"I'm drinking through a fire hose right now, trying to get up to speed. My initial reaction watching Mat from the other bench is, everybody's looking for that type of speed in the middle of the ice. That speed through the middle of the ice is really dangerous, and the good teams all have that."
"I think my heart, as a player, is probably down the middle of the ice. It allows me to do a lot of things. I've got to get to know the group... I don't know them."
"With the season on the line, DeBoer is starting with what he knows - and what he's always seen in Barzal: elite speed, play-driving ability, and a player built to impact the game from the middle of the ice."
Peter DeBoer, the new Islanders head coach, is still familiarizing himself with his team. He quickly decided to move Mathew Barzal back to center, recognizing his speed as a valuable asset. DeBoer believes that Barzal's skill set is maximized when playing in the middle of the ice. Barzal agrees, stating that playing center allows him to utilize his abilities effectively. DeBoer's approach focuses on simplicity and instinct, indicating that significant changes are unlikely as he gets to know the team.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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