As an OHL rookie, Scott Kosmachuk played all 68 games last season.
But about a quarter of the way into this campaign, his NHL draft-eligible year, Guelph Storm head coach Scott Walker sat him out one game.
“It seemed like he was putting a tremendous amount of pressure on himself to be great, to score a goal every game or do something to impress the scouts,” said Walker, who played more than 800 NHL games for four teams.
“It wasn’t a discipline thing. It wasn’t a bad play thing,” he said of the decision to sit Kosmachuk down for a Nov. 13 game in Kitchener. “It was more to take pressure off him, say: ‘Hey, relax and play your game.’ ”
Kosmachuk is in his second season with the Storm. In 68 games during his rookie season, he scored 6 times while adding 15 assists. Through 28 games this season he's already surpassed his goal total from last year with 14 and point total with 25.
I'm not a big fan of the plus/minus stat so I'm not terribly concerned with his minus 14 to date as it is more of a team stat than a reflection of his defensive abilities. In fact, Kosmachuk is above average defensively. He is almost always in position, gets in the passing lanes and has a very active stick.
Kosmachuk is like a Pit Bull on the ice. I'd describe his puck pursuit as tenacious. He'll go to any area of the ice and battle. He has a finishing ability and can produce in multiple ways. At the time of this post, he sits tied for 3 rd among draft eligible players in goals.
Kosmachuk has a good hockey IQ which helps him at both ends of the ice. He's able to put himself in open ice which allows his teammates to set him up. He is an excellent forechecker and a very good skater.
It's not out of the realm of possibility that Kosmachuk can be a very good second round pick come June 2013. I see him as an excellent third liner in the NHL that can produce some offense. He has also shown some leadership abilities.
And he's not afraid to drop the gloves to defend himself or his teammates.
