A Mariusz Czerkawski article
Oct 13, 2003 4:39:53 GMT -5
Post by Rimmer on Oct 13, 2003 4:39:53 GMT -5
from NHL.com (www.nhl.com/worldgame/eurostars/czerkawski101003.html).
here are the most interesting parts:
...
While Czerkawski may be as approachable as a goal scorer in a drought comes, his happy-go-lucky attitude is sometimes mistaken for complacency. He isn't one to hurl his stick to the ground en route to the locker room after a loss, nor is he the type to brood for hours on end. Instead, you may find him outside the arena, signing autographs for fans, ever friendly and accommodating.
Those who don't see through Czerkawski's surface may mistakenly equate his easy-going nature with a lack of heart. One needs only to observe the frustration in his eyes, however, to get past the mask of a smile on his face. It's the frustration of a player who hit the 35-goal mark in 1999-00 and accumulated a total of 14 points in 2002-03, a season that started with an air pocket of insecurity and ended in sheer turbulence.
...
Take the fact that he was exposed in this year's waiver draft and didn't take it personally.
"There are a few talented guys here who are much younger than me," he said. "I didn't take it as a bad thing, it's part of the business. I still feel welcome here."
...
As well as facing the pressure of a career in need of a turning point, he is also adapting to a different style of play than he is used to on Long Island, a defensive-minded system implemented by the new coaching staff.
"Mariusz has done a good job with it," said head coach Steve Stirling. "A lot of what we're putting in defensively is something that Mariusz has had to learn. But he's a better defensive player than people give him credit for and he's bought into our system. It took a little bit away from his offense in the first few games of the preseason, but he's catching on and picking up the tempo and doing the type of things we expect of him both offensively and defensively."
I always thought he could contribute more than Audette and would prefer it if he stayed and Audette got traded away.
anyways, I wish him good luck and hope he rejuvenates his career with the Isles.
R.
here are the most interesting parts:
...
While Czerkawski may be as approachable as a goal scorer in a drought comes, his happy-go-lucky attitude is sometimes mistaken for complacency. He isn't one to hurl his stick to the ground en route to the locker room after a loss, nor is he the type to brood for hours on end. Instead, you may find him outside the arena, signing autographs for fans, ever friendly and accommodating.
Those who don't see through Czerkawski's surface may mistakenly equate his easy-going nature with a lack of heart. One needs only to observe the frustration in his eyes, however, to get past the mask of a smile on his face. It's the frustration of a player who hit the 35-goal mark in 1999-00 and accumulated a total of 14 points in 2002-03, a season that started with an air pocket of insecurity and ended in sheer turbulence.
...
Take the fact that he was exposed in this year's waiver draft and didn't take it personally.
"There are a few talented guys here who are much younger than me," he said. "I didn't take it as a bad thing, it's part of the business. I still feel welcome here."
...
As well as facing the pressure of a career in need of a turning point, he is also adapting to a different style of play than he is used to on Long Island, a defensive-minded system implemented by the new coaching staff.
"Mariusz has done a good job with it," said head coach Steve Stirling. "A lot of what we're putting in defensively is something that Mariusz has had to learn. But he's a better defensive player than people give him credit for and he's bought into our system. It took a little bit away from his offense in the first few games of the preseason, but he's catching on and picking up the tempo and doing the type of things we expect of him both offensively and defensively."
I always thought he could contribute more than Audette and would prefer it if he stayed and Audette got traded away.
anyways, I wish him good luck and hope he rejuvenates his career with the Isles.
R.