Martin Jones & Nick Deslauriers with Gann Matsuda looking on (left rear) – Photo: SpatzShots
In this feature, Gann Matsuda reports on defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers’ first season with the Manchester Monarchs and gives fans insight on what’s to come…
“That’s my main focus, to [improve] in the defensive part of my game,” Deslauriers stressed. “At the beginning of the year, I was trying to [do] a little too much, in terms of rushing the puck. I know I can do it, but it’s not the best play every time.”
“During the season, Mark Morris and [assistant coach] Scott Pellerin (now the head coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers) taught me a lot, and made me a better defensive player,” Deslauriers added. “Like I said, when Muzzin got hurt, I got to play a lot on the power play, and on the penalty-kill. That helped to improve my game, defensively. I can truly consider myself a two-way player now.”
“That was one of the main points for me this season, that I don’t have to rush the puck. I have to look to see if someone’s open before trying to [move it up the ice]. It also depends on the score. A couple of times, when we were down, 2-1, midway through the third period I started to rush the puck. That was the play to do [at that point in the game]. But when the game is tight, you have to manage [the puck] better.”
Thanks for the visit! -PA