In a sense, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock believes that the only person holding back Riley Sheahan is Sheahan himself.
“He’s a good player, he’s getting better,… Babcock said of second-year center Sheahan. “He’s a kid. I think he’s better than he thinks he is.
“He’s got way more upside than he shows every day.…
Sheahan came up big in Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks, potting the goal with 3:51 left in regulation time that sent the game to overtime and earned the Wings a point after they’d squandered a 2-0 lead earlier in the third period.
“I thought Sheahan’s line was really good all night long,… Babcock said after that game. “They played a lot of the night against Getzie (Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf) and had the puck a lot and played good.
The goal was Sheahan’s 10th of the season, establishing a new career high, but while he has complete trust in Sheahan’s defensive work, Babcock believes there’s even more offensive upside that the 23-year-old who Detroit selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2010 NHL entry draft has yet to unearth.
“I think it’s good,… Babcock said of Sheahan’s play without the puck. “For sure it is and yet he’s got an absolute bomb and he’s got great hands, so let’s score. Let’s put it upon yourself to be a scorer as well. You’ve got to dig in, you’ve got to play with more pace, he has all those things, but he’s got to dig in, he’s got to compete.…
While the coach thinks Sheahan needs to be more consistent in his overall game and must push himself harder in the offensive zone, he also believes that the issue may be easily solved as Sheahan gains more experience as an NHLer. To date he’s played just 103 games in the league.
“With him it’s confidence,… Babcock said “You’ve got to earn the right to feel that way, so it’s going to take him time.…
Sheahan admitted that he is looking to shoot the puck more rather than dish it off to his linemates, and with the league into the home stretch and the cost of real estate on the ice getting even more difficult to afford, sometimes just wiring one toward the goal is the best option.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m just trying to get the puck to the net,… Sheahan said. “Now narrowing down to the end of the season teams are playing so well and it’s tough to pass the puck into the net, so I think sometimes you have to shoot it and hope for a rebound, retrieve the puck and go from there.
“So it’s definitely one thing I’ve been trying to do.…
With captain Henrik Zetterberg having missed the last two games with concussion-like symptoms after taking a punch to the head from Dallas captain Jamie Benn and his status remaining in limbo, it’s incumbent on young centers like Sheahan to step up and fill the void.
“For sure and you can’t replace a guy like Z, but we can definitely do things to try to make it close,… Sheahan said. “It’s just one thing that I’m trying to do and pretty much playing the same game, just being a little more aware because you’re probably playing against some better players in Getzlaf and (Corey) Perry and (Ryan) Kesler and all of those guys.
“I thought it’s a good challenge.…
Babcock believes it can be the spark that ignites Sheahan’s game and takes him to the next level.
“With injuries come opportunities for other people,… Babcock said. “Riley Sheahan gets a big chance. He’s got to dig in and embrace it and be ready for it.
“That’s what these are all about, you find players. Everyone wants more ice time. In all my years coaching no one’s ever come to me and said ‘Can I play less?’ So they want more ice time, they get more ice time, let’s see what they do with it.…
Quincey Cleared The Wings got some good news Wednesday on the injury. After seeing a foot specialist, defenseman Kyle Quincey (bone chips in the ankle) won’t require immediate surgery and can postpone his date with the scalpel until after the season.
Once Quincey, who has missed the past three games, feels physically ready, he will be able to return to practice and begin the process of getting back into game shape.
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