Winston-Salem, North Carolina hardly has the reputation for being Hockey Town. It might take a peg up or two in the hockey birthplaces register if Patrick O'Sullivan has the kind of career that we project he's headed towards.
O'Sullivan has been nothing short of sensational for the high-flying Aeros in his first pro campaign, leading all AHL rookies in points and goals with 31 and counting. He has established himself as the head of a very good AHL rookie class.
He didn't exactly sneak up on anyone, having hit the 30 goal mark in each of his four junior seasons, as well as his one year with the U.S. Under-17 Nationals.
Even O’Sullivan admits that he wasn't sure what to expect after turning professional.
"I didn't have any expectations on myself," he said. "I just wanted to come in and play as well as I could. I think it's been a good year for myself. I've learned a lot so far, and I think I've improved my overall game quite a bit. I didn't know what to expect, coming in. It's hard to, when you haven't played pro hockey before. It took me a few games to get used to it, plus I had was coming off an injury in training camp. That kind of slowed me down a bit at the start. But once I got a feel for things, and started to get my confidence, it's gone well.
O'Sullivan's game, which has benefited from an excellent veteran supporting cast in Houston, is still in need of plenty of refinement.
"I think he's elevated his game in the AHL," said Aeros bench boss Rob Daum, who is in charge of O'Sullivan's incubation, "and we need for him to continue to do that. But things will get tougher. He's going to have to continue to excel offensively, but he's going to be consistent and solid defensively, too because, your (scoring) numbers are only going to take you so far."
Minnesota seems in no hurry to rush him up. This could be in part due to the only chink in his armor coming out of the junior ranks: Clashes with coaches and some maturity issues found their way into the evaluations. The Wild seem to be looking for Patrick to develop a bit more in the AHL between the ears as well as on the ice.
Better to master the fine points in Houston, then have to learn them under the critical eye of Jacques Lemaire, the Wild's flinty head man with little tolerance for back-talk or shenanigans. Although in his mind, the quicker Patrick gets to Minnesota, the better.
"Obviously it's the goal," he said. "(But) being one step away is a good feeling. You grow up wanting to be an NHL player, and being drafted is the first step. Then starting your pro career is the next step. Hopefully sooner than later I can get up there."
- Dan Hickling
