Jass is Huge in Sophomore Season (MIP Candidate??)

[TheFlash 317]

Last season, Hugh Jass had a moderately successful rookie season. He scored 31 points in 72 games. Just a few points shy of a half point per game. He also was a leader on New York in the plus/minus category, an impressive but overlooked accomplishment. But as with every rookie, especially one drafted in the first round, there are certain expectations put on the player to make a jump. To take that leap in year two. A leap that says, "You didn't waste your pick, I'm a more than serviceable player who can lead this team". Luckily for NYA management, Jass didn't just take a leap this year, he vaulted expectations. The season started off relatively quiet for Jass. He had just one goal in his first 25 games! Then a trade happened, and Jass saw his numbers sky rocket. On June 3rd, the Americans dealt defenceman Fred Elmebeck to the Toronto Legion. This move opened a ton of playing time for Jass, leaving the Americans with just three defenders. This move didn't just effect Jass, it changed the entire season outlook for the Americans. At the time, NYA was playing just under .500 hockey, at 11-11-3. Post trade, the Americans went 27-15-3, shooting them into the third seed in the North American Conference. Jass took advantage of his team's increased success, scoring 36 points (ten of which were goals) in the remaining 47 games. 

 

Pre Trade              Post Trade

       25         GP            47

        1            G             10

        11          A              26

        12          P             36

        5          +/-            16

       55         Hits          61

       49         SB           105

       35       Shots         89

 

 

As you can see by the chart above, Jass' play took a jump to that next level when the trade was made. Every category, save for hits, saw an increase of at least 20%. Having one less defender gave Jass more room to breath on the blueline. With a lot of production coming from the other defenders on the team (Flowers finished with 70 points and MGS had 64), having one less body to compete with really allowed Jass to blossom. "I really felt like it gave a boost to my confidence", Jass said, "Seeing that the team believed in my abilities enough to keep me on and run with three defenders, that meant a lot". General Manager Ess Oh seemed pleased when asked what he thought about the surprise surge in Jass' play, "We're thrilled with Hugh's season. We made a gamble, giving up Elmebeck, but having someone like Hugh step up and fill the void that was left is exactly what we had hoped would happen. Couldn't be happier with his development and we're excited for his future".

 

Compared to last season, this was a big jump for Jass. He saw large increases in every stat across the board. The biggest jumps being points (31<48), shots (72<124) and hits (61<116).

 

Jass carries the puck up the ice during a game against the Seattle Bears

 

It remains to be seen if Jass will carry this production into next season. The addition of a fourth defenceman could certainly affect his chances. The club has no first round pick, so it's unlikely they acquire another defenceman in the draft that will be VHL ready next season. They may choose to sign one in Free Agency, as they did with Scott a few seasons ago. The upcoming expansion draft also throws a wrench into this, as it is possible that they lose a defender in the draft. 

 

 

Edited June 27, 2020 by TheFlash