First thought upon seeing Zach Trotman approach a puck deep in the defensive zone, with two forwards in hot pursuit: Dude, just pop it up in the air somewhere.
Second thought: Hey, where'd he go?
This was Monday morning at PPG Paints Arena. It was practice. A drill. But it reminded of an equally fleeting thought I'd had a couple nights earlier, up in Bell Centre's press gondola in Montreal, following a striking similar sequence in which he scooped up a loose puck and rocketed away: Really, what's this guy's major malfunction?
Finally had a chance to put that question to the man himself Monday. In exactly those terms, I might add.
"Ha! Well ... " Trotman paused after the initial laugh. "That's tough to answer, to be honest."
At the same time, he knew why I was asking. He stands 6 feet 4, 217 pounds, he's stunningly swift on his skates for that size, he's got a rocket for a shot, and a correspondingly soft touch when passing. And yet, he's 28 years old and his next game, his fourth with the Penguins since being promoted from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton -- the Penguins and Panthers face off here Tuesday night -- will be only his 74th in the NHL out of an eight-year professional career, only his seventh in Pittsburgh out of two seasons in this organization.
Why? What's he missing?
To continue reading, log into your account:
