Prospect Watch: Andrew Bodnarchuk
RinkRoyalty will be reviewing the progress of Los Angeles Kings prospects every Wednesday as the season continues into full swing.
This week’s edition of Prospect Watch takes a look at defensemen Andrew Bodnarchuk.
“Welcome back. Your dreams were your ticket out. Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about. Well the names have all changed since you hung around, but those dreams have remained and they’ve turned around . . .”
Welcome back Andrew.
Bodnarchuk is returning to the Manchester Monarchs for the first time this season.
The 26-year-old defensemen was injured early this season during the Kings training camp. Bodnarchuk sustained a knee injury that has sidelined him since September 21st.
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Bodnarchuk is 5’11, 189 pounds, and was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round, 128th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
After Bodnarchuk was drafted he went on to finish his junior career with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. During the 2006-2007 season Bodnarchuk scored 57 points, 16 goals, a -1 plus/minus, 96 penalty minutes, in 63 games.
After juniors Bodnarchuk played a season in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins, Boston’s farm team. In 70 games Bodnarchuk scored 5 goals, 15 points and was a +7.
During the 2009-2010 season Bodnarchuk played 5 games for the Boston Bruins. Bodnarchuk recorded 0 points, a -2 plus/minus, 2 penalty minutes, and 0 shots on goal.
Bodnarchuk went on to play three seasons, including the 2009-2010, with the Providence Bruins.
During the offseason, on July 6th, 2012 the Los Angeles Kings signed Bodnarchuk as a free agent.
Bodnarchuk played the last two seasons with the Kings AHL affiliate the Manchester Monarchs. Last season Bodnarchuk played 73 games, scoring, an AHL career high 8 goals, 32 points, and a +43 plus/minus.
Bodnarchuk was reactivated off of Injured Reserve and reassigned by the Kings to the Manchester Monarchs on Monday, November 17th.
Bodnarchuk made his season debut this morning in the Monarchs 5-1 victory over the Worcester Sharks. Bodnarchuk registered 3 shots and an unfortunate -1 plus/minus rating in the game.
Bodnarchuk is a smaller offensive defensemen. His style of play is very similar to Kings defensemen Slava Voynov. It’s likely that the Kings are trying to model Bodnarchuk’s development off of Voynov. Voynov is bigger, and believe it or not, younger that Bodnarchuk.
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The Kings are trying to develop and position Bodnarchuk as a 7th or 8th defensemen, who poses as an offensive threat. Bodnarchuk will be available to step in should the Kings struggle with injuries on defense, like they are right now. Unfortunately, due to cap space the Kings can’t call up Bodnarchuk, instead they signed free agent Jamie McBain, and placed Voynov on non-active player status.
Bodnarchuk in this role is also to serve as an offensive defensemen, a veteran, and a leader for the Monarchs. He can help younger players learn and acclimate at the professional level as they come through the Kings system.
Now that he’s healthy we can start to watch Bodnarchuk this season. We’ll continue to watch his progress as he suits up for Manchester and the season continues.