Riese Gaber impressed with Bruins’ operation

Whenever the University of North Dakota’s season ends, undrafted Fighting Hawks right wing Riese Gaber is expected to have a lot of NHL suitors to get his name on a contract.

The Bruins surely hope they have a leg up in that wooing process.

The highly skilled but undersized Gaber just finished up his week as an invitee at the B’s Development Camp at Warrior Ice Arena. The fact that Gaber picked the B’s camp to attend can be construed as a small victory in the recruitment. Gaber’s well aware of the B’s history with undrafted free agents like Torey Krug, Kevan Miller and Noel Acciari who have carved out solid NHL careers after signing and developing with the B’s after college.

“Just talking to my advisor (Ryan Ballard), we just felt Boston was a good fit with their history of developing players and obviously with free agents and stuff,” said Gaber after the final day of camp on Friday. “Looking down the road, I’m going to continue to work on myself and be the best version of me on and off the ice. Hopefully when the time comes, I’ll have some teams come calling and I’ll be able to make a decision whenever that time comes.”

The 5-foot-8, 161-pound Gaber, 22, was better than a point-per-game player for UND, posting 15-22-37 totals in 34 games last season. His linemate Jake Schmaltz was a 2019 seven round pick of the B’s so the club’s player development personnel, Jamie Langenbrunner and Adam McQuaid, have had plenty of viewings of Gaber.

“He’s a really good hockey player,” said Langenbrunner. “He’s got what I believe you need to play at that size. He’s got a lot of courage, he can get underneath guys. His motor is non-stop. Having Schmaltzie there, we saw him a lot between Adam and I and he’s a guy we’ve liked from the college free agency pool for a couple of years now. He’s just a good hockey player. He’s a guy we’ll definitely track and when he’s ready, I’m sure we’ll be there with an opportunity for him.”

Gaber’s got both team and personal goals for the upcoming season.

“Overall, it’s winning a national championship. That’s my big thing. That’s the reason to come to North Dakota as a kid,” said the Manitoba native. “Personally, it’s just probably beating defenders one-on-one. I don’t have an advantage with my size. I’m obviously at a disadvantage there. But I think I can beat them other ways, with my mind and my quickness. So I’m just looking for little ways to beat defenders and make myself more successful on the ice.”

In the meantime, the B’s were able to show what they can offer a young player in terms of development but also what they’re all about. Gaber liked what he experienced.

“Obviously, Boston was a really good impression,” said Gaber. “This is my first Development Camp that I’ve been to. My first taste of it and I was impressed with the culture here. I think it’s important to surround yourself with good people and I think they do a very good job. Definitely a very good impression was left on me with this week.”

Gaber picked the B’s once by coming to camp. Only time will tell if he picks them on a more substantive basis.

Callahan settling in

Defenseman Mike Callahan enjoyed a unique experience last spring when he signed with the B’s out of Providence College, getting in 15 games with the Providence Bruins.

“It was great. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better transition, hockey-wise. The group down there was super accommodating for me,” said Callahan, originally a fifth round draft pick of the Coyotes before being obtained for a 2024 seventh round pick. “I’m fortunate with how much I got to play down there. Being so close, I still got to live in my dorm room and get to class. Being a senior and finishing my degree was really important, too. It was really the best of both worlds, finish school and get a taste of pro hockey”

The Franklin native, who played his prep hockey at Roxbury Latin, received a second education while he was working toward his degree in finance.

“I definitely think that in college, the forwards are definitely on the smaller side compared to the pro game. That’s something I picked up right away,” said Callahan. “There are some big guys out there and this summer I’m just trying to work on my strength and being able to be tougher around the net front and stuff like that, being really strong and steady defensively. That’s something I learned I’m really going to have to pick up.”

Jellvik pops

One player that opened eyes this week was Boston College-bound forward Oskar Jellvik, a 2021 fifth round pick. The smallish (5-11, 175 pounds) but slick forward popped home a couple of goals in the camp-ending scrimmage on Friday. He was second in scoring for his Swedish junior team Djurgardens last year with 26-29-55 in 41 games, trailing only Minnesota first rounder Liam Ohgren..

“He had a very good year,” said Langenbrunner. “Offensively, he was very productive. He’s a guy that we’ve had conversations with about building some of the secondary parts of his game just a little bit, but he’s going to create offense, he’s got good vision and sense. Obviously, he’s a little bit undersized from a pro standpoint, which is probably why he slid in the draft, but he’ an extremely talented player.”…

Mason Lohrei, one of the B’s top prospects, is coming off knee surgery and didn’t skate at camp, but he expects to be back on the ice in a couple of weeks. Some scouts feel the lanky left shot defenseman could be NHL ready after his upcoming sophomore season at Ohio State.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/qeVHpJ4