Di Pauli finally up to speed
New diet, yoga heart of regimen for return to form
BUFFALO, N.Y. — There’s a certain aura to the majority of Penguins players competing at the Prospects Challenge at HarborCenter. Most are shy and understated, the result of their age and experience in this sort of setting.
Then, there’s forward Thomas Di Pauli.
The kid doesn’t lack for confidence or energy — on or off the ice. He’s relentlessly upbeat, has the best wheels of anybody here and was the first player coach Mike Sullivan mentioned when he was asked who has caught eye.
“I think Di Pauli has had a real strong showing so far,” Sullivan said. “His speed is real evident.”
You know how speed shines within Sullivan’s system, but the trick with Di Pauli will be staying healthy. Surgeries to his knee, back and thumb derailed his 2016-17 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That’s where his upbeat nature and positivity come in.
After the injuries mounted, Di Pauli decided this summer — in consultation with the Penguins medical staff — that he wasn’t giving himself the proper chance to maintain good health. So he went to a plant-based diet, cutting out meat and dairy.
“I’ll eat a piece of chicken if I absolutely have to,” Di Pauli said. “But no dairy. That’s a no-no.”
Di Pauli, who will eat fish, has loaded up on carbs and said the spent the summer doing yoga every day — and loving it.
“It’s tough, but I think that’s what keeps my body healthy at this point,” Di Pauli said.
Di Pauli, listed at 5-foot11, 188 pounds, is about 10 pounds lighter than last year, but it’s a trade-off he is willing to make.
“A lot of the success I’ve had with my return, being healthy and flexible, is definitely yoga,” said Di Pauli, 23.
“Strength-wise, I’ve lost some pounds, but I feel stronger than I ever have. I think that’s part of the yoga and my diet changes.”
There’s been no issue with Di Pauli’s strength, skating or shooting so far in this tournament.
In the 6-2 win Satuday against the New Jersey Devils prospects, Di Pauli picked up a loose puck in the left circle and ripped a nasty shot that wound up deflecting into the goal. A more subtle play came when Di Pauli received a pass, spun and hardly broke stride before snapping a shot, a play you don’t make if you’re hurt or your timing’s off. Rushes up ice nearly always involve Di Pauli when he’s on the ice, his foot speed glaringly obvious.
“He was pretty banged up last year,” coach Clark Donatelli said. “Now he’s healthy. You can see the difference in him. He has more jump. He’s quicker.”
He also chews on his mouthpiece as if it were a piece of gum. Weird thing about Di Pauli: You watch him skate, and his mouthpiece is never in his mouth.
“My parents get [upset] at me for that,” Di Pauli said. “My whole mouth on this side is all chewed up because it rubs up against it. I have to get a new one.”
During faceoffs, it’s usually in place. But that quickly changes.
“I think it’s in, but I guess not,” Di Pauli said, laughing.
It’s about the only thing that’s not as it should be with Di Pauli these days. Surgery fixed the cranky disc in his lower back, which was probably a good thing.
“I couldn’t feel my left leg,” Di Pauli said. “I never want to think about that again.”
That’s only partially true. Di Pauli does think about the injuries that limited him to 21 games — where he produced two goals and no assists — a season ago, a major buzzkill after he went for 14 goals and 32 points as a senior at Notre Dame and signed with the Penguins Aug. 19, 2016.
“You learn to have patience,” Di Pauli said. “You grow as a person.”
That much Di Pauli has shown, flashing a maturity and comfortability that separates him from many of his teammates in demeanor alone.
Di Pauli has been happy with his skating and what he has shown to Penguins coaches and management. He’d still like to be more of a factor when it comes to corner battles and flashing some grit in front of the net, but there’s no complaining.
Just smiles and enthusiasm.
“I know the player I can be,” Di Pauli said. “I didn’t prove that last year. I just want to have fun out there and show everybody — management, myself — that I am a good player.
“I know that I can make it. It’s fun playing like that, playing healthy and making plays. I’m having a good time.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.