When the New York Rangers drafted Derek Stepan in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, they believed they were selecting a player who, down the road, could be a very good two-way centerman.
What they didn't know was that he’d become the team’s first choice at center ice less than five years later.
Stepan has impressed since the first time he took the ice as a Ranger. In his first game, he recorded a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres. It was a suitable start to an impressive rookie campaign in which he registered 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points.
The following season he improved, scoring 51 points, but his lone goal and subpar performance in 20 playoff games left much to be desired. Despite consistent defensive play, his offensive struggles carried over into 2013. He didn't score his first goal until the eighth game of the season.
But since then, Stepan has run rampant over any and all competition. His sound neutral zone-play, which has allowed him to force turnovers and create offense from them, along with his improved shooting ability, have allowed hi ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Andrew Capitelli
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April 23rd, 2013 by Andrew Capitelli Leave a reply »
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