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FourFour · 06-30-2019, 04:39 PM

Currently in his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Barracuda, Akashi SixNine has showed up to play in the SHL. During his two and a half seasons with the Lethbridge Lions and the Colorado Raptors in the SMJHL, SixNine was a fringe top-four defenseman, despite being one of the top earners in his class. His build was catered to a more defensive - and one dimensional side of hockey, which he knew he had to change when he made the step up to the big leagues.

In his first 8 games with the Lions, as a 165 TPE player, SixNine managed to accumulate 2 assists in his short regular season stay, accompanied by 8 hits, and 12 shots blocked. A player that SixNine wanted to be when he entered the junior leagues was a "Shut down defenseman that teams could rely on in any defensive situation, PK situation or just when they wanted to preserve a lead and ensure the job would get done." His play on the ice did reflect his vision, as in his first full season with the Raptors (after being drafted), he amassed 14 points (3 goals, 8 assists), had 82 hits and 37 shots blocked, and managed to be a +4 on the season on a Raptors team that looked like golfers on the stat sheet. However, one big blemish in his game was his 81 penalty minutes he had over the season. SixNine knew this was not the way he could continue to play in his career, as if he was sitting in the box he could never be that shutdown guy he knew teams wanted to. He also grew a large interest in distributing the puck to his teammates, and suddenly an offensive side was born.

After being one of the top TPE earners in his class, SixNine was fortunate enough to hear his name called at the draft by the Tampa Bay Barracuda, at 14th OA. While he thought he should have gone much higher in the draft, SixNine was set to make a name for himself, and make sure the teams that passed on him knew they missed out on something special. He was also ecstatic to come to a team like the Barracuda whom had already had 3 picks in that draft before they picked SixNine, the future was bright at this point.

Once he made his way back to Colorado for training camp, he made it clear to Colorado, and Tampa Bay's management that he wanted to make the jump to the big league as soon as he could. SixNine put up 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists), was a disgusting -18 and had 72 hits and 45 shots blocked in just 39 games with the Raptors. As the Raptors were having yet another poor season and SixNine moving up after the season, management decided to ship him off to the Detroit Falcons, whom were in fair contention for the cup. In 8 games with the Detroit Falcons, SixNine put up 2 points, was a +4 and had 6 hits and 8 shots blocked on a team where he slotted in on the third line, due to the immense talent above him. Nonetheless, despite the lower playing time (17 mins in DET vs 18.5 mins in COL), SixNine was excited at the prospects of winning a cup. The Falcons went on a strong run in the playoffs, before losing in the conference semi-finals. SixNine put up 7 points in 10 games (2 goals, 5 assists), had 16 hits and 6 shots blocked. His offensive side shined during the playoff run, and this was one that SixNine knew that could be a deadly threat if combined with a strong checking game, while remaining disciplined.

Over the off-season, SixNine worked on his checking, scoring, puck handling and passing to ensure he could enable that offensive side of his game. He worked heavily on clean checks, and just being a more responsible player when he was intimidating the other team. His work-ethic looks to have paid off, as in the pre-season in the SHL, SixNine was second in rookie scoring (only behind teammate Matt Kholin) with 32 points (4 goals, 28 assists), he also had 127 hits and 65 shots blocked, really showcasing the two way game he wanted to transform himself into. He began to enter his name into discussions for potential candidates for rookie of the year, when asked about the rumours he had this to say "You know, rookie of the year would be sick to win, but at the end of the day, this is a Tampa Bay Squad that really deserves to be in a contending playoff spot and i want to help the team not only get back into the playoffs but win a damn cup. That is more important to me than winning an award at this point."

Entering into the regular season, through 29 games, SixNine has 17 points, (2 goals, 15 assists), coupled with 109 hits (good enough for top 10 in the league), and 45 shots blocked (also top 10 in the league). He remains 3rd in rookie scoring as of this post, behind teammate Matt Kholin and Chicago Syndicate forward Kit Smeb. With 21 games left to go in the season, the Barracuda sit at the top of the conference and are looking to bring stellar play into the rest of the year to finish in that spot.

With this also being a contract year for SixNine, it is interesting to see what the rookie will do. He has RFA status if he is qualified by the team (which I am sure he would be), but what kind of money will he be asking for from the team? If he out here to get #PAID and be paid like the premier defenseman he is building himself into? Or will he take a more team friendly deal to see how the Barracuda turn out? Or will he exit as either an RFA or UFA next season and sign with another team who is either willing to pay him an absurd amount, or a team that is a perennial contender? Only time will tell, but for now only one thing is on the young rookies mind.

THE CHALLENGE CUP.

(1052 words)

JSS · 06-30-2019, 06:28 PM

he stay

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