As promised to one of my readers, here's a piece on Kitchener Rangers defenseman Jamie Doornbosch.
First off, Doornbosch is not eligible for the 2011 NHL entry draft. As an early 1990 DOB, Doornbosch was eligible for 2008, 2009 and 2010 draft and passed up in each.
He was invited to the Nashville Predators training camp in September on a try out with the team that is loaded in young talented defensemen.
Originally drafted by the Peterborough Petes, he played in only 4 games in 2006/07 going pointless. He played his first full season in 2007/08 registering 2 goals and 10 assists. He followed that up the following season, getting more ice time and in 64 games tallied 8 goals and 29 assists. In his final season in Peterborough he broke out offensively netting 12 goals and 38 assists for 50 points in 68 games.
In September 2010, GM Dave Reid traded Doornbosch to the Kitchener Rangers and so far Doornbosch is on pace to set career highs in goals and assists. He has 4-10-14 totals to date.
Doornbosch is a smooth skating, puck moving defenseman who makes a very good first pass. He has a very good shot, both slap shot and wrist shot. He gets quality power play time playing along side Ryan Murphy.
If there is a knock on Doornbosch, its his defensive game, which he has worked on and improved. I'm a firm believer that you can't teach offense, but you can certainly teach defense. With the right coaching, Doornbosch should improve on his defensive game at the next level.
It's my opinion that someone will sign him to an NHL contract next summer as a free agent and prepare him for the defensive game in the AHL.
