When Trent Hunter finished his first full season in the NHL, I, among many other Islander fans expected him to be someone who could score 25-30 goals a season and lead the league in hits, while becoming a leader in the locker room.
Well, as Meat Loaf once sang, “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad.â€
Despite not scoring the amount of goals many people think he is capable of, Hunter has consistently been in the top ten in hits every season and is quietly becoming a leader on the Islanders. As a matter of fact, when Bill Guerin retires or signs somewhere else, I see either Brendan Witt or him becoming the next captain of this team.
Not the best skater in the world or the most flashy, Hunter is exactly what the Islanders claim to be in ads online and in the posters all over the Nassau Coliseum. Every night, he personifies, grit, character and heart. However, like most of the players on the team last season, Hunter had problems putting the puck in the net and despite playing hard all season and setting a new career-high in assists, many were disappointed in his overall play.
Others however feel that Hunter falls into the category of players like Richard Park, who work so hard on the ice that their offensive production is simply a benefit and that they should not be counted on for points. I however feel that the day Hunter is put into the same category as Park, it’s a sad one for Trent Hunter.
Nothing against Park, who had a great season last year, but he doesn’t have the size and potential of Hunter. With his strength and nose for the net, he should be scoring 20-25 goals a season. Park is a guy that kills penalties, buzzes around the ice all night long and takes advantage of mistakes by the opposition, He also takes a lot of shots for a fourth liner, hence his amount of goals last season.
Hunter, on the other hand, has the ability of taking his game to the next level if he continues to take the body and more importantly, finishes offensively. His shooting percentage was a deplorable 5.4 percent last season, meaning if he shot 10.8, which could still be considered average, he would have scored 24 goals. His rookie season, he shot 13.4 percent, which induced a 25-goal season. If he would have got that last season, he would have been around the 30-goal mark.
Also, he’s shown some kind of pattern in his game that every other year, his shooting percentage gets cut in half and he can’t get to 20 goals, where he belongs. In order for him to take his game to the next level, Hunter is also going to have to try and find a level of consistency. Otherwise, he like the Islanders, will be forced to revel in mediocrity.
Photo by NHL Media
Posted under Offseason 2008
This post was written by Patrick Hickey, Jr. on August 21, 2008
I see your point, and myself along with many others would love to see Trent score more. The problem I don’t think is his shooting, but rather his speed. He is just really damn slow, and because of that he never holds onto the puck. Remember, he scored all those goals in a slower NHL. Unfortunately, I think a realistic