DAY 1: We’ll see what remains over the course of the rest of the week with Vaakanainen and this humble hockey writer will certainly keep an open mind. But it really just doesn’t look like he’s going to bring much to the table offensively, so he better be one heck of a fast-skating, shutdown defenseman now that he’s competing for a spot in Boston.
DAY 2: Urho Vaakanainen (pictured), on the other hand, continues to look like he’s got some work to do. I’ll be honest: In two development camps I have yet to see why Vaakanainen was first -round pick material. He might want to start showing it.
DAY 3: But if I’m being honest, I don’t see a single player on the ice this week that’s going to seriously push for an NHL job this fall and that includes a player like Vaakanainen that the B’s are putting in a position to succeed as he moves over to North America for the first time in his career.
DAY 4: One player that again looked like he needs to elevate his game is Urho Vaakanainen, who once again looked really challenged in the offensive zone to make plays, or sometimes even keep the puck in the offensive zone while walking the blue line with the puck. He can skate and he’s got pretty decent size, but there appears to be a great deal he needs to improve at before he’s going to be NHL material.
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The shtick has officially begun with Haggerty. He made a negative comment/dig at Vaakanainen in every single Development Camp write up. Christ, Day #1, he gave it away that there was a shtick developing. Day #1 of a DC...OF A f***ING DC....And he's already writing the kid off offensively? But he's going to keep an open mind? f*** yourself, Haggerty. The door was open with that sarcastic/snobby starter, and you followed it up with gems.