Of
Nathan Davis's 14 goals last season, 10 came in special
teams situations.
Key
Statistics: Davis scored four shorthanded goals
last season, sharing the national lead in that category with
seven other players. Each of Davis’s SHGs came during
a 12-game stretch from Dec. 29-Feb. 5. For good measure, he
also added six power play goals.
What
He Does: His ability to read opposing defensemen,
make them feel safe enough to attempt risky breakout passes
during the power play and turn on the afterburners to steal
the puck for a shorthanded scoring chance is amazing, and
he shows remarkable patience on breakaways, waiting the goalie
out until the last possible moment before making his move.
Davis has remarkable speed for a player who measures 6-foot-1
and weighs nearly 200 pounds, and the combination of those
skills allow him to be effective whether he’s playing
an up-tempo game or grinding it out down low.
The
Bigger Picture: The RedHawks take pride in their
on offensive balance, and Davis’s continued development
makes it extremely difficult for opponents to focus their
energy on slowing down junior wings Matt Christie and Marty
Guerin. Late in the season, coach Enrico Blais experimented
with Christie and Davis on the same line and the two clicked.
They’ll likely start the year together, freeing Guerin
to play alongside senior Chris Michael or sophomore Geoff
Smith and spreading the offensive firepower across two or
three lines.
Miami
coach Enrico Blasi on Davis: “His quickness
and his speed are really a factor when he's killing penalties,
and he can play any type of game we want him to play. As he
matures over the next few years, you're going to see him turn
into what we think will be one of the best players in the
country."
