David Warsofsky

History

2006-07: David Warsofsky was a dynamic defenseman for Cushing Academy.  In 29 games, Warsofsky tallied 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists) in route to being named Cushing’s defenseman of the year.

2007-08: Warsofsky made an immediate impact with the U-18 team, leading all defenseman, and finishing second on the team, in points (40).  He was also tied for first on the team in assists (31) to go along with nine goals.  Warsofsky was also a top player for the U-18 squad in international play.  He recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in route to the team the 2008 U-18 Five Nations tournament.  He then helped Team USA win the bronze at the 2008 IIHF World U-18 Championships by finishing second on the team with seven points, all of them being assists.  According to NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, Warsofsky is currently the 81st ranked North American skater heading into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

2008-09: Warsofsky scored 3 goals with 20 assists in 45 games as a freshman defensemen at Boston University. Included in Warsofsky's three goals was a short-handed tally (one of three by the Terriers) in a 5-2 win over Northeastern in the Beanpot Tournament final. The season was one for the ages for BU, which captured the Hockey East and NCAA titles and finished 35-6-4.

2009-10: Warsofsky scored 12 goals with 11 assist s in 34 games as a sophomore for Boston University. Warsofsky again scored short-handed in the Beanpot tournament final, but the Terriers fell to arch-rival Boston College 4-3. In fact, the defending national champs struggled for much of the season and were barely .500 heading into the Hockey East tournament. The Boston Bruins acquired the rights to Warsofsky in a June 2010 trade with St. Louis.

2010-11: Warsofsky signed an entry level contract with the Bruins in March 2011 following the college season and appeared in 10 games for the AHL Providence Bruins. Warsofsky had 3 assists and was +3 with 6 PMs in his first pro action. In what turned out to be his final season with the Terriers, he scored 7 goals with 15 assists and was +2 with 46 PMs as a junior for BU. Four of his seven goals were scored on the power play. After finishing third in Hockey East, BU was upset in the conference tournament by Northeastern and did not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

2011-12: Warsofsky skated for Bruins' AHL affiliate Providence in his first pro season; showing the offensive game from the back end that was his calling card in college hockey and showing steady, if not spectacular, improvement in his defensive game. He scored 5 goals with 24 assists and was minus-six with 18 penalty minutes in 66 games for Providence. Providence missed the AHL playoffs; finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division. Warsofsky was re-called by Boston for the NHL playoffs and practiced with the Bruins but did not appear in any games.

 

Talent Analysis

Warsofsky is a small but feisty offensive defenseman with excellent mobility, who’s able to push the pace with his skating and passing game. Smart and confident, he’s the kind of player who loves to attack and is even a threat short-handed. Despite his stature, he has a howitzer of a shot, but is more of a playmaker than a trigger man, spotting teammates in prime position and hitting them with soft, accurate passes. He’s been a leader and a big game player throughout his career. There are holes in his defensive game however, he naturally has a short stick which makes it harder for him to cover passing lanes and shooting angles, and he can get drawn out of position, chasing his man which is something the Bruins zone-defense system tries to prevent.

 

Future

Warsofsky has the skill and pedigree of a legit top-four defenseman, but his size is a significant hurdle. There are no top-four defensemen in the NHL under 5’10” and Warsofsky looks closer to 5’8” than his listed 5’9”. To find a niche, he may need to become something of a 3rd pair/PP specialist the way that Tampa uses Marc Andre Bergeron. But for now, the Bruins are going to give Warsofsky every opportunity to reach his potential as a top-four defenseman. Expect him to start the season in Providence where he will be relied on for big minutes and power-play time.