Notes from Day 2 of Prospect Development Camp

Once again, ripping these off 32 thoughts style. Easily digestible and quick, which is good for me and hopefully you, the reader.

• Charles-Alexis Legault’s work ethic is insane. Out early yesterday, out early again today. This shows in his development. Easily the most powerful skate out there, needing maybe one good stride to get speed.

• Legault also has an INSANE shot. He can generate so much power from his wrist that it makes me think that at some point, he was a forward. A goal-scoring one, at that.

• Aleksi Heimosalmi is such a fantastic skater. He glides effortlessly and shifts weight with ease. He ended up leading the group in each drill after a few goes at it.

• Joel Nystrom is a nice mix between the two. He has solid power but also makes cuts and turns look easy.

• Allie LaCombe, who led the drills, was the best skater of everyone. She spoke with us after the drills and was very well thought out in her answers to everything. She mentioned that she and her sister (who played at both Syracuse and the University of North Dakota) both whooped upon their family member who currently plays in the Anaheim Ducks organization, Jackson LaCombe, when they were younger (and still now).

• Lucas Mercuri’s shot seems to have gotten a lot better from my last viewing of him back in March. Either that or he didn’t use it a ton during those games. In any case, I was impressed. Little upset that I missed his skating drill performance, but it’s very hard to be in 2 places at once.

• There was a shot from Justin Poirier that genuinely sounded like it broke the glass. It didn’t but it certainly sounded like it.

• I asked him about his shot after and he mentioned that it’s one of the best aspects of his game. Also, he developed the ability to use his body to bully other players despite his size. This is something that he is incredibly adept at, by the way.

• During the shooting drills among defensemen, Ruslan Khazheyev had a very good run and didn’t allow a goal. He looked at each shooter, raised his stick above his head, and started pumping it. A spectacular moment. Khazheyev also cup-checked Fransen during the drill, but he probably deserved it because Fransen was very, very good at deflections.

• Gleb Trikozov, who I’ll mention later on, has some very good tools in his game. His shot is lethal plus he can put some serious zip on his passes. Liked what I saw on ice.

• While everyone was speaking with Darren Yorke (and hearing that Unger Sorum was going to stay in North America), I went over to talk to 2nd round pick and first selection by the Hurricanes in the 2024 NHL Draft, Dominik Badinka. He spoke very fondly of the North Carolina weather and the experience so far. He’s bunking with Egor Velmakin, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

• Smaller thing, but both Bradly and Josh Nadeau remembered me from when I visited UMaine last March. Something small that made me very happy. Bradly was very happy to be in the North Carolina weather. He loved the weather in Maine and was happy with his experience, especially since his family was close by and visited, but he loves the sun and heat of this NC summer.

• Egor (yes, it’s Egor. I will apologize when I get the chance) Velmakin is such a gem of a person. Walt Ruff asked him about his mask, which he was very proud of, so he took a picture of it. I snuck in a second one in which I made a comment about his smile and he, without hesitation, said “Every picture is a good picture!”

• I asked him about who he thought was the funniest person in the room and he almost immediately said Gleb Trikozov. I asked Badinka about this as well and he also said Gleb. The Europeans seem to think Gleb is the comedian of the group. Also, Badinka understands a good amount of Russian.

• When I asked Josh Nadeau and Justin Poirier for the funniest guy, they both said Jackson Blake. Josh initially said “This group is more reserved” but eventually said Blake. When I asked why and what jokes he made, I received “No comment.” Safe to say, didn’t need to press further.

Day 2 was incredibly fun! Tomorrow is a team skate plus the big deal of camp that’ll bring in the biggest crowd, the 3-on-3 scrimmage. Should be a fun day!