Age: 19
Position: Left Wing
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 202 lb
Handedness: Left
Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Overview
Jason Connors spent the majority of his career playing at center before switching to the left wing a season and a half ago to get more playing time. This position change has worked out for Connors thus far but any prospective teams will need to keep a close eye on his progress at the position to ensure that he is not lagging behind other players who have spent more time at the position.
Pros
Size: While lacking the height of some of his fellows, Connors makes up for it with the weight his frame has. His large body allows him to push smaller players off the puck and conversely protects the puck from being easily stolen while in his possession. In addition, it gives his body checks that little extra punch that can turn an average hit into a hard one. Connors is aware of the advantage his larger than average size gives him and uses it whenever he can. If he is able to get favorable match ups with smaller wingers, he can dictate the play along the wing.
Passing: Connors is the rare player that enjoys setting up a play just as much, if not more than, finishing it. He has demonstrated on multiple occasions his ability to find the open man and deliver the puck to them, be it through a pass along the boards or passed through the legs of a defender. When presented with the possibility of taking a hit and delivering a successful pass or avoiding the hit and delivering a pass that is more likely to be picked off, Connors will choose the successful pass and the hit nine times out of ten. His delivery is crisp and controlled, giving the recipients more time to take their shots instead of trying to reposition the puck on their sticks.
Shooting: Connors is just as capable of scoring goals as he is in setting them up. His wrist shot is mechanically sound and more accurate than some of his contemporaries, giving him a slight edge when it comes to scoring on more difficult opportunities. The one downside to his wrist shot is the lower than average speed but this can be improved with time. When he has space to shoot, Connors prefers to wind up into a slap shot that has surprising speed. Of the 274 shots Connors took last season, 107 were classified as slap shots. Of the 23 goals he scored last season, 11 came when Connors shot with a slap shot. If he develops accuracy to go along with his power on the slap shot, Connors could become a reliable long range shooter.
Weaknesses
Converted Player: Connors has spent the large majority of his career playing center and it shows on the ice. On extended offensive and defensive possessions, he will sometimes lapse back into his habits as a center and drive for the net, leaving the left wing weakened. He also lacks some of the technical finesse other left wingers possess at this stage of their careers, though to his credit this is something he realizes and is making extended efforts to correct.
Recklessness: As much as his body is an asset, Connors has allowed it to negatively affect his mentality on the ice. He flies into corners at high speeds and does not pull back from hits. This works for him while he maintains a size advantage over opponents but when he is inevitably confronted with players who are able to match or overcome his physical play through either physicality or finesse, it puts him on the back foot while he tries to adapt. When he is unable to fully adapt to those players, Connors' impact on the game is dramatically decreased. If his recklessness is not tempered, Connors will inevitably take more hits than necessary over the course of his career.
Discipline: Connors has had trouble with penalties in the past, accruing 152 penalty minutes across the last two seasons. This mental issue appears mostly when Connors is being outmatched by opposition, resulting in him taking desperate and unnecessary risks that inevitably lead to time spent in the penalty box. On a select few occasions, his temper has gotten the better of him and Connors delivered hits that resulted in suspensions and fines. Coaches will have to work with Connors on these disciplinary issues, though it might take some time before those efforts bear fruit.
Final Thoughts
Jason Connors is a very hit-or-miss sort of player. He will either outmatch his opponent with his body and workable technical skills and be able to dictate the pace of the game along the left wing or his opponent will be able to beat this combination and dictate the pace themselves. At his best, Connors is a valuable asset no matter which line he is placed on. At his worst, Connors is a liability on the left wing. Future coaches will need to work with Connors to establish consistency in his game if they want to get the best player they can.
S66 OFF-SEASON SCHEDULE
Dates Subject to Change
Sunday, June 30th
Depreciation
S67 Finance TPE Cut-Off (all TPE earned, up to, and including, this date will affect salary brackets for S67)
Experience Points Allocated
Monday, July 1st
Canada Day
S66 VHLM Achievement Tracker TPE Awarded
S66 VHLM Awards Ceremony
Tuesday, July 2nd
S66 ALL-VHLM TEAMS
S67 VHLM Entry Draft @ 830PM EST
Wednesday, July 3rd
S67 VHL Entry Draft @ 8PM EST
Free Agent Discussions Open @ 11PM EST
Thursday, July 4th
Free Agency Opens @ Noon EST
S66 VHL Awards Ceremony
Training Camps Open
World Cup Day 1
World Cup Day 2
Friday, July 5th
S66 Hall of Fame Induction
World Cup Day 3
World Cup Day 4
Saturday, July 6th
World Cup Day 5
World Cup Quarter Finals
Sunday, July 7th
67 VHLM TPE Cut-Off (Any players who have earned 201 TPE or more, up to and including this date, will no longer be eligible to play in the VHLM for S67 - Training Camp may not be claimed after this date if you are at the Cap; if you are within 10, you may claim up to the cap, i.e. If you are at 194, you may claim 6 TPE from Training Camp)
World Cup Semi-Finals
Monday, July 8th
S67 VHL Pre-Season Starts
Pre-Season Retirement (Players can re-create for S68 and still play S67)
World Cup Bronze & Gold Medal Games
Tuesday, July 9th
S67 VHL/VHLM Indexes Posted
Wednesday, July 10th
S67 VHL/VHLM Regular Season Begins
Training Camps Close
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