Career Reflection - Antonia Bucatini

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Antonia Bucatini

Center - HC Davos Dynamo

 

Antonia Bucatini entered the VHL with almost impossible expectations. The first (and eventually only) player to be selected with the first pick in each of the VHLM, VHLE and VHL Drafts, Bucatini was expected to be an instant gamechanger on any team that she landed on. But hockey is a team sport of course, would she be able to make a difference that instantaneously?

 

Due to a bit of lottery luck, HC Davos Dynamo moved up from the second slot to the first to become that team. And after an additional season in the VHLE, winning a title with Oslo to boot, Bucatini made her VHL debut in Season 94.

 

The past three seasons have been a ride for Bucatini, with success coming in different ways. But to this point, it seems that amazingly, the answer is yes: The young center with all of the highest expectations is meeting them in Davos and then some.

 

Season 94

 

In Bucatini’s rookie season, Davos was still a team looking to climb out of a rebuild. During the season Bucatini had spent in the VHLE, Davos was one of the worst teams in the league once again, gaining another first overall pick in the process (that they would soon trade). This meant that, entering Season 94, not only would expectations for the team as a whole be low, but Bucatini would already be one of the team’s best players by default.

 

Rather than shy away from this responsibility, however, Bucatini decided to face the adversity heads on. Acting as the team’s first line center from day one, Bucatini averaged about a point per game during the first half of the season, helping Davos creep up above the basement in the league. But it was in the second half of the season that she truly shined: Bucatini would jump up to finish the season with 93 points, the most for a rookie in more than 10 seasons. Along with a well-deserved Rookie of the Year award, Davos as a whole jumped to finish sixth in the European Conference. It was a sign of good things to come.

 

Season 95

 

Many players experience a sophomore slump, and to a certain extent, Bucatini was not immune. Her total points dropped from 93 to 85 during her second season, and while her total amount of shots increased by 30, her total goals dropped from 31 to 26. However, that’s just part of the story – because amazingly, Davos broke out in a way that many players never thought possible. The Dynamo raced to a fourth seed in a tough European Conference, outperforming preseason expectations. And for her part, Bucatini ended the season with a +45 rating.

 

But it was in the playoffs that Bucatini truly began to reach her potential. Following a wild card sweep, Davos faced a hungry top seeded Moscow team – and amazingly, found themselves with another sweep. Even with a conference finals loss to Riga, Davos had jumped from a rebuild to true contenders in one season. And Bucatini was a major part, grabbing 10 goals and 10 assists in just her first playoffs.

 

Season 96

 

Interestingly, the trends that began in Season 95 furthered themselves even more in Season 96. Bucatini’s point total actually dropped for the third straight season, from 85 to 81. This can partially be explained, however, by a shift in how coaches wanted her to play – she had 44 goals this season to only 37 assists, becoming more of a scorer than playmaker for the talented Davos team. And it seemed to work well: Davos gained the third seed in a close race down the stretch with Riga and Malmo.

 

And once again, Davos was able to take another step in the playoffs. The first round saw them get revenge against Riga in 7 games. The conference finals saw them face Moscow once again – and take them down once again, getting Bucatini to her first finals. And although Davos would fall in 6 games to Vancouver in the finals, it was not for a lack of effort for Bucatini – her 9 goals and 14 assists in 18 games would put her near the top of the VHL’s playoff point leaders for the season.

 

Into the Future

 

It’s tough to say that any single player is on a Hall of Fame track just three seasons into their career. So much can happen, and randomness abounds. But when a player like Bucatini gets taken first overall three times, a Hall of Fame-type career may be an expectation, not just a goal.

 

Who knows whether Bucatini will get there. But the beginning personal and playoff success is a good first step to get there. Entering her fourth season, Bucatini finds herself on a stacked Davos team that hopes to go deep into the playoffs for seasons to come. If she can prove to be a centerpiece on some of those talented teams, the sky is truly the limit for Bucatini.