kreidertime
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Neal Pionk, D, Minnesota-Duluth
The right-shot defenseman is a 21-year-old sophomore. He's tied for 10th among NCAA defensemen with 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 34 games and is a plus-18.
Starman said Pionk's best quality is his slap shot, which he said was reminiscent of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber.
"He's a legitimate threat to score every time he's on the ice, that's how good his shot is," Starman said. "He's good in his own zone. But when you watch him, what stands out is how good his shot is, and he can score with it. He's got a Shea Weber quality to him with the shot. Just got a missile."
One of the top defenseman on the NCAA’s 2nd seeded University of Minnesota Duluth team, Neal Pionk is going to have a busy phone line the day that the Bulldogs season ends. Pionk has made a name for himself in the very tough NCHC as a fleet-footed two-way defenseman. Though he’s not big, Pionk isn’t afraid to play an in-your-face physical game and uses his strong skating ability to recover well defensively.
Where the sophomore has really shined this year, however, is on the offensive side of the ice. Pionk boasts an impressive slap shot and has made hay this season as the team’s power play quarterback. With 32 points in 38 games, Pionk finishes the year as the Bulldog’s third leading scorer and the seventh highest point scorer among NCAA defenseman.
Pionk is one of the younger players on this list, at just 21 years old. He has put up seven goals and 28 points in 34 games for the Bulldogs. Pionk is an excellent offensive defenceman. He has an absolute rocket of a slapshot from the point. He is also able to play the role of powerplay quarterback, possessing good poise with the puck, excellent vision and good passing skill. Pionk also uses this passing skill to start the transition game. He might be a little bit undersized, but Pionk is also good defensively. He is very gritty, willing to battle in front of the net and in the corners. His two-way game is helped quite a bit by his skating, which is top notch.
I'm a bit more optimistic after reading that. Never thought the Rangers want a top r-dman in return for Stepan as moron Brooks suggests. With Pionk and Zborovskiy in the wings, along with Graves and Day from the left side, defense is not an issue at all. The team needs to bring in a NHL ready or young proven big, centerman who can win draws along with a playoff type of powerforward winger capable of scoring dirty goals. This team is f'n soft. It's obvious. Also a number 1 for Stepan is a must. They need to give Clark more to find top talent in the draft.
The right-shot defenseman is a 21-year-old sophomore. He's tied for 10th among NCAA defensemen with 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 34 games and is a plus-18.
Starman said Pionk's best quality is his slap shot, which he said was reminiscent of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber.
"He's a legitimate threat to score every time he's on the ice, that's how good his shot is," Starman said. "He's good in his own zone. But when you watch him, what stands out is how good his shot is, and he can score with it. He's got a Shea Weber quality to him with the shot. Just got a missile."
One of the top defenseman on the NCAA’s 2nd seeded University of Minnesota Duluth team, Neal Pionk is going to have a busy phone line the day that the Bulldogs season ends. Pionk has made a name for himself in the very tough NCHC as a fleet-footed two-way defenseman. Though he’s not big, Pionk isn’t afraid to play an in-your-face physical game and uses his strong skating ability to recover well defensively.
Where the sophomore has really shined this year, however, is on the offensive side of the ice. Pionk boasts an impressive slap shot and has made hay this season as the team’s power play quarterback. With 32 points in 38 games, Pionk finishes the year as the Bulldog’s third leading scorer and the seventh highest point scorer among NCAA defenseman.
Pionk is one of the younger players on this list, at just 21 years old. He has put up seven goals and 28 points in 34 games for the Bulldogs. Pionk is an excellent offensive defenceman. He has an absolute rocket of a slapshot from the point. He is also able to play the role of powerplay quarterback, possessing good poise with the puck, excellent vision and good passing skill. Pionk also uses this passing skill to start the transition game. He might be a little bit undersized, but Pionk is also good defensively. He is very gritty, willing to battle in front of the net and in the corners. His two-way game is helped quite a bit by his skating, which is top notch.
I'm a bit more optimistic after reading that. Never thought the Rangers want a top r-dman in return for Stepan as moron Brooks suggests. With Pionk and Zborovskiy in the wings, along with Graves and Day from the left side, defense is not an issue at all. The team needs to bring in a NHL ready or young proven big, centerman who can win draws along with a playoff type of powerforward winger capable of scoring dirty goals. This team is f'n soft. It's obvious. Also a number 1 for Stepan is a must. They need to give Clark more to find top talent in the draft.
