Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
While the 2015 Buffalo Sabres Development Camp centered around the team's tow center's of the future in 2nd overall picks Jack Eichel (2015) and Sam Reinhart (2014) there was an unheralded d-prospect who came into camp with little notice, save for his size, but left leaving an indelible mark on the organization.
Josh Chapman, a 6'3" 210 lb. defenseman, was an invite who came into camp having played in 164 Ontario Hockey League games throughout his junior career. To say that he's a defensive-defenseman may be an understatement as he was able to light the lamp a mere two times in those 164 games. But that's not what he's all about.
Chapman's big, tough and a pretty fierce competitor. During the 2015 OHL playoffs, he reveled in the unenviable task of shadowing Erie Otters phenom, Connor McDavid (2015, 1st overall, EDM.) It's a situation where one can't relax, even for a brief moment. “[McDavid} kind of burnt me and my D partner wide tucked it in,” Chapman told Victor Fernandes of goErie.com prior to game four of the series. “It’s a tough job, but I enjoy trying to get underneath his skin, that’s for sure. … Do whatever it takes to throw off his game a bit.
“Players like that are hard to break,” he said. “I try to get in his face as much as possible. [McDavid] gave me a little shot there, which I’ve never seen him do before.”
He finished the five-game series loss with a minus-1 plus/minus rating.
At development camp in front of over 17,000 for the annual Blue and Gold Scrimmage, Chapman was antagonizing again. He absolutely leveled prospect Max Willman with an open ice hit and ended up having to drop the gloves with 6'4" 220 lb. Justin Kea (for video click here) who jumped in to defend Willman.
It wasn't the first time Chapman and Kea dropped 'em. On October 2, 2013 the two heavyweights engaged in a doozy of a bout:
With that as a backdrop, how ironic that Chapman would end up scoring the only goal in the 3-on-3 championship game which concluded the camp. “It was really exciting,” said Chapman of the goal. “It’s kind of shocking, actually. I just kind of went in, did a little dipsy doodle, which was unusual for me, put a bar down shot in. I was happy and the guys were obviously giving me a hard time about it.”
Here's what he was talking about on his goal:
Chapman had a great week and had a definitive impact. He wasn't the first unknown to have a great camp (see Jamie Wise, 2012) but unlike most, he was signed by the Rochester Americans to a one-year/two way deal and, ironically enough, he'll now be a teammate of Kea.
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