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(GRADED)DD #2 - Johnny FourStar Rounds a Corner
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WhikadoodleRegistered S23, S45 Challenge Cup Champion
04-11-2023, 10:03 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-19-2023, 10:22 AM by CptSquall. Edited 1 time in total.)
The Vancouver Whalers are absolutely stacked with talent. Whether it be the offensive escapades of Inactive Forever, the foundational presence of Bob Wehadababyitsaboy, or the pure grit of Thomas Liebold, the Whalers are one of the most exciting up and coming teams in the SMJHL.
However, the teams ceiling will surely be decided by less notorious prospects. One of those prospects is Swedish forward Johnny FourStar. The winger comes to the league from Vaxjo, where he was a standout talent and offensive phenom. Coming into the S70 SMJHL Draft, Johnny FourStar was lauded for his ability to score the puck, as well as his strong Skating attributes. But the question on everyone's mind was whether Johnny FourStar's game would transfer to the north american ice, and if he would continue to develop as a SMJHL prospect. Johnny FourStar has shown improvement on the practice ice so far this season, most notably on the defensive end. His Positioning and defensive IQ have come leaps and bounds since he first arrived in Vancouver. And, this has led to him becoming a field general on the breakout. By gathering the puck in advantageous places, Johnny FourStar has seen his assist numbers skyrocket in recent weeks - now leading the entire team in that category despite limited special teams opportunities. FourStar finds himself in the middle of a strong pack of Whalers Prospects. At 242 TPE, Johnny FourStar is fourth amongst S71 Whalers players. This is impressive considering that the Whalers have six players in the top 34 TPE earned for S71 eligible players, while the next closest teams only have four players in the top 34. Vancouver as a team sits dead middle in the SMJHL standings. However, the team has been trending upwards, primarily due to the performance of such players like Johnny FourStar. The team is 7-3 in their last ten, including a recent barn burner 9-8 victory against the hot as ever Colorado Raptors. Currently ranked 11th in average TPE, the Whalers could see themselves move into the upper echelon of teams by seasons end, primarily on the backs of TPE earned by late-drafted superstars like Johnny FourStar. All that said, that doesn't mean that there aren't aspects of Johnny FourStars game that he could still improve upon. For starters, Johnny FourStar could work harder to get more pucks to the net. While that would surely reduce his shooting percentage, which as of right now sits at an astronomical 14.5%, it would put more pressure on opposing defenses and could lead to more wild rebounds in the slot, increasing the scoring chances for his team as a whole. Additionally, while recent results have alleviated some of this concern, FourStar could get better by continuing to improve on his player rating, which currently sits at +9. With the back half of the season now at our doorsteps, Johnny FourStar is looking to continue to develop his skills and do whatever it takes to win games for the Vancouver Whalers. If the rest of this rookie class can continue to perform at the level we have seen so far this season, the Whalers will be Four Star contenders for seasons to come. [545 Words]
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