DENVER — Carson Soucy appeared primed for a breakout marketing campaign heading into final season. He had simply performed in a handful of playoff video games about six months earlier, and coach Bruce Boudreau had excessive hopes for the 6-foot-5, 210-pound defenseman coming into coaching camp.
As a substitute, Soucy regarded misplaced and uncomfortable, and ended up spending most of his time within the minors.
“If we keep in mind final season at the moment we went, ‘Holy smokes. What occurred to him?’ ” Boudreau stated. “He had a extremely horrible coaching camp, fairly frankly, after having performed within the playoffs the earlier season. We anticipated lots from him, and we didn’t get it.”
So far as Soucy was involved, he wasn’t going to let that occur once more. He settled in final season with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League and put in a stable season, producing 20 factors in 66 video games.
“I don’t know if it was essentially a step again final season,” Soucy stated. “It was only a slower begin. I used to be nonetheless in summer season mode after I obtained to coaching camp, and that was unlucky.
“Truthfully, this summer season I had that fireplace proper from the tip of final season, and I introduced that into coaching camp. I simply needed to be intense straight away.”
He entered coaching camp as considerably of a longshot to make the roster, however Soucy stored turning heads, and finally beat out fellow blueliner Louie Belpedio for the ultimate roster spot.
“We didn’t know what to anticipate, and he got here in and he was aggressive and he moved the puck nicely and he defended nicely,” Boudreau stated. “It was a troublesome battle. We thought we wanted the scale and a little bit bit extra composure, and Carson has proven that.”
And now, Soucy is getting a shot to determine himself. He slotted into the lineup for Saturday’s recreation towards the Colorado Avalanche, changing Nick Seeler on the blue line, and brings an added sense of grit to the blue line.
“It was not sending a message to Seeler or something like that,” Boudreau stated. “It’s the second recreation of the season and we wish to get everyone concerned.”
If Soucy performs at a excessive stage, he might emerge as an everyday within the lineup over time. It helps that he already has playoff expertise underneath his belt.
“Simply enjoying towards these guys within the playoffs was one other stage,” Soucy stated. “You’ve obtained to be prepared each shift. If it’s a slower recreation and doesn’t look like every little thing goes quick, one shift and it may be behind the online. In the end the expertise was nice. Hopefully play with some composure (towards the Avalanche) and play that bodily recreation.”
A SPECTACULAR SAVE
A few days after making what may go down as one of the best save within the NHL this season, robbing former teammate Mikael Granlund from point-blank vary, Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk was nonetheless answering questions on it.
How did he anticipate what was going to occur on the odd-man rush? Why did he resolve to stack his pads? What was going via his head as he was pirouetting to the ice?
HAVE MERCY, Devan Dubnyk! 👀
Early candidate for save of the 12 months! pic.twitter.com/9t72eeN6ge
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) October four, 2019
“Typically my mind simply decides to do one thing like that,” Dubnyk stated. “I do know the fellows liked it on the bench, and a very powerful factor is the puck stayed out of the online.
“It’s enjoyable to have the ability to do one thing like that when in awhile. It’s not likely a part of my recreation. I don’t hit the highlights too usually except I’m flying round doing poke checks out of my internet.”
PLAYING SMART
Within the hours main into Saturday’s contest, Mikko Koivu was anticipating an intense battle, like each time the Wild tackle the Avalanche.
That stated, Koivu preached to everybody to stay level-headed whatever the state of affairs.
“You must play laborious and play robust,” he stated. “You additionally need to be disciplined. With a view to win on this league, we have now to be in keeping with that evening in and evening out. You’ve simply obtained to be good with it.”
