Craig Cunningham

[DKH]

nice to see the Baby Bruins forward tearing it up- did the same last season in late winter early spring, but he has been on fire the past 6 days- hat trick last Sunday, a goal Friday, two yesterday; he's headed for 30 in that league which aint to bad....I know the Bourque comparisons may come up, but stereotypes aren't always fair with no disrespect to CB

thing is when you watch him play the game how the heck can you not like him....

He's undersized but he's not THAT small...he's probably 5'9" legit and average build

He is working with his former WHL (Vancouver Giants that produced Lucic and Kane) teams strength coach Ian Gallagher, the father of the Habs rookie forward, who has worked with Lucic quite a bit; he really had some nice things to say about Cunningham

He most likely will add a few more pounds of muscle in the off season without losing his speed/quickness

I know Caron's a big body and a former first round pick, and his game may be more suited for the NHL, but Cunningham outplayed him down there.

I hope he stays in the system because I think he can play on the bottom 6 and play well- good opportunistic player and fun to watch

Click to read more...

 

[Bi Coastal Bawse*]

Drafted the same year as Seguin, Spooner and Knight so he gets overshadowed

 

[Topshelf88]

Kid always, always has a good game. I've yet to see him coast at a PB's game this year. Just a solid pro player that should one day be a fixture in someone's bottom 6. Not afraid to finish checks either which is nice.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

He's gonna be someones glen metropolit.

 

[MillerTime 86]

He's gonna be someones glen metropolit.

Unless we completely change the dynamic of our bottom 6, I don't see anywhere for Cunningham on the Bruins.

That said, he's a heck of a player (at least at the AHL level) and certainly could go on to stick somewhere as a bottom 6 along the likes of former P-Bruins Hendricks, Sobotka, Thompson, Nokelainen, etc.

Bottom 6 NHL players are Providence's main export.

 

[DKH]

Unless we completely change the dynamic of our bottom 6, I don't see anywhere for Cunningham on the Bruins.

That said, he's a heck of a player (at least at the AHL level) and certainly could go on to stick somewhere as a bottom 6 along the likes of former P-Bruins Hendricks, Sobotka, Thompson, Nokelainen, etc.

Bottom 6 NHL players are Providence's main export.

They had Krejci and Marchand in the past half dozen years and Versteeg is borderline second liner. Spooner will be a top 6 in the NHL for years either in Boston or as part of the HF rumor driven Iginla trade

 

[MillerTime 86]

They had Krejci and Marchand in the past half dozen years and Versteeg is borderline second liner. Spooner will be a top 6 in the NHL for years either in Boston or as part of the HF rumor driven Iginla trade

No argument here. More just pointing out that we've really seemed to churn out true NHL bottom-6 guys over the years down in Providence... So much so that we've had the luxury of letting most of them go stick on with other teams whom at the time had more of a need for that particular skill set than the Bruins.

 

[Ogrim]

Good to get some fresh info/opinions on guys like this. Thank you!
An old truth comes to mind that I've seen so many times on this board; that competition in camp and during the season is good. Hopefully Cunningham will at least give other guys a fight for whatever spot is open.

 

[LouJersey]

I could swear I saw it on Kirks Twitter (cant find it now) that Cunningham would be in the NHL right now if Boston's depth wasn't so good...That's all I need to know about him.

 

[C77]

I could swear I saw it on Kirks Twitter (cant find it now) that Cunningham would be in the NHL right now if Boston's depth wasn't so good...That's all I need to know about him.

It makes sense that someone would say that. Next year's training camp is going to have a lot of competition.

 

[Grumpy Grizz]

I always thought of him as a Chris Kelly replacement. Hard worker with some offense thrown in. Let's hope he gets a chance soon

 

[Alan Ryan]

I could swear I saw it on Kirks Twitter (cant find it now) that Cunningham would be in the NHL right now if Boston's depth wasn't so good...That's all I need to know about him.

Kirk had a Cunningham update on the latest Bruins prospect report:

Craig Cunningham is once again reminding everyone why Boston used a top-100 pick on the then 19-year-old in 2010. The former Vancouver Giants captain (who finished his WHL career with the Portland Winterhawks) is as versatile a player you will find at any level. Although not big, he’s a quick skater who brings excellent smarts, soft hands and gritty, two- way ability to the mix. Like most of his club, he struggled to find the back of the net early in the season, but is well on pace to exceed his AHL rookie totals of 20 goals and 36 points.

http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=656538



Cunningham is also featured in the prospect report in a full article by Carolyn Switaj, including lots of quotes from Cunningham about the P-Bruins success this season and how he fits into the team.

This is worth reading: http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=658971

 

[GarbageGoal]

I get the feeling that if prospects get moved at the deadline, he's gonna be one of them. Just a gut.

 

[Caper]

Looch must be proud of his boy

 

[PAZ]

What's your guys opinion on him now, think he'll ever get a chance with the Bruins?

 

[BigGoalBrad]

What's your guys opinion on him now, think he'll ever get a chance with the Bruins?

We don't have great wing prospects hes high enough on the depth chart but who knows our wings at AHL level right now we don't have much pro potential other than the oft traded Kokolachev.

