Fischer Article on RDS
Jun 19, 2007 15:31:57 GMT -5
Post by FormerLurker on Jun 19, 2007 15:31:57 GMT -5
I translated this from RDS. Enjoy!
While Carey Price slowly appeared on the radar of Habs fans, David Fischer had a modest start in the NCAA. One year after his selection, the club's 2006 first round pick has realised that sometimes one step back is required before continuing forward.
Fischer would be the first to admit it. With just five assists in 42 games, he didn't break any records with the Minnesota Gophers.
"First year at university, first time away from home, adapting to a higher level of play... everything was new for me. My stats were not as good as I would have hoped, but I learned a lot and the experience that I gained doesn't translate into numbers."
Captain of the Apple Valley High School Eagles, with whom he accumulated 39 points in 28 games in his last year, Fischer arrived in a dressing room in which, for the first time in his career, he was not the best player. Erik Johnson had just been selected first overall by the St. Louis Blues, Kyle Okposo had been selected seventh by the New York Islanders, and Alex Goligoski, a third round choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004, would be elected MVP of the Gophers during the season.
Fischer therefore quickly learned that he would have to get in line and wait his turn. He had always been the one that was counted on to score the big goal at the end of a game, but he now had to get used to two or three shifts per period.
"The biggest adjustment for David was to learn how to measure his effort", explained Mike Guentzel, the assistant coach who took him under his wing. "Since he played high school hockey the year before, he was probably used to four minute shifts, but here, we obviously demanded that he return to the bench after 45 seconds. We had to teach him to make the best use of the ice time we gave him and that he didn't have to shoulder so much responsibility."
"My confidence was affected, but in the end I understood that I was playing with the best players of my age in the country", recalls Fischer. "I spoke to the coaches a lot and learned to accept my new role. I think that some people have to retreat a little in order to progress. With the step back, I can now say that being on the back-burner did me some good. I have matured a great deal."
Several months after being selected by the Habs, Fischer had attracted the eye of American team management at the World Junior Chanpionship evaluation camp, but his poor start with the Gophers cost him a place on the team.
"It's obvious that I would have liked to represent my country, but I didn't feel that I deserved it. It made me think a lot. I was not satisfied with my play and it was at this time that really started to think about what I had to do to shake it."
While Johnson helped the U.S. bring home the bronze medal in Moscow, Fischer took advantage of the opportunity to find what it was that had made him such a coveted player.
"It wasn't until between Thanksgiving and Christmas that he started to believe that he was capable of surviving defensively in this league, and he became a very effective player" observed Guentzel. "When Erik Johnson left us for the national team, we increased Fischer's responsibility; we demanded more from him and he responded well."
In the opposition zone, Fischer had always felt like a fish in the water. It was his play in his own zone that required extra time with his coach. "I've never had to work this hard to improve. Talent can bring you to a certain point, but there comes a time when much more than that is needed to progress."
"He has understood the importance of coaching and practice", confirms Guentzel.
The defenseman that Habs scouts saw in this fluid 6'3" skater began to take shape,
but he isn't putting his head in the sand.
"I put a lot of work into my defensive game, but I know that there is still a lot to do", the young man humbly admits. "I'm going to train in the weight room in order to be tougher along the boards, to add a more physical aspect to my game. I also need to improve my shot."
Fischer needs to get bigger both literally and figuratively. "We're definitely going to lose two big pieces of our blue line, Johnson and our captain Mike Vannelli, and Goligoski could stay with the Penguins. These three players amassed 102 points for us last season", calculated Guentzel. "We're going to ask David to do his part to replace these guys. His ice time will increase and he'll probably play on the second power play unit."
"I'm excited by the idea that they're increasing my responsibility. The coaches were very clear, they're counting on me. I don't have a choice, I have to play better", recalls Fischer.
Between a few rounds of golf and a fishing trip, Fischer, who says in a disgusted tone that the Leafs elimination of the Habs still weighs heavily on his heart, will also spend part of his summer in Montreal to attend the rookie camp. In August, he'll take part in the U.S. World Junior evalution camp, where he hopes to do enough to wear his country's colours in December.
"I have the intention of doing so well that the coaches are forced to keep me. Honestly, I think that I can be an important asset for the team this year."
It's therefore strongly possible that two of the Canadiens' best prospects will meet - maybe in a shootout - next winter, but for those who want to see them in the same uniform, Guentzel warns fans that it won't happen overnight.
"To be realistic, I think that David will need two more years at the university level before making the jump to the pros. During his third year, if all goes well, he should be one of the four best defensemen in our league, a star player who can dominate a game. I have told him that if he does what he needs to do and if I do a good job myself, he'll be in an excellent position to take his place with the Canadiens."
