Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Lime
Johnny used to get as much satisfaction from backchecking and stealing a puck than from scoring a goal. That went away at the same time as the purple gatorade.
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All I know is the player might be undersized but that shift alone shows that when challenged, he can do everything you'd ask from a forward in the defensive zone with his elite IQ, edgework, and will to win. I don't believe he's inherently disinterested, just not being utilized in a role that's right for him to engage. Maybe even something crazy like a shift to centre would be the answer, as that whole shift he's basically playing centre while Backlund was on the wing. Or more realistically, shifts on PK2 to get him engaged at that end. He was such a strong PKer in college.