We should need to slot 3-4 super cheap forwards into the lineup in the coming years he might outplay his competition its not stellar.

 

[KnightofBoston]

I think pretty soon there could be a curious case for calling up Craig Cunningham

 

[GloveSave1]

We don't have great wing prospects hes high enough on the depth chart but who knows our wings at AHL level right now we don't have much pro potential other than the oft traded Kokolachev.

We should need to slot 3-4 super cheap forwards into the lineup in the coming years he might outplay his competition its not stellar.

He's an interesting player. I didn't really notice anything but the consistant offensive numbers. They stood out. Considering I didn't hear **** about him, I had a feeling the name Chris Bourque would pop up. Sure enough.

If the Bruins wanted to go cheap with a 13th forward, I would think Cunningham is ready to graduate and at least be in the mix. I'd like to see him at least get a look...not a Chris Bourque look...haha...but a look. He's earned it.

 

[DKH]

He's an interesting player. I didn't really notice anything but the consistant offensive numbers. They stood out. Considering I didn't hear **** about him, I had a feeling the name Chris Bourque would pop up. Sure enough.

If the Bruins wanted to go cheap with a 17th forward, I would think Cunningham is ready to graduate and at least be in the mix. I'd like to see him at least get a look...not a Chris Bourque look...haha...but a look. He's earned it.

Cassidy threw him under the zamboni for whatever reason during Development Camp article on WEEI with DJ Bean saying he was behind others. I guess. But why say it? Cunningham has scored 25 goals each of last two years and never blows out of zone early, plays hard- I like his game. And he does shoot right.

Sweeney didnt mention him so maybe there is something going on, but I think he is better than a journeyman- still young and competes hard, skates well, and seems pretty fearless as far as corners and heavy traffic go.

I hope he didnt read those comments or his family didnt- then again, none of the guys Cassidy said were ahead of him are regular RW's or shoot right.

 

[MtlBoxFan]

He's gonna be someones glen metropolit.

I liked Glenn as a player but he didn't have the easiest career in the NHL. Had a good scoring touch, good faceoff guy but seemed like he was always moving around.

 

[member 96824]

I wish we drafted Gallagher

Shoulda listened to Lucic Chia!

 

[A Healthy Kelly*]

Cassidy threw him under the zamboni for whatever reason during Development Camp article on WEEI with DJ Bean saying he was behind others. I guess. But why say it? Cunningham has scored 25 goals each of last two years and never blows out of zone early, plays hard- I like his game. And he does shoot right.

Sweeney didnt mention him so maybe there is something going on, but I think he is better than a journeyman- still young and competes hard, skates well, and seems pretty fearless as far as corners and heavy traffic go.

I hope he didnt read those comments or his family didnt- then again, none of the guys Cassidy said were ahead of him are regular RW's or shoot right.

couldn't find article, anyone have link

 

[Kirk- NEHJ]

I wish we drafted Gallagher

Shoulda listened to Lucic Chia!

You are repeating an urban legend, Brad.

I've seen this "reported" before, but it's one of these internet things that takes on a life of its own and then gets repeated on national TV but the funny thing is- no one really has any evidence that this alleged discussion between Milan Lucic and Peter Chiarelli ever took place.

Lucic politicked for Cunningham...that *was* put out by the Bruins at the 2010 draft and makes sense because the two were teammates in Vancouver during the 2006-07 Memorial Cup season. And for the record- the Bruins approached Lucic about Cunningham *because* they knew the two were teammates. While Lucic has worked out with Gallagher because Brendan's dad is Looch's trainer, I think this is a fish story gone amok. Sure, he knew him at the time of the 2010 draft, but unless Lucic himself is on the record as saying "Yeah- I wanted the Bruins to draft Brendan Gallagher too"- and it needs to be from 2010 when the pick was made- I don't believe that he would have been pushing for Gallagher...a guy he *didn't* play with. Even if he liked him, players don't usually vouch for people like that unless they've actually been teammates. Workout buddies is a whole different thing.

The whole- the Bruins had a chance at Gallagher and shoulda listened to Lucic- sounds good when Pierre puts it out during a game, but I've yet to see anything that validates that assertion. What I believe happened is that he heard the story about Cunningham and may have inadvertently crossed the lines and inserted Gallagher. Makes for a more compelling soundbite, but I don't believe it.

 

[member 96824]

Interesting. I do remember reading an article this spring about how they seem to be more than just work out buddies, but actually very good friends off the ice....but that also could have formed after its all said and done.

What are you going to spoil next for me Kirk? Santa?

I hope to see Cunningham have success. I wonder if we'll see him push for a spot "out of nowhere" ala Nick Johnson last year. Wouldn't be as random as NJ, but everyone seems to immediately point to Fraser, Spooner, Khoklachev.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Interesting. I do remember reading an article this spring about how they seem to be more than just work out buddies, but actually very good friends off the ice....but that also could have formed after its all said and done.

What are you going to spoil next for me Kirk? Santa?

I hope to see Cunningham have success. I wonder if we'll see him push for a spot "out of nowhere" ala Nick Johnson last year. Wouldn't be as random as NJ, but everyone seems to immediately point to Fraser, Spooner, Khoklachev.

No, the one about Kreider being a better finisher than Smith...