BRIGHTON, MA — Day one of Boston Bruins development camp brought a lot of attention to some of the newer Bruins. Reporters and TV cameras surrounded the stalls of speedster and 2018 third round pick Jakub Lauko, 2018 second round pick Axel Andersson and 2017 second round pick and OHL standout Jack Studnicka.
But there was one particular recent draft pick who was not surrounded by scores of attention and that was 2018 fourth round pick Curtis Hall. Despite the lack of microphones in his face, his message was loud and clear.
“I think I’m the hardest working player on the ice whenever I’m out there,” said Hall. “So I want [the coaches] to get that.”
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1-on-1 with #NHLBruins 2018 4th round pick Curtis Hall at Development Camp pic.twitter.com/MMBTUVjFW3
— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) June 26, 2018
Last season, Hall had 13 goals and 31 points in 54 games for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. He’s committed to play at Yale University for the 2018-19 season. Getting drafted was the next step.
“It was the best feeling ever,” said Hall. “I mean it’s the feeling everyone wants to have at some time in their life and it’s such an honor that I have and get to experience and especially from Boston.”
Even though he was honored to be selected by the Bruins, he hasn’t always been about the black and gold.
“Growing up, I was a Chicago fan,” he admitted. “But that’s no longer.”
However, there is one connection that Hall has to the Bruins and that’s through who he’s always looked up to.
“I look up to a player like David Backes,” he said. “He’s a great player.”
1-on-1 with #NHLBruins 2018 2nd round pick Axel Andersson at Development Camp pic.twitter.com/czYR1UYzM3
— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) June 26, 2018
Hall is widely-known as a two-way center who has a strong presence on the ice. For a guy who’s 6-foot-3, 201 lbs, he has really good speed. He can start odd-man rushes well and has great hands. He can be used in any situation, but especially on penalty-kills and in late-game situations.
His comments describing what he wanted the Bruins coaching staff to see in him backed that up.
“I just want the coaches to really understand that I’ll do whatever it takes to win and do whatever it takes to help my team,” Hall said. “I have some stuff to work on but I think they should definitely be able to see that in me.”
The trend of reliability and hard work continued with his goals for next year with Yale.
“I want to go in and just be a reliable center and forward,” Hall said. “Coaches should be able to put me in whenever they feel like it and I want to be a point producer as well.”
Hall recently turned 18-years-old, so he’s a solid distance away from the main stage. But if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that this kid has the early signs of a true Bruin.
