By PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca
The comparisons Tyler Seguin draws to Steve Yzerman are not by accident.
A sophomore forward for the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers, Seguin grew up idolizing the long-time Detroit Red Wings captain. A slick-skating, two-way center with a right-handed shot, Seguin is a virtual clone of Yzerman on the ice. It isn’t surprising then to learn Seguin modeled his game after his favourite player.
What makes the comparisons so fitting are Seguin’s budding leadership qualities and ultra-competitive nature.
“You just see a lot of (similar) mannerisms and the way he carries himself off the ice and on the ice,” described Mike Vellucci, Seguin’s head coach in Plymouth.
The now-retired Yzerman was known as one of the most complete players in his era. His leadership qualities made him one of the youngest captains in the National Hockey League, which is another trait the 17-year-old shares.
Seguin is one of three players to have worn the ‘C’ this season, as the Whalers have yet to decide on a permanent captain.
“He’s pretty mature for a 17-year-old kid,” offered teammate AJ Jenks. “Guys look up to him a lot being that he’s one of the most talent guys in the league and he handles himself really well given all the attention he gets.”
Seguin had the chance to meet his hero after a game last season. Yzerman, who now serves as vice president of the Red Wings, was in attendance when the Whalers hosted the London Knights. Seguin attended school with then-Knights forward Christian Thomas, whose godfather is none other than Yzerman.
The level-headed youngster shook Yzerman’s hand and was all ears once offered advice but withheld from asking for an autograph.
“It was more of a professional thing,” Seguin said. “He just wanted to tell me about my game and I got to meet him and that was good enough for me.”
The Whalers forward is being touted as a top three pick, and potential candidate for first overall, for this summer’s NHL draft. Being a lottery pick would put the product of Brampton, Ont. in some pretty elite company should Seguin go in the top three, ahead of even Yzerman who went fourth in the 1983 draft.
What makes Seguin such a dangerous offensive player is his ability to disguise his intentions and create offensively.
“He’s not just a playmaker or just a goalscorer or just a good defensive player,” said Vellucci, “I think he puts all three of those ingredients together.”
Seguin’s skills were hidden through the first half of his rookie season. Although he was drafted ninth overall in the 2008 OHL priority selection, Seguin toiled on the fourth line under then-head coach Greg Stefan, who preferred playing his veterans. Stefan eventually stepped down to accept a scouting position with the Carolina Hurricanes in November, opening the door for Vellucci to step back behind the bench.
Upon taking over, Vellucci increased Seguin’s opportunities with a spot on the second line. It wasn’t long until Seguin then joined Chris Terry and Matt Caria on the team’s first unit, as his talents no longer remained buried on the depth chart.
“He had been lavishing on the fourth line there and I thought he deserved the opportunity with his skill-set and his speed,” Vellucci explained.
“Greg Stefan was a good coach (but) I think he didn’t really give the rookies as much of an opportunity to earn a spot like Mike Vellucci did,” Seguin said.
Seguin emerged as one of Plymouth’s top players once he was given added responsibility. He scored 16 goals and 43 points through the final 19 games of the season, a torrid pace he kept this season as he currently leads the league in scoring.
Many felt Seguin’s offensive exploits would come back down to earth this season after Terry and Caria graduated from junior. Seguin, who was teased by friends during the summer about his departing line-mates, then made it a goal to prove all his critics wrong this season.
It’s safe to say he’s winning the argument.
“Everyone’s saying Seguin’s lucky to be on that line,” Vellucci recalled. “Actually, it was quite the opposite. Those guys were pretty lucky to play with him because he distributes the puck so well and made them that much better.
“He makes everybody around him better. That’s proof this year.”
Seguin’s main competition for the first overall spot in this summer’s draft comes from the team across the river in Windsor, Ont. Spitfires forward Taylor Hall has long been considered the projected top pick but Seguin’s play on a team with fewer complementary weapons has left scouts wondering which might be better.
It also breeds healthy competition for the two players.
“Sometimes there might be a little on-ice chirping in between us because everyone’s playing for it and they’ve been playing for it their whole lives,” Seguin said. “You just have to respect the player but not respect him too much to let him use his game to beat yours.”
Where Yzerman’s game is concerned, that respect helped influence the player Seguin has become.
