Legendary coach impressed with Bruins' Zach Senyshyn

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A player is no doubt doing something right when his ability gains the attention of Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman.

The nine-time Stanley Cup winner reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the Boston Bruins roster and pointed to No. 19, forward Zach Senyshyn.



“He caught my eye,” Bowman said. “They’re all pretty good skaters now, so if a guy is a mediocre skater it shows up because they’re all pretty fast. You can still see the guys who are a little bit faster and he’s one of them.”

Bowman watched the Bruins finished with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of the Prospects Challenge on Friday at HarborCenter. In the first period, Senyshyn seemed a bit tentative but he was trying to create time and space and simplify his game. The 20-year-old forward definitely finished the game with a sense of urgency.

Scouts and executives throughout the league were in attendance for the rookie tournament and Senyshyn’s play stood out.

“He can shoot it,” said an NHL evaluator. “He was getting pucks to the net, has a quick shot and he’s a threat when he has the puck. If you have a speed and a good stick it can take you places. He’ll have a learning curve but if he develops the right way he’ll be a good player for them.”

Senyshyn is known for his speed and it was on display. His stride is smooth and he can create gaps when he has the puck with his explosiveness.

“He shows a lot of speed,” said P-Bruins coach Jay Leach. “You see some real potential there and he’s going to find his niche, hopefully, in the pro game. Like most junior kids, they come to the pro game with a certain way they’ve learned how to have success and that level, and now he’s got to learn a new way.

“He played pretty well tonight. He was a little bit tentative at the beginning and then you started seeing him using his speed. He was physical and did some nice things.”

Last season, Senyshyn recorded 42 goals and 23 assists (65 points) in 59 games for Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL. He was given an opportunity to play four games in the Calder Cup playoffs for the P-Bruins last spring.

“Playing in the AHL playoffs last year and playing in the conference finals was a big eye-opener,” he said. “It was a special experience and it set the bar high for me during the summer and I’m excited to see where I stock up here in camp.”

On Friday, he was happy with the team win, but understands there will be ebbs and flows to his transition to the pro game.

“It was good,” Senyshyn said. “The first game is always a bit sloppy but I just tried to keep my compete level up.”

Rookie camp is difficult to get a true indication for how a player will adjust because for a lot of these players are together for the first time and still learning the systems. Senyshyn was trying to focus on his strengths and use his speed and shooting ability to make an impact.

When the Bruins selected him in the first round (No. 15 overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, many evaluators thought he would go in the second round and questioned why he went in the first.

He wants to prove the Bruins were right in their decision.

“Obviously it’s a huge honor,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute being a Bruin and I just want to prove them right, work my hardest and compete in camp as best I can to earn a spot on the Bruins because that’s been my dream and this is the start of it.”

A player on the verge of an NHL career shouldn’t need any added motivation, but since there are some roster spots available for the Bruins, Senyshyn realizes the opportunity is there.

“It amps it up a lot,” he said. “It’s a great competition. We have a lot of great young guys and we’re going to play if we’re ready and we’re trying to prove we’re all ready in our own individual way.”

Only Senyshyn can dictate how quickly he develops and his time in the AHL will be crucial to that development.

“The American league is a lot tougher league to play in because it’s more helter skelter,” Bowman said. “A lot of guys go down there and they, I wouldn’t say ‘struggle’ but they don’t burn it up. When they get up to the big leagues it’s more positional. It’s not easy to put up numbers in the American league. They play a tougher schedule and it’s not easy.”

It will be exactly what Senyshyn needs.