From Europe with skill

via Bruins Instagram

For the first time since 2005 Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli picked 3 prospects from Europe in this years Draft with Linus Arnesson, Anton Blidh and Peter Cehlárik (left to right). 

A bit surprising because in recent years the Bruins organization hasn't been the easiest place for Europeans to reach the NHL team, on the current Roster only David Krejci got drafted by the Bruins out of Europe (Kladno U-20).

Yesterday the 3 guys who're all playing in Sweden arrived at Logan Intl for the Bruins Development Camp starting tomorrow at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington. 

If you would ask me who's the best draft choice this year I would say Peter Cehlárik but only time will tell about that ...

2nd Round #60 overall pick: 

Linus Arnesson, a 6-foot-2, 179-pound defensive minded defenseman split time between Djungarden's men's team and their junior team last season, making his debut at the World Juniors with 18.

He compares himself to Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, which sounds appropriate comparing their stats from Sweden. Unlike Hjalmarsson who spent 2 full seasons in the Swedish Elite League after he got drafted, Arnesson will play in Sweden’s second-tier league with Djungardens next year and then likely transition to North American play. He's supposed to play for Sweden at the World Juniors in his home country this December.

Hopefully he won't turn out to be another Lars Jonsson for the Bruins. (D-man #7 overall pick in 2000, made 6 NHL games for Philly)

Has to compete with:

Wiley Sherman, 18, 6-foot-6, 196 lbs, R 5 #150 pick 2013, 10 P in 26 G in the USHS 2012/13

Matt Grzelcyk, 19, 5-foot-9, 172 lbs, R 3 #85  pick 2012, 23 P in 38 G with BU (NCAA) 12/13

Matt Benning, 19, 6-foot-0, 201 lbs, R 6 #175 pick 2012, 26 P in 57 G in the USHL 12/13

Joe Morrow, 20, 6-foot-0, 196 lbs, PIT R 1 #23 pick 2011, 19 P in 66 G in the AHL 12/13

Rob O'Gara, 20, 6-foot-4, 205 lbs, R 5 #151 pick 2011, 7 P in 37 G with Yale (NCAA) in 12/13

Chris Casto, 21, 6-foot-2, 209 lbs, Undrafted, 9 P in 36 G with Univ. Minnesota / P-Bruins  in 12/13

Zach Trotman, 22, 6-foot-3, 216 lbs, R 7 #210 pick 2010, 16 P in 48 G with P-Bruins in 12/13

3rd Round #90 overall pick:
Peter Cehlárik  is a 6-foot-2, 192-pound left wing from Slovakia and was one of the youngest prospects in this years draft (he's turning 18 in August). He left his hometown club MSK Zilina with 15 to play for Luleå  in Sweden where he was called up in April to play for the men's team. In eight games in the Swedish Elite League he managed to get six points, which made him the highest scoring U18 Junior in the SEL past season. Hockey fans in Sweden are already excited after his first games and looking forward to his first full season with Luleå in the rebranded SHL starting in September.

Cehlárik also played at the Under 18 WC in Russia, where he scored 7 points in 6 games for his country. This year he's likely to play for Slovakia at the World Juniors in December held in Sweden.

Peter Cehlárik 2012-2013 SEL Highlights:  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui0hF_eVpSk

Has to compete with:

Ryan Fitzgerald, 18, 5-foot-10, 176 lbs, 4 R #120 pick 2013, 36 P in 32 G in the EJHL 12/13 

Anton Blidh, 18, 6-foot-0, 187 lbs, 6 R #180 pick 2013, 30 P in 49 G in the SuperElit 12/13

Alexander Khokhlachev, 19, 5-foot-10, 187 lbs, 2 R #40 pick 2012, 48 P in 29 G in the OHL 12/13

Seth Griffith, 20, 5-foot-10, 185 lbs, 5 R #131 pick 2012, 106 P in 75 G in the OHL 12/13

Jared Knight, 21, 5-foot-10, 185 lbs, 2 R #32 pick 2012, 3 P in 10 G with P-Bruins in 12/13 

Anthony Camara, 19, 6-foot-1, 192 lbs, 3 R #81 pick 2011, 76 P in 66 G + 91 PM in the OHL 12/13

6th Round #180 overall pick: 
Anton Blidh is a 6-foot-0, 187 pound two-way forward playing in the Frölunda Indians' organization for the past 4 years. The Swede can play both wings and is described as "a speedy, hardworking player who's great on the penalty kill. A Solid team player who always gives 100% and has great attitude and work ethics" by Swedish scouts. All these attitudes match great with the Bruins player core, though he has yet to prove his skill on high-level. Last season he managed to score 27 points in 43 games in Sweden's Top Junior League for Frölunda, besides playing at the Under 18 WC where he got one point in five games. Alongside Linus Arnesson he might play at the World Juniors this year.

... next time I'm going to tell him that Hollister sucks

Has to compete with:

Peter Cehlarik, 17, 6-foot-2, 205 lbs, 2 R #60 pick 2013, 6 P in 8 G in the Swedish Elite League 12/13

Ryan Fitzgerald, 18, 5-foot-10, 176 lbs, 4 R #120 pick 2013, 36 P in 32 G in the EJHL 12/13 

Alexander Khokhlachev, 19, 5-foot-10, 187 lbs, 2 R #40 pick 2012, 48 P in 29 G in the OHL 12/13

Seth Griffith, 20, 5-foot-10, 185 lbs, 5 R #131 pick 2012, 106 P in 75 G in the OHL 12/13

Jared Knight, 21, 5-foot-10, 185 lbs, 2 R #32 pick 2012, 3 P in 10 G with P-Bruins in 12/13 

Anthony Camara, 19, 6-foot-1, 192 lbs, 3 R #81 pick 2011, 76 P in 66 G + 91 PM in the OHL 12/13