Jake Lechien was born when his father, Curtis, was within the eleventh season of his 16-year profession within the Nationwide Hockey League.
Since he was very younger, Leschyshyn hasn’t had many vivid reminiscences of what life was like with an NHL participant for dad. He does bear in mind his days off across the rink, nevertheless, when his dad was working and sitting within the gymnasium watching films on a DVD participant. Even when his father retired in 2005, Leschyshyn was nonetheless across the NHL scene since Curtis stepped into the function of coloration analyst for the group he performed most of his profession for, the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche.
“We discuss lots each day,” Lechichin advised the Submit of his father after coaching on Sunday. He is a scout for Avs now, so he is busy in his sport part. However he makes time to look at all my video games, which is very nice. He is a man who will not throw a variety of, ‘It’s a must to do that and that.’ He all the time checks in and treats me like a professional. He Cool in that regard as a result of it is simply throwback concepts.”
Curtis Lechien, chosen third general by the Nordiques within the 1988 draft earlier than enjoying 1,033 video games, was a defensive participant. His son was drafted within the second spherical (62nd general) by the Golden Knights in 2017 as a middle out of the Western Hockey League. Clearly the hockey affect was there, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to steer Leschyshyn away from what he loves most concerning the sport.
“I feel from a younger age I’ve all the time been a striker,” he mentioned. “Possibly not the larger man, I do not know if that performed it in any respect or something. Possibly after I was younger I all the time loved scoring targets, so hopefully I can return to that.”
Rangers hope so, too.
Lechichin skated in his fourth straight sport for the Rangers on Monday evening towards the Panthers because the membership eliminated the 23-year-old from Vegas’ waiver wire on Jan. 11. The transfer adopted two accidents to the striker. group, however the Rangers elected to maintain Lechicine regardless of the returning Chris Crider and Julien Gauthier. The Rangers waived Johnny Brudzinski and later despatched him again to AHL Hartford as a substitute, after the 29-year-old had held 5 video games.
It was the primary time Leschyshyn had modified groups mid-season on the NHL degree. The final time that occurred, he was traded from the Regina Pats to the Lethbridge Hurricanes within the WHL throughout the 2018-19 season. It has been a loopy week, Lechichin mentioned, however he appears like he is lastly beginning to calm down.
Leschyshyn performed elements of two seasons with the Golden Knights, scoring two targets and 4 assists in 63 video games. He is been ineffective over 22 video games this season, which has led to him being waived by Vegas. Nonetheless, Leschyshyn does not count on his sport to vary a lot regardless of the brand new background.
Leschyshyn is seeking to play a constant two-way central man, needs to be trusted defensively, have the ability to kill penalties and win encounters. These are the methods he feels he can set up himself in New York, however he additionally needs to construct on them, whether or not offensively or in different areas.
“I used to be overjoyed,” Lechichin mentioned of his preliminary response when he discovered the Blues had claimed him. “Any workforce might have taken me, so coming right here was the perfect case state of affairs. I’ve by no means been to New York or performed for MSG or something, however I simply heard about what a tremendous expertise it was. So having the ability to name it my dwelling now may be very thrilling.” “.