In 55 games for AHL Providence last season, Cross - a 2007 second-round draft pick - notched seven points and a minus-9 rating, while recording 54 penalty minutes. He remains a depth blue line option for the Bruins, but it would take a rash of injuries for him to see much time with the big club.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder Cross was a two-time national champ with Boston College, where he ended up serving as the team's captain. In his first full pro campaign, he notched 11 points in 42 games for AHL Providence. Down the road, Cross projects as a stay-at-home defender, with marginal fantasy upside. Injuries have slowed him at times, but if he can stay healthy, Cross could emerge as a serviceable bottom-pairing NHL blueliner.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was a two-time national champ with Boston College, where he ended up serving as the team's captain. The 2007 second-rounder projects as a stay-at-home defender as a pro, with marginal fantasy upside. Injuries have slowed him at times, but if he can stay healthy, Cross could emerge as a serviceable bottom-pairing NHL defender with the big club in time.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Cross has a nice combination of size and strength and he can use his skating ability to join the rush as well. He's slated to return for one more season with Boston College, but once he finishes up there, he'll challenge for a gig with the Bruins.
Cross, a Boston College product, is a blue line prospect for the Bruins with good size and a decent amount of skill, but there's currently a logjam at the position ahead of him.
Still at Boston College, as a pro he projects as a physical, defensive defenseman with good size, who could help the big club in time.
Cross, who will be a freshman at Boston College in the 2008-09 season, has good size and enough skills to develop into a solid NHL blueliner, but he's not close to cracking the B's roster at this point.
Cross played at the junior level for Westminster High last season, where he totaled 20 points and 20 PIM's in 25 games. He is not fantasy material at this point and is not expected in the NHL anytime soon.
Cross is the prototypical stay-at-home defender of the new NHL. He skates well, pivots both directions quickly (giving him increased versatility), passes smoothly and pounds the daylights out of opponents. He's 6'3" and 193 lbs already, and that means NHL-ready. But he's only played high school hockey to date and will need five to seven years to be a 20-minute a night guy. And in the NHL, his offensive skills may never develop.
