Because of the difficult situation they have created for themselves with regard to the salary cap, the Minnesota Wild are going to need the emergence of youthful talent over the course of the next couple of seasons. They seem to have found themselves a top power-play quarterback and a superb puck-mover from the back end in the form of Calen Addison, who has just joined the team.
There is still work to be done by Addison in his own end, and the coaching staff of Minnesota will take whatever steps are necessary to straighten that up. However, the young defender has been leading the offense from the defensive position for the squad through the first three games of the season.
Following his effort on Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche, which earned them the right to defend their Cup title, he moved into a tie for the scoring lead among all first-year players in the league. The young Canadian is being set up for success in the Wild lineup in the hopes that he will take advantage of the opportunity.
The maturation of Addison’s game offensively is what makes him an intriguing rookie so early in the season. He has always had a certain element of flash and flair in his game, showcasing his offensive prowess going back to his junior year, but it is this maturation that makes him an intriguing rookie. He is aware of when it is OK to play showtime hockey and when it is more appropriate to play more conservatively.