But there’s clearly something brewing here between the coaching staff and the rookie defenseman, who has been a spark for the power play but struggles in his own end. The fact this was the second time Addison has been sat over a three-month span means it’s a recurring problem; in December it was for just one game. And it seems as though Addison doesn’t completely agree with the coach’s assessment. Coaches told him he was playing “scared,” and not engaging.
“I’m not scared out there,” Addison said.
But one thing is for certain: Coach Dean Evason’s
advice to watch captain Jared Spurgeon is something Addison needs to take seriously. If anyone knows about being a shutdown defender as a smaller guy, it’s Spurgeon, who is two inches shorter.
If Addison is watching Spurgeon, that’s one thing. But he’s surely not fully taking advantage of a potential goldmine of a resource.
“He never really comes over to ask anything,” Spurgeon said.
Spurgeon wasn’t being critical. He did say he’s talked with Addison on a number of occasions, pointing out things in practice and stuff like that. He brought up issues he himself had in his first few seasons.
“Not groundbreaking stuff,” Spurgeon said. “But maybe stuff you’re not thinking about.”
