| NAME: |
Andrew Ladd |
| NHL/AHL: |
Carolina Hurricanes / Lowell Lock Monsters |
| POSITION: |
Left Wing |
| HT: |
6-2 |
| WT: |
200 |
| BIRTHDATE: |
December 12, 1985 |
| BIRTHPLACE: |
Maple Ridge, BC |
| DRAFT: |
Carolina, 2004, 1st Round, 4th OA |
| LAST AMATEUR CLUB: |
Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| SHOOTS: |
Left |
Andrew Ladd heads a crop of blue-chip power forwards who should soon make a huge impact in the NHL. He was on track to crack the Carolina Hurricanes lineup, after making an early season splash with the Lowell Lock Monsters, but suffered a torn knee ligament in his first callup.
"It came at a tough time," Ladd said, "because I was rolling pretty good. But that's hockey. It's how you come back from those things that will make you a better player."
He sat out six weeks following surgery, but in his first games back, split between the Canes and Lowell, Ladd showed no ill effects.
"It's just getting back to where I want it to be," he said, "It's been an adjustment getting the jump back into my legs. I'm still not as strong as I want to be, but it's coming back a little more everyday."
Chosen fourth overall in 2004, Ladd has all the makings of a top-flight force on the wing. He's strong on his skates, can make the play from the corner, and is a handful in front of the net.
"Right from the get-go, they've showed great confidence in me," he said, "and they've been putting me in situations where I could learn. It's been a pretty good situation. I just want to make sure I'm living up to their expectations of what they know what I can do, and what I know I can do."
It goes without saying that Carolina's hopes for Ladd are sky-high, but he feels that his progress will come by grasping the small details.
"It's obviously a big step from amateur to pro," he said. "I think one thing I need to do is to keep my feet moving the whole time. And at that top level your defense has to be rock solid. So just making sure I'm improving on that, and fine tuning everything else."
- Dan Hickling
