Marlies sign 21-year old Justin Brazeau

[OldTimeHockey]

Brazeau's case isn't one in which he's a terrible skater; he merely hasn't received any skating coaching up until now and made do with what he could control.

I wouldn't say he hasn't received any skating coaching. Growing up in New Liskeard and playing junior in North Bay isn't exactly the equivalent to playing hockey in Nunavet.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wouldn't say he hasn't received any skating coaching. Growing up in New Liskeard and playing junior in North Bay isn't exactly the equivalent to playing hockey in Nunavet.

By his own admission he didn't really have access to power skating lessons until the OHL. Rink/ice-time availability was also a big issue for him growing up I read, especially in the summer. I mean compare that to a guy like Marner who started skating lessons at the age of 4 and had access to some of the top GTA skills coaches his entire life pretty much. Obviously not saying that Brazeau would be a PPG forward right now if he did but there's no denying he was at a significant disadvantage just because of where he grew up.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I read an article where Stan Butler said that it takes roughly 10000 hours or something like that in extra work to develop and NHL player. Brazeau, because of where he came from, was at least 2000 hrs behind. Butler also said his skating isn't as bad as people think. Said he never saw anyone catch him on a breakaway lol.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I wouldn't say he hasn't received any skating coaching. Growing up in New Liskeard and playing junior in North Bay isn't exactly the equivalent to playing hockey in Nunavet.

By his own admission he didn't really have access to power skating lessons until the OHL. Rink/ice-time availability was also a big issue for him growing up I read, especially in the summer. I mean compare that to a guy like Marner who started skating lessons at the age of 4 and had access to some of the top GTA skills coaches his entire life pretty much. Obviously not saying that Brazeau would be a PPG forward right now if he did but there's no denying he was at a significant disadvantage just because of where he grew up.

I live in Sudbury and grew up spending summers in New Liskeard. Perhaps when I played, summer ice wasn't quite as available, but for the past 15 years there's always at least two rinks with ice. There's also always really strong instructors available all year round. Good players find the instructors and the ice time.

Yes that's not near the availability of ice time/options as in Toronto but for him to pretend that his skating struggles because of where he is from is a complete stretch. I think it's more telling that he didn't really commit to hockey until he was 14. That may have a bigger part to do with his lack of skating development.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/prospect-need-to-know-thomsons-call-and-wjss-reports

TOR: Growing up in Northern Ontario, Justin Brazeau never took power skating lessons. The free agent signing has been working with Leafs guru Barb Underhill this summer and the team is over the moon with Brazeau?s progress. He?s a massive sniper, so this is an exciting development.

It's not surprising since it's possibly the biggest reason he signed here, but good to see that he's taking advantage of the resources now at his disposal.

 

[Bender]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/prospect-need-to-know-thomsons-call-and-wjss-reports

TOR: Growing up in Northern Ontario, Justin Brazeau never took power skating lessons. The free agent signing has been working with Leafs guru Barb Underhill this summer and the team is over the moon with Brazeau?s progress. He?s a massive sniper, so this is an exciting development.

It's not surprising since it's possibly the biggest reason he signed here, but good to see that he's taking advantage of the resources now at his disposal.

I'm really hoping the fact that he has so much raw talent/tools that we can really mould him into something special.

 

[Highlander]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/prospect-need-to-know-thomsons-call-and-wjss-reports

TOR: Growing up in Northern Ontario, Justin Brazeau never took power skating lessons. The free agent signing has been working with Leafs guru Barb Underhill this summer and the team is over the moon with Brazeau?s progress. He?s a massive sniper, so this is an exciting development.

It's not surprising since it's possibly the biggest reason he signed here, but good to see that he's taking advantage of the resources now at his disposal.

I'm really hoping the fact that he has so much raw talent/tools that we can really mould him into something special.

If Barb can reve up his RPM even a few degrees that would be very helpful.  Outside of scoring this past year like a beast, the thing that gives me most hope is he is a scratch golfer and by all accounts a very good basketball player, both sports require a fantastic hand to eye co-ordination as well as great body movements. He has become my new favourite pet project now that the Goat will go back to the farm, or the Canadians.

 

[herman]

https://www.nlgrowlers.com/en/news/brazeau-proving-he-was-worth-the-gamble

The big winger has a true power forward frame to go along with elite hands that would rival any small sniper, but Brazeau heard time and time again that the knock against him is that he can?t skate, which is one reason that led him to the Maple Leafs organization. The Maple Leafs are committed to seeing what Brazeau can offer, so much so that he has been spending his summers with former Olympian and World Figure Skating Hall of Fame member Barb Underhill, who is a member of Toronto?s staff as a skating consultant.

?The way the Leafs laid out a plan for me, and their whole organizational plans from top to bottom going forward, it was clear for me that it made the most sense to sign here?, explained Brazeau. ?The thing that stuck out the most to me was their commitment to me as far as having me going to Toronto in the summer to skate and train with them, and then being with Barb all the time ? it just made the most sense?.

?Especially when I first started in the OHL, it (skating) just wasn?t there?, Brazeau said. ?It?s still not where I want it to be, but it has improved a lot and Barb is a big part of that?.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Hope the kid works out. He's certainly big enough.

 

[Highlander]

Hope the kid works out. He's certainly big enough.

Nice he is only 21 and getting pro experience and working with Barb. If he can get his skating speed up, then the next step is to the Marlies.