Kalman: Sixth Bruins Development Camp Could Be Last For Goaltender McIntyre
WILMINGTON (CBS) – Not many people would draw a comparison between Grand Forks, N.D., and Boston.
Bruins goaltender prospect Zane McIntyre, though, sees similarities between the two cities that impacted his decision to sign with Boston this summer rather than test free agency.
McIntyre left North Dakota after three seasons to turn pro and officially signed with the Bruins on July 1.
"Just the culture. You look at the people, there's a lot of hard workers in this city," said McIntyre, who was the Bruins' sixth-round draft pick in 2010.
"You're basically, everything you get you've worked for your entire life. So there's a lot of similarities in the sense of that too. I spent my past three years in Grand Forks where it's just a small town. Everybody really enjoys hockey. And I think in North Dakota I can speak to that because there's not too much going on. But in this area, it's a sport market. Everyone loves being a Bruins fan. There's a lot of history, a lot of passion here. That's something that really spoke to me and I think I kind of felt comfortable in a sense in that aspect."
McIntyre intends to live up to that work ethic and earn the job he wants most – NHL goaltender. The road to a NHL job started Tuesday with the first day of the Bruins' development camp. This is McIntyre's sixth camp since he was drafted, but might be his last.
Despite his lack of pro experience and the presence of 2014 Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask and 2012 first-round draft pick Malcolm Subban ahead him on the Bruins' depth chart, McIntyre intends to challenge for a spot on the roster of the big club this fall.
"Absolutely. I mean as a hockey player you're super competitive in any position," he said after the first day of Bruins development camp at Ristuccia Arena on Tuesday. "We're going to do the best to try and be the best. Whether it's somebody's working off the ice doing something as well. I'm going to put my best foot forward in every situation I can to maybe get that spot that's ahead of me. So just in the human nature of things, definitely."
The Bruins' goaltending depth allowed them to leave McIntyre's development on a natural pace. For two years he shined with Fargo of the USHL and then he starred at UND. Last season he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and the winner of the Mike Richter Award last season as a junior.
A clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement allows a collegiate player five years removed from his draft year to become a free agent if he doesn't sign within 30 days of leaving school. McIntyre didn't exercise that option, instead agreeing to terms with the Bruins before he officially signed. Part of his decision was based on his attraction to the city. Another part was how the organization has handled his development over the years.
"From Day One, even when I was drafted, they've always been straight up front with everything that they've said," McIntyre said. "Everything that they've said has come true in their plans, in their organization, in their future plans with myself personally. So nothing really had to be said. I think there was a time where I was kind of overanalyzing things or thinking about things that maybe weren't there, where I kind of caught myself in limbo. But at the end of the day I felt super comfortable with everything, with the whole entire organization and obviously with our conversations with Don Sweeney and everything."
Off the ice, McIntyre seems like he'll be as comfortable in Boston as he was in Grand Forks. Now it's up to him to play well enough to become a full-time resident of the Hub.
"Obviously there is no pro experience and stuff, but at the same time too your play is going to dictate what happens," he said. "I'll probably learn that maybe sooner than later with pro hockey and stuff, where you play and you play well, you're going to keep playing. If not, you're going to find the rubber for a bit. So I just got to learn to control what I can control and put my best foot forward."
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