While Carey Price slowly appeared on the radar of Habs fans, David Fischer had a modest start in the NCAA. One year after his selection, the club's 2006 first round pick has realised that sometimes one step back is required before continuing forward.
Fischer would be the first to admit it. With just five assists in 42 games, he didn't break any records with the Minnesota Gophers.
"First year at university, first time away from home, adapting to a higher level of play... everything was new for me. My stats were not as good as I would have hoped, but I learned a lot and the experience that I gained doesn't translate into numbers."
Captain of the Apple Valley High School Eagles, with whom he accumulated 39 points in 28 games in his last year, Fischer arrived in a dressing room in which, for the first time in his career, he was not the best player. Erik Johnson had just been selected first overall by the St. Louis Blues, Kyle Okposo had been selected seventh by the New York Islanders, and Alex Goligoski, a third round choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004, would be elected MVP of the Gophers during the season.
Fischer therefore quickly learned that he would have to get in line and wait his turn. He had always been the one that was counted on to score the big goal at the end of a game, but he now had to get used to two or three shifts per period.
"The biggest adjustment for David was to learn how to measure his effort", explained Mike Guentzel, the assistant coach who took him under his wing. "Since he played high school hockey the year before, he was probably used to four minute shifts, but here, we obviously demanded that he return to the bench after 45 seconds. We had to teach him to make the best use of the ice time we gave him and that he didn't have to shoulder so much responsibility."
"My confidence was affected, but in the end I understood that I was playing with the best players of my age in the country", recalls Fischer. "I spoke to the coaches a lot and learned to accept my new role. I think that some people have to retreat a little in order to progress. With the step back, I can now say that being on the back-burner did me some good. I have matured a great deal."
Several months after being selected by the Habs, Fischer had attracted the eye of American team management at the World Junior Chanpionship evaluation camp, but his poor start with the Gophers cost him a place on the team.
"It's obvious that I would have liked to represent my country, but I didn't feel that I deserved it. It made me think a lot. I was not satisfied with my play and it was at this time that really started to think about what I had to do to shake it."
While Johnson helped the U.S. bring home the bronze medal in Moscow, Fischer took advantage of the opportunity to find what it was that had made him such a coveted player.
"It wasn't until between Thanksgiving and Christmas that he started to believe that he was capable of surviving defensively in this league, and he became a very effective player" observed Guentzel. "When Erik Johnson left us for the national team, we increased Fischer's responsibility; we demanded more from him and he responded well."
In the opposition zone, Fischer had always felt like a fish in the water. It was his play in his own zone that required extra time with his coach. "I've never had to work this hard to improve. Talent can bring you to a certain point, but there comes a time when much more than that is needed to progress."
"He has understood the importance of coaching and practice", confirms Guentzel.
The defenseman that Habs scouts saw in this fluid 6'3" skater began to take shape,
but he isn't putting his head in the sand.
"I put a lot of work into my defensive game, but I know that there is still a lot to do", the young man humbly admits. "I'm going to train in the weight room in order to be tougher along the boards, to add a more physical aspect to my game. I also need to improve my shot."
Fischer needs to get bigger both literally and figuratively. "We're definitely going to lose two big pieces of our blue line, Johnson and our captain Mike Vannelli, and Goligoski could stay with the Penguins. These three players amassed 102 points for us last season", calculated Guentzel. "We're going to ask David to do his part to replace these guys. His ice time will increase and he'll probably play on the second power play unit."
"I'm excited by the idea that they're increasing my responsibility. The coaches were very clear, they're counting on me. I don't have a choice, I have to play better", recalls Fischer.
Between a few rounds of golf and a fishing trip, Fischer, who says in a disgusted tone that the Leafs elimination of the Habs still weighs heavily on his heart, will also spend part of his summer in Montreal to attend the rookie camp. In August, he'll take part in the U.S. World Junior evalution camp, where he hopes to do enough to wear his country's colours in December.
"I have the intention of doing so well that the coaches are forced to keep me. Honestly, I think that I can be an important asset for the team this year."
It's therefore strongly possible that two of the Canadiens' best prospects will meet - maybe in a shootout - next winter, but for those who want to see them in the same uniform, Guentzel warns fans that it won't happen overnight.
"To be realistic, I think that David will need two more years at the university level before making the jump to the pros. During his third year, if all goes well, he should be one of the four best defensemen in our league, a star player who can dominate a game. I have told him that if he does what he needs to do and if I do a good job myself, he'll be in an excellent position to take his place with the Canadiens."