Checking Out Statements by Canes Organization About Zach Boychuk

Given the comments about Zach Boychuk, I went back to view some of the past and recent comments about Zach Boychuk made by the Canes organization, including Jim Rutherford, Jason Karmanos, Jr., Paul Maurice, and Jeff Daniels.  As others have noted, nobody can rest on their laurels, including Zach Boychuk; but it is also worthy of note that very positive comments have been made about Boychuk.  Here are some of the comments below.

Zach Boychuk News Reports

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/canes-think-big-go-small-first-round-pick

Submitted by ldecock on 06/20/2008 - 21:53

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Boychuk's size wasn't a consideration given his speed and skill.

"These are some of the things we bounce off Ronnie (Francis)," Rutherford said. "When you have a player that size, there are certain things that a player needs to be able to do. He has to have really good hockey sense. He has to be really quick. He passes the test on that. We're fine with his size."

Here's what Hurricanes amateur scouting director Tony MacDonald had to say about Boychuk:

"This kid's a goal-scorer, a sniper. He can put the puck in the net. He'll go to the net and he's elusive and slippery. ...

"The game's opened up so much. Kids his size get more leeway to play out there. You can't hook and hold guys with speed like Zach.

"He's a more complete player than a lot of the bigger guys available, at this point in time. He's got a better pedigree."

Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/canes-think-big-go-small-first-round-pick#ixzz0zFRZI0Zo

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/boychuk-coming-to-training-camp

"He probably won't be able to handle the puck or shoot the puck but he can get in all the skating drills. Then he can go back to his junior team, play for the national team. We're really excited about him. He has such a high skill level."

Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/boychuk-coming-to-training-camp#ixzz0zFRuXkXX

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=384855

"Zach is an important part of our team's future and we are very happy to get this deal done now," Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "He is a quick, exciting player who has demonstrated an NHL skill level in a short period of time during training camp."

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=501671

Zach goes into those tough areas," Daniels told NHL.com. "It's not like he's a perimeter player. He's got good speed and he's solid on his skates; he'll go in and bang bodies and pay the price to score goals, and I think just by watching him out there, the way he's handled every situation, he's a guy who just wants to play."

Daniels had Boychuk at center and right wing during the prospects tournament and he was effective in both areas.

"Every time he's on the ice, he's a threat to score a goal," Daniels said.

Said Hurricanes Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jason Karmanos: "Zach is one of those guys who can pick people out of their seats."

Carolina coach Paul Maurice likes the fact Boychuk, at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, offers no excuses while exhibiting a passion to compete.

"There are certain guys who, when given a choice, rather be at the rink, playing," Maurice said. "Zach is one of those guys. He always looks like he's having fun."

"I'm a smaller guy," said Boychuk, "but I'm just trying to compete hard and show the coaches and scouts that I can be an impact player in the NHL."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/365406-from-old-to-new-a-fresh-perspective-of-the-new-carolina-hurricanes

When drafting Zach Boychuk in 2008, Carolina's vice president Jason Karmanos described Zach as "an exciting player, and that's the best way to describe Zach. He's one of those guys that can pick people out of their seats."

Boychuk has drawn great comparisons to another Hurricane (Ray Whitney), as they are both 5'10", 180 pounds, and have great vision.

Look for Boychuk to step up next season and play a role similar to what Brandon Sutter has been doing for the Hurricanes this season.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=497640

Zach Boychuk, No. 14, 2008 -- Boychuk played for Team Canada in the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic and '09 WJC in Canada, helping lead his country to a fourth and fifth straight gold medal. He was cleared to play during the 2008-09 NHL preseason after

undergoing wrist surgery and the Hurricanes signed him to a three-year contract last October. After two games in the NHL, he returned to Lethbridge of the WHL and posted 28 goals and 57 points in 43 games.

"It was remarkable what he was able to do in joining camp towards the tail end of things and then jump into games, which was basically unheard of," Hurricanes' Vice President and Assistant General Manager Jason Karmanos told Paul Branecky of carolinahurricanes.com. "He's an exciting player, and that's the best way to describe Zach. He's one of those guys that can pick people out of their seats."