Atkinson’s numbers belie small stature
Much in the mould of Martin St. Louis
Cam Atkinson encourages you to doubt him.
Go ahead and call his 25 goals a fluke. Say it’s surprising that he’s tied with Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty and Mark Scheifele for third in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy. Tell him he’ll crash down to earth soon enough.
He wants to hear it. In some ways, he needs to hear it.
“I’ve had to face that my whole life,” said Atkinson, who l eads the Columbus Blue Jackets with 47 points in 51 games.
“Every age group growing up, people would tell me I’d never make it to the next level and you had to use that and have a little extra arrogance and cockiness to your game. Use it to fuel your fire. No one is going to tell me what I can and cannot do.”
Part of the doubt in Atkinson’s ability comes from his size. Listed at 5- foot- 8 and 180 pounds, Atkinson didn’t get his name called when he was first eligible for the NHL entry draft in 2007.
This year, despite ranking in the top 15 in scoring, he was initially not picked for the all-star game (he was later added as an injury replacement).
Those kinds of oversights have become normal for Atkinson, whose surprising season really shouldn’t be surprising considering he scored 27 goals last year and exceeded the 20- goal mark in the previous two seasons. And yet, it still seems unexpected. It’s the same thing that used to happen to Martin St. Louis throughout his career.
That might explain why Atkinson and St. Louis have become such good friends. The two, who have known each other for six years, used to train together in the off- season. Last summer, St. Louis even threw Atkinson an engagement party to celebrate his upcoming nuptials.
“He was the first person to call me when (head coach John Tortorella) got hired last year,” said Atkinson.
It turns out it was more than a courtesy call. Before Tortorella was hired in Tampa Bay, the 5- foot- 8 St. Louis was an overlooked, undersized player who had been bouncing back and forth between the NHL and the minors.
It was Tortorella who gave St. Louis his first real opportunity to become a top- line player, who eventually won a Stanley Cup, two scoring titles and league MVP.
“Torts has definitely given me the opportunity more than any other coach,” said Atkinson.
“When he first got hired last year, he didn’t really know any of the players so it was one of those start from scratch things. I got some good advice from Martin St. Louis. ... Just prove what you can do on the ice. I took that advice and ran with it.”
In other words, don’t be surprised if a sixth- round pick who previously went undrafted continues to challenge Sidney Crosby for the Rocket Richard Trophy. After all, Atkinson won’t be.
“It is what it is,” Atkinson said of those doubting him. “I’m definitely getting a lot more opportunity this year. I’ve just been trying to seize the moment.”
It’s not just Cam Atkinson who has seemingly come out of nowhere to put together a career year. These five players might not win the Hart Trophy, but they should get consideration for the NHL’s Most Improved Player Award.
PETER BUDAJ, LOS ANGELES
When Jonathan Quick went down with a serious groin i njury in the first game of the season, it looked like the Kings’ season was done. But Budaj, who spent last year in the minors, has stepped up in a way few could have imagined. He is ranked third in the NHL with a 2.02 goals- against average and his 25 wins has Los Angeles sitting in a playoff spot.
JUSTIN SCHULTZ, PITTSBURGH
It’s hard to believe this is the same defenceman the Oilers essentially gave away at last year’s deadline. Then again, Schultz never played like this in Edmonton. With nine goals and 37 points, he is fourth among defencemen in scoring and is tied for third overall with a plus-29 rating.
MICHAEL GRABNER, NY RANGERS
Last year with the Maple Leafs, it took Grabner until Dec. 2 to score his first goal. By that time this year, he had scored seven times. Tied for seventh in the league with 23 goals — he also has two hat tricks — Grabner has already had the second- best season of his career. In fact, he’s scored more than he did in the past two seasons combined.
PATRICK EAVES, DALLAS
When Patrick Eaves scored 20 goals as a rookie with the Senators, it looked like a sign of things to come from the first- round pick. But it’ s taken 11 seasons and five different teams for the 32- year- old to get anywhere near that careerhigh total. Eaves, who has 19 goals and 33 points, has scored more goals than Jamie Benn.
THOMAS VANEK, DETROIT
It’s rare that a one- year contract looks like a headscratching gamble. But with the way Vanek’s career was trending, few expected his $ 2.6- million deal to be a bargain for Detroit. With 12 goals and 32 points, that’s what it’s been for the Red Wings, who could flip the 33- year- old for a decent return at the trade deadline.