Caleb Desnoyers and the word struggle have probably never been uttered in the same phrase until now.
Everyone wants to know what’s wrong with Caleb Desnoyers? The answer is nothing is wrong.
The Utah Mammoth 1st rounder (4th overall) is off to an uncustomary “slow” start which has brought unwanted and unwarranted attention to the star forward since his return to action. The Wildcats captain has only racked one goal and 7 helpers in 10 games. Desnoyers had been sidelined for the start of the campaign due to a well documented wrist surgery that should have kept him out of the line up for an extended period of time. In true Desnoyers fashion he returned to action well ahead of schedule only to go down yet again after sustaining an awkward accidental collision with a Halifax Mooseheads defender in his first game back.
Desnoyers missed roughly a week and one game with the latest upper body injury. Obviously, when a talent like Desnoyers returns to action especially after the season he had a year ago and the whirlwind of the draft and capturing a championship, expectations run almost stratospheric.
From a far, people first look at stats, and the stats just haven’t been there as of yet, which is a cause for concern amongst some peripheral hockey contingent. Nevertheless, what about his compete level and play away from the puck? Well at times Desnoyers has struggled to engage due in large part to the fact that even though he worked his ass off to get back early, there’s still no substitute to having a full summer of training to get ready and back into game shape.
There’s no question in the first run of games after returning from the upper body injury he was a ½ step behind which is perfectly normal for a player, but again something we aren’t accustomed to seeing from Desnoyers.
Caleb Desoyers is human after all, go figure.
Here’s a kid that has played a shit ton of hockey dating back over the last three seasons, and a matter of fact, he’s gone full out over that that stretch. By no means would the player make that an excuse, but it’s a pretty damn valid one and to think he played pretty much the entire season last year with a severe wrist injury speaks volumes to his character and compete level.
What’s wrong with asking, what’s wrong with Caleb Desnoyers? Well, there’s nothing wrong with asking the question, but let’s hope people’s perception doesn’t seep into the vernacular.
Desnoyers has had a turnstile of wingers this season which is hard for anyone to develop chemistry. As discussed, he was late to the party so to speak so things haven’t been clicking on the power player either. To Desnoyers defense over the last few games especially at home it would appear because he cares so much about winning and living up to the self-imposed standards and expectations that he’s started to squeeze the stick a touch. On the power play, he hasn’t been able to get the puck in the same places or times that he did a season ago which goes back to developing chemistry amongst linemates and speciality teams units. Yesterday’s outing versus the Islanders and even Wednesday’s tilt versus Sherbrooke Desnoyers was all around it, creating havoc and fully engaged which is always great to see when a player returns to form from an injury.
Oh, what about his current perceived struggles and his hopes for the World Juniors?
There’s no question, Gardiner MacDougall who just happens to be an Asst. Coach on Team Canada’s staff knows full well, what Desnoyers has been through and knows how hard and how much that kid cares about representing his country and playing the game of hockey. Desnoyers’ addition to the Team Canada roster is a no brainer and by that point he will be flying on all cylinders.
Caleb Desnoyers and the word struggle have never been uttered in the same phrase until now and perhaps it’s a touch too harsh and way too early to criticize the player and person given everything he has experienced over the last year.
Knowing what I know about the player and having watched this kid over the last two and a half years, the current situation/scenario will only motivate him even more and fuel his fire. You would be hard pressed to find another player in the Q or arguably the CHL that is more driven, competitive and intrinsically motivated than Caleb Desnoyers. It’s just a matter of time before Desnoyers will be wreaking havoc on the international stage and the QMJHL. Caleb Desnoyers final chapter of his Q career will be something to behold.
Don’t believe me, just wait you’ll see.
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