On Frozen Blog

Steckel makes a Statement About Sticking

By pucksandbooks 5 April, 2007

The Dave Steckel I watched in Atlanta last night looked identical to the one I followed up in New Hampshire and Maine last month — a force in two ends of the rink, but with one key distinction: he occasionally left the ice in his Bears’ sweater for line changes. But last night for Coach Hanlon, I’m not sure I saw him leave the ice in the third period.
It was only one game, but in the season within a season, the one where many guys are making statements to management about jobs for the autumn, Dave Steckel last night announced rather loudly that he’s likely to make a serious run at a roster spot with the parent club come training camp.
Late-round draft gems are my favorite hockey personnel stories, but right behind them are the castoffs who eventually land in outposts of wide open opportunity and defy their previous doubters and develop into impact big-leaguers. We don’t know quite yet if he’s one of those, but to look at the game Dave Steckel is showcasing this year, packaged in a perfect hockey body, is to wonder instantly what in the world the LA Kings were thinking in letting this guy go at the age of 21 or 22. That same organization, perhaps not coincidentally, let go of Bruce Boudreau the same summer.
I’ve never understood traditional media’s general refusal to chronicle the developmental side of pro hockey. You don’t have to be a DraftGeek to recognize that prospects are the lifeblood of NHL teams. But traditional media’s coverage for as long as I can remember has consisted of the names of the drafted and their junior club affiliation each June and between then and their arrival in the NHL years later one vast black hole of white space. It’s certainly no coincidence that the planet’s finest source for pro hockey’s development data and narratives is electronic (hockeysfuture).
Last spring, Tarik traveled to Hershey to cover a Bears’ playoff game, and if I recall correctly, he admitted at the time that it had been his first AHL game in about three years. His file might have been the first of its kind in his paper. Not all that long ago, the Caps had an American League affiliate in Baltimore: the Skipjacks. Those teams, whose alumni included Steve Konowalchuck and Sergei Gonchar, may as well have skated in Siberia as far as the Post was concerned. Check out the four goalies who saw action for the Skipjacks in the 1991-’92 season: Don Beaupre, Jim Hrivnak, Byron Dafoe, Olie Kolzig.
In the print edition of yesterday’s Washington Times, Corey Masisak delivered terrific detail about the feats of Matheiu Perreault, Francois Bouchard, and Steckel. Earlier this year he profiled Kings’ rookie Anze Kopitar, the first NHLer produced by Slovenia. I’m hoping he stays on the beat of the off-the-beaten path of hockey player development.
Hockey players take such varied and soul-challenging routes chasing their big league dreams. Brutal busrides through blizzards over years on $25 a day per diems. Only hockey has the billet family. Players’ development journeys are instant and iconic (Ovechkin), circuitous and anonymous (Steckel), and against-all-odds defying (Cheechoo). They are anything but routine and as such the stuff of terrific story telling.
I’m acutely aware that most Caps’ fans who tuned in to last night’s win in Atlanta had no idea who Dave Steckel was or how he got there. That’s not their fault. But that’s part of the reason why we’re here.

12 Comments

maruk wrote:

I missed the game last night, but I’ve always wanted to see more of Steckel.
Anyone think his skill set is similar to Gordon’s? I don’t have an opinion on this, I’d be curious to hear what everyone else thinks.

5 April, 2007 at 12:39 pm | Permalink
Meza wrote:

Great story, I saw Steckel play earlier this year in Hershey. He is very good on defensive responsibilities and a excellent forechecker. Last night he made a statement that he wants to be in the bigs. If he continues to play like he did last night against Buffalo he may solidify his chances for next year. If you put him with Boyd Gordon you have 2/3 of a great checking line.

5 April, 2007 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
b.oor4 wrote:

Steckel should have been up with the Caps a long time ago. He’s a penalty killing phenom and you can bet that had he been on the PK for the Caps instead of Sutherby, they wouldn’t be in the lower third of the league in that department. Also, he’s a great faceoff man. He’s the type of player every team needs to be successful.

5 April, 2007 at 2:18 pm | Permalink
Vogs wrote:

Nice work John. And I meant to say the same about the scouting piece, too. Steckel and Gordon were in fact 2/3 of a great checking line for Hershey’s Calder Cup team last spring. Both are good in the circle, and you’ve got a righty (Gordon) and a lefty (Steckel). I’m a big Steckel fan and think he belongs in the NHL.

5 April, 2007 at 4:12 pm | Permalink
CapsChick wrote:

Last night was by far the best game I’ve seen by Steckel in all his call-ups. Anyone else think this upcoming training camp is going to get a bit interesting? Lots of young guys showing up the veterans and making a case, one by one, for a Caps sweater. This team is going to be fun to watch very soon, I can feel it.
On a semi-related note, I’m heading up to Hershey for Sunday’s regular season finale against the Baby Pens – my first AHL game since I was a baby. I’m totally pumped. Anyone else going? Anything I should keep an eye on?

5 April, 2007 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
sk84fun wrote:

After watching Steckel last season and during the Calder Cup playoffs, I thought he was going to be on the NHL roster this season. A slow start at camp and an early injury set him back, but he has been a key player for the Bears this season…faceoffs, penalty kill (4 SHGs), leadership, etc. His skating has improved and adds to success with his defensive smarts, determination, and wingspan, I expect him to succeed in the NHL and had hoped to see more of him in a Caps jersey this season.
Fun AHL stats: He has scored the first goal for the Bears 6 times this season and drawn an early penalty with a quick rush to the net off the opening faceoff several times.
I was disappointed when they recalled him a few weeks ago and then did not give him a jersey. So I was glad to see the coaching staff give him ice time last night; it was the right move to have him out at the end of the game on the 6-3 kill.
Nice coverage and thanks for the heads up about the Wash Times article.
Caps Chick – I’ll probably be there on Sunday.

5 April, 2007 at 6:03 pm | Permalink
usiel wrote:

Steckel’s play does make it easier if they need to trade Sutherby this off season if need be.

5 April, 2007 at 6:13 pm | Permalink
CapitalGuy wrote:

The shift chart does not lie:
http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/SC021196.HTM Six-on-3 PK? Mo+Gordo+Steck= W !

5 April, 2007 at 7:28 pm | Permalink
TJ wrote:

Any link for the Times story.

5 April, 2007 at 7:50 pm | Permalink
OrderedChaos wrote:

Here’s the link to Corey Masisak’s Caps Prospects blurb in Wednesday’s Times:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20070403-115426-5927r.htm
Note that the print edition contained a longer article—the online version for some reason is abbreviated to just a few brief paragraphs.

5 April, 2007 at 10:07 pm | Permalink
CapsChick wrote:

sk84fun, where are you sitting?

6 April, 2007 at 4:19 am | Permalink
On Frozen Blog | Late-Summer Intrigue Among the Forward Flanks wrote:

30 August, 2007 at 10:49 am | Permalink

Steckel makes a Statement About Sticking

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