When they recalled Rob Schremp I was of course excited; but also a picture of what I thought a successful game for him would entail and the type of contribution he would bring to the team. Thought he'd have games where the things we remembered were big plays; flashy plays to make things happen and missed opportunities for other players.
Reality has been very different than that; and shows just how far Rob has come even since camp.
What's been most noticeable about his game has been a lot of little things:
- Being on the correct defensive side of the puck.
- Hustling back to catch attackers and clear pucks from below the goal line that could create chances.
- Batting the puck out of the air probably 12 times in 2 games; which might not seem important but it can certainly either save the team from a rush or create a chance. Teammate of mine generated probably 20 goals one year on this skill of his.
- Finishing checks. He's making contact with people; which is really all you need to do to slow people up and wear them down just a little.
- Getting to loose pucks and using his reach/hands to do something with them.
- Making safe dumps when necessary.
- Still being confident enough to bust a sick move when he gets a chance.
- Finding the open areas more effectively than any forward this side of Ales Hemsky at the moment.
That's a whole lot of positives that add up to a guy who certainly looks like he's ready to make a contribution to this team. The nervousness is largely gone, the simple plays are there, and the confidence has returned.
I hope he keeps it up as long as possible of course. The next test will be how he (and the coaching staff) respond after a few iffy shift and/or a subpar game. Hopefully we don't need to talk about that for a while.
As for me; I'm going to head out and order myself a #88 jersey this weekend as a Christmas present for me. I've been waiting for an excuse and now I have it :-)
4 comments:
2 games does not a career or even a long stay in the NHL make. Let's see how he does over the next 10 games. I don't know what MacT thinks of this but I quite often see Shremp on the opposite wing in the defensive zone.
I noticed that after Schremp collided with Roli, he was benched and Brule took his spot on the line with Cogs and Poo.
I would be surprised to see both Brule and Schremp in the NHL after the game next Thrusday (Gags should be feeling better and Nilisson should be on the way).
Didn't that line only play one shift afterwards? And it would certainly make sense for Brule to be substituted in during a necessarily defensive situation against the Sharks like that.
That was what I saw anyway.
My favorite part is Schremp finishing checks and coming back on the 2-on-1 to play the D position. He may not hit the hardest or skate backwards the smoothest -- but the hustle means he's a changed man and a changed player.
He's also cheaper than Nilsson.
Tambellini, git er done.
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