Shipley not going anywhere during NHL draft

[Digger]

Shipley not going anywhere during NHL draft
Posted By BILL WALKER, SUN TIMES SPORTS EDITOR


Steven Shipley can't wait to hear his name called at the National Hockey League entry draft.

But unlike most draft-ranked players, Shipley will hear his name called from the comforts of his living room couch.

The Owen Sound Attack centre has opted to stay home and watch this weekend's draft on TV quietly with his family.

"We talked to people who've been there year after year and they all said that it's best to just stay home and wait there," the 18-year-old Ilderton native said Tuesday. "It's just something we decided as a family that we're going to stay here. My agent said he'll take over after the (NHL) combine and I'll just sit back here and wait for the name call."

Like most big guys, Shipley doesn't always look like he's working hard on the ice. That issue of consistency each night has turned into a knock against him.

"I definitely heard that during the combine process and the weeks leading up to the draft," said Shipley, who had 23 goals and 40 assists in 68 games last season.

"I go out there and try to do the best I can every shift and every game. I certainly don't go out there and not try to do my best or not work hard. It can be perceived that way sometimes because I am a bigger guy. I just have to show that I work hard every shift, every night."

But the issue of consistency continues to dog him.

"He has the physical toolset and the ability, but if there's a knock from the NHL's standpoint is that they're looking for more consistency from him," Attack coach Mark Reeds said.

"They've brought that up at some of the meetings with him so he knows what he has to improve on."

Shipley did some of his best work when sniper Joey Hishon was sidelined with various injuries this season.

"When he was out we were playing against the top defence-men every night and I was able to have some of my best production so that's something I take pride in," said Shipley. "To have the opportunity to be part of an NHL team is something I've dreamed about for a long, long time now. It's the start of hopefully something bigger and better. You just don't want to stop with being drafted. You want to go on from there." Shipley's size -- six-foot-two,

205 pounds -- and his skating ability make him an interesting prospect for NHL teams.

"Teams have high expectations for him and maybe the bar's raised a little high before anyone even sees him," said Attack general manager Dale DeGray. "I thought that when Joey was injured, Ship did a remarkable job because now he had to play against everyone's top checker, top line and top defensive pairing. He actually had the bulk of his points during that time so I thought he did a great job."

That performance has DeGray convinced that Shipley has a future as a pro.

"I believe he'll be an NHL player," said DeGray. "It might take longer than he anticipated but ultimately I feel he'll be a solid NHL player."

[CHL Watcher]

Lots of talent.

Way too soft.

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Shipley must get stronger to be like ThorntonThursday, 06.24.2010 / 9:01 AM / 2010 NHL Entry Draft By Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Staff Writer ShareOne of the first thing young adults learn when entering the job market is who you know is just as important as what you know.

Owen Sound Attack center Steven Shipley has taken that lesson to heart. A 6-foot-2, 205-pound playmaker, he spent part of last summer skating with Hart and Art Ross trophy winner Joe Thornton. It helps that the pair hail from nearby towns -- Thornton is from London, Ont., while Shipley is from neighboring Ilderton.

And there's also this: "My agent is John Thornton, his brother," Shipley told NHL.com.

Like we said, it's who you know.

Shipley is working on building his own name this season. Ranked No. 43 by NHL Central Scouting on its final list of North American skaters available for the 2010 Entry Draft, he had 23 goals and 63 points in 68 games.

He's taken advantage of the summer shinny games with Thornton to admire the way the five-time NHL All-Star plays.

"Just the way he sees the ice and reads the play," Shipley said. "His wingers that are out there, they have to be ready because he's going to put the puck on their sticks. He's one of the top playmakers in the NHL right now. … It's one of those things where he wouldn't be looking at you and there it would be right on your tape and you'd be right in front of the net."

Shipley is working to replicate those qualities in his own game.

"Steven is a hard-working guy who knows how to play a role," Central Scouting's Chris Edwards, who specializes in OHL prospects, told NHL.com. "He is an excellent penalty killer, knows how to get himself between the shooter and the net. He blocks a lot of shots. He uses his size very well and protects the puck and he will take it to the net."

Owen Sound coach Mark Reeds has used Shipley at center and left wing, and he's also a key penalty killer.

"He's a big, strong center, and we've been using him on left wing, he has some versatility," Reeds told NHL.com. "He's a powerful, strong skater with good skills. He can take the puck to the net, and defensively he's another guy we rely on heavily for penalty killing."

Much like Thornton, who is big and strong but not necessarily known as a physical player -- although Thornton finished 2009-10 with a career-best 113 hits, it was the first time he's broken triple-figures in the category -- Shipley believes his game will improve if he can add more of an edge to his game.

"I think I need a more physical edge to my game, be more of a physical presence out there, be a little more nasty, finish my checks," Shipley said.

Turning into that kind of player is accomplished, Reeds said, in two ways.

"It's just engaging (physically) more often," he said. "Just get him to engage. We want him to engage as much as possible. Make the physical contact, use your body, to be taking pucks away from people, turning on people, using your size and strength as an advantage. … It's really about just continuing to impress on him to engage and continue to get involved."

There's also a confidence factor that comes into play with work off the ice, which Reeds said Shipley also is learning about.

"I think all the young guys have to continue to get into the gym," he said. "A lot of young guys don't realize how incredible the human body is and how much it can do. It's getting bigger and stronger and working on your conditioning. We would like to see him be a bull in a china shop."

Shipley has heard those words and has tried to put them into his game.

"I've never been a guy that's ran around looking for hits, but that's something they expect from you at the next level, to finish your checks, and that's what I need to work on," he said.

Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com

[hllywd99]

If Hish went 17th, Ship will be taken way before #45 just my opinion he just has to get a little nasty in his blood.

[OffTheWingClapper]

WOW. I was surprised Steven went fourth round 98th overall. Steven has more pro potential than alot that went before him.

[hllywd99]

If Hish went 17th, Ship will be taken way before #45 just my opinion he just has to get a little nasty in his blood.

Damn I suck at this!

[Yogi Bear]

I see the problem after reading that last article.Steven needs to train with someone else.Thorton is probably top 3-4 in the league in size and strength,problem is he plays 6 inches and 50 lbs lighter than he is.Steven couldbe adopting these habits.Maybe he should train with someone like a Matt Cooke?If he could develop that kind of mentality he would be unstoppable.

[CHL Watcher]

That's a good observation ...very true.