and Waddell has proven he is not afraid to spend it but the clock is ticking fast. It’s time to sign a few veterans who can put the puck in the net . . . and that group should include a leader . . . a leader capable of donning the Thrashers “C”. 

Tom Ferda is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and full-time columnist for Inside Hockey. Contact Tom at his email: tom@tomferda.com