Bruce Cassidy is shaping Jack Eichel into becoming the next Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron's illustrious career of 1,464 NHL games came to an end, leaving behind an incredible legacy as one of the best two-way players in the history of the game.
Often overlooked for his scoring prowess, Bergeron amassed 477 goals and 691 assists, averaging one point in 79.7% of the games he played. Notably, in the 2006 season, he finished with a -28 in the plus/minus category, a year when the Bruins struggled.
Coach Bruce Cassidy, who worked closely with Bergeron for nearly six seasons, witnessed his defensive excellence, leading to two Frank J. Selke Trophies for the forward.
Now, Cassidy has the opportunity to guide Jack Eichel, who he met in Cape Cod, to elevate his defensive game in Vegas. Eichel's offensive prowess is undeniable, but under Cassidy's tutelage, he aims to improve his defensive contributions.
Comparing the stats, Eichel's shift starts in the defensive zone were at 12%, lower than Bergeron's 20.2%, highlighting his potential for growth.
Moreover, Eichel exhibited impressive discipline, accumulating only six penalty minutes while achieving 47 takeaways. However, Bergeron outshined him with 38 takeaways and +71 on-ice goal differential compared to Eichel's +41.
Although Eichel has a long way to go before being mentioned alongside the game's greatest 200-foot players, Cassidy's guidance is crucial to his development.
With year-over-year improvements, it'll be intriguing to see how Eichel's numbers progress in the future.
Source: Vegashockeynow
| POLL | ||
Will Bruce Cassidy's coaching help Jack Eichel become a great 200-foot player? | ||
| Yes | 35 | 62.5 % |
| No | 21 | 37.5 % |
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