Panthers prospect Owen Tippett needs to get defensive to take next ste

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. While going through the draft proce s last year one of the knocks on Owen Tippett was his defensive play. If hes not scoring, he doesnt bring much else to the table, said ISS Hockey Scouting Director Dennis MacInnis at the time. Added scout Ben Gallant: Will need to improve effectivene s in defensive zone. Two NHL camps later and Tippett is back in Mi si sauga hearing a familiar refrain his 200-foot game needs work. Selected 10th overall at the 2017 NHL Draft, Tippett surprised many by making the Florida Panthers opening night roster last October. He skated in seven games and registered his first NHL goal in a win over the Anaheim Ducks before being returned to the Ontario Hockey Leagues Mi si sauga Steelheads. The six-foot-one, 200-pound winger went on to score 36 goals and match a career-best 75 points in 51 OHL contests. He got another taste of pro hockey when he joined the American Hockey Leagues Springfield Thunderbirds for the conclusion of their season registering a goal and an a sist in five games. As a result, the organization had high expectations for the Peterborough, Ont. native heading into the 2018-19 season. I expect him to come to camp and fight for a job, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon . MORE : You know, hes a great shooter, no one can shoot the puck better than this kid. He loves to shoot it, and weve got a lot of playmakers that can give him the puck. So were gonna give him every opportunity to make our team. However, with the off-season addition of Mike Hoffman the Panthers iced a Jon Casey Jersey deep group of forwards in the preseason leaving Tippett on the outside looking in. The club returned Tippett to the OHL last week where he notched three goals and two a sists in two Steelheads victories. The move came as a lot sooner than Mi si sauga head coach and general manager James Richmond was expecting. Yeah I was surprised. Was surprised and hes disappointed and Im disappointed for him, Richmond toldSporting News. But its my job now to get him working on things Florida wants him to work on. What the Panthers want him working on is clear. We know what he can do with the puck, but we want him to get a little bit better without the puck, Panthers .We sat down, had a heart to heart, showed him a lot of video...things he has to take back with him and work on. Six days after the move back to Mi si sauga, the disappointment of the transaction was still evident on TIppetts face. Its a busine s up there and it goes further than just whats on the ice, Tippett told the Sporting News. Theyre looking for certain things and they thought it would be best if I come back for another year. Prior to leaving Florida, Tippett studiedthe Sept. 22 preseason game against the Stars. Tippett had an a sist in the Panthers 4-3 overtime win. We were just going over some video of what he expects me to do and scenarios during the game, Tippett explained. Going over what I couldve done instead of what I did do. Just going over pointers to leave with and things to focus on. MORE: The 19-year-old is an offensive threat with a shot that resembles that of Phil Ke sel it has helped him score 95 goals and 170 points in 159 games over his first three OHL seasons. But his defensive game has routinely been an i sue he was a minus-6 in seven games with the Panthers last season. Richmond feels he has a cure for what ails his star forwards defensive woes. Im going to force feed him penalty killing cause penalty killing, youre desperate, Richmond said. Youre already a man down, some times two men down, and if you cant go out and defend in a shorthanded situation, then youre going to be in trouble 5-on-5 so hes going to learn that. Tippett who saw minimal penalty killing responsibilities last season was on a pairing with Edmonton Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod at times during Sundays 4-1 win over the Kingston Frontenacs. Just dont lose my guy in the defensive zone and kind of working back harder, Tippett said of his defensive focus. Obviously, I know I can produce on the offensive front so Im kind of changing my focus to being on the defensive side, and its a mindset that I want to pursue. Chase Wheatcroft Jersey