Making the Grade
The NHL education of Taylor Pyatt continues
to be a successful one
By Kerry Gwydir
The 2000-01 season has been a learning process for many Islanders. That lesson hasn't been more evident for any player than 19 year old taylor Pyatt.
The Islanders' 1999 first round pick (taken three slots after Tim Connolly) is a new blend of speed and size coupled with a deft scouring touch. However, just as many first-year NHLers find out, the transition to the pro game is one full of peaks and valleys. From early season struggles to now being a regular in the lineup, the 6-4, 220 pond left wing has shown the signs that he will be an important figure in the future of The New York Islanders.
"There's a big adjustment between playing in the junior to the NHL," said Pyatt. "I understood that. But you have to experience it and deal with everything. good and bad, that happens up here. With each day, no matter if it's a game or a practice, you have to apply what you learned. That's what I'm trying to do - get better in every area of the game. There's nothing better than contributing to your team's success."
Said head coach Butch Goring: "Taylor Pyatt is a big part of the New York Islanders' future. I'm very confident in saying that. He has everything you look for in a power forward. He's a great skater, can shoot the puck and can be a force when he uses his body. There's no reason why this kid can't be a star in this league."
As Goring speaks so highly of Pyatt, he always mentions how the youngster has progressed since training camp. Developing consistency on a shift-by-shift, game-by-game basis for Pyatt is the biggest improvement that the head coach has seen.
You have to remember that there was talk in the press early in the season that Pyatt might be sent back to his OHL team in Sudbury. In fact, Pyatt freely admits to having doubts that he would stick. But as time went by, the strapping left wing proved that he belonged on Long Island.
"Taylor is a much better player now than he was at the start of the season," said Goring. "He's beginning to understand what the National Hockey League is all about. There's so much more to playing at this level than just picking up your stick and lacing up the skates. You have to learn the pace of the game and realize that decisions happen quicker up here. It's a lot to ask of a teenager. But I'm confident to know that Taylor will be a player in the long run because of what he's learned this season."
Said Pyatt:"It was tough early on because I wasn't sure how everything would eventually go. I was nervous about maybe going back to Sudbury because this is where every hockey player wants to be. I'm happy that my teammates were there for me when things weren't going so well. And I'm glad that my game picked up and that I could help the team out on a regular basis."
Understand that Pyatt entered the NHL this season as one of the most decorated scorers in major junior hockey over the last two seasons. He had potted 77 goals and 164 points in his last two years in Sudbury. However, it took Pyatt 22 games to net his first NHL marker, the game-winner in a November 27th victory over Tampa Bay.
For Pyatt, it was all part of his NHL education and understanding the roller coaster of emotions and situations that a rookie faces. "There have been some great nights and there have been some rough ones," said Pyatt. "Getting my first goal and playing my first game in Tampa Bay are things I'll never forget. My parents came down from Ontario to watch our home opener against Calgary after being at our game in Toronto a few days before. But there have also been times, like the game I dressed in Washington and didn't get a shift or when I was a healthy scratch in Tampa in November, that have been hard. My dad (former NHLer Nelson Pyatt) told me to be prepared for everything. He said, in the end, it will be beneficial to how I grow as a player."
Being the son of a former NHLer has been a great resource for the Islander rookie. "The biggest piece of advice my dad gave me was to enjoy playing at this level and never take anything for granted," said Pyatt. "Putting on the Islander jersey each game is a privileged one, and I learned that from him. He told me there would be days where things may not go so well, but to keep working and that playing with effort will be rewarded."
An unexpected friendship of sorts that brewed early in the season with New York Jets player Greg Lotysz has also helped Pyatt through it all. Lotysz, who missed all of this season after blowing out his MCL and ACL in training camp, is not on the Jets' active roster but hails from Pyatt's hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lotysz, a rookie tackle, contacted Pyatt when he was searching for a place to stay on Long Island. The pair are now roommates and have also developed a tight friendship.
"Greg's been great, especially since we come from the same area back home," said Pyatt. "When things weren't going so well, he was always someone I could talk to-just like the guys on the team. He's been real supportive and is a good friend."