The Free Press’s Helene St. James suggests that Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson has a tremendous “hockey IQ” this morning, and noting that several of Danielson’s teammates are big believers in Danielson’s potential:
“Danielson is really impressive,” [Patrick] Kane said. “Lot of skill. Kind of reminds me a little of Bedard the way he plays and the way he stick-handles and shoots. He looks like he has a bright future.”
Andrew Copp, who saw Danielson at last year’s camp, too, is another fan.
“Hockey, as much as it is fast and skill and skating, if you’re a smart player, you can play for a long time,” Copp said. “I think the most important attribute in a hockey player is your brain, so when you see guys like that, that come in and know where to be, know how to play within the system, know when to instinctually make plays with the puck and without the puck, getting to the right areas, that’s the most important thing in hockey.”
Danielson, who turns 20 on Sept. 27, was drafted by general manager Steve Yzerman because the 6-foot-1, 191-pound forward plays a 200-foot game and can play center or wing. It’s Danielson’s defensive play that especially puts him in good standing with the coaching staff, because it imbues trust.
“It helps,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “Because a lot of times when you have young players, you’re teaching them the game a little bit — the ‘B game,’ the hockey sense, the feel, managing a game — habits, maybe. He seems to already instinctively have some of that ‘B game.’ So that’s exciting.
“Last year, in camp, he had an OK camp, and then his play started to flourish when the games came around. That doesn’t surprise me, the way he thinks the game. His hockey sense, his feel for the game. Puck support. Game management. Really nice player. Still understanding some things in the game. He seems to have a puck-play issues in camp this year than he did last year. I think that’s part of the natural development. But there’s a lot of upside. Seems to be a gamer. I’m excited about seeing him in games.”
Continued (paywall); Danielson’s level of self-confidence has always impressed me, and he just knows where the puck is going to be, and that’s where he goes. He’s a cerebral player for sure, and his potential may not be superstar-sized, but he appears to be on the way to fulfilling that potential.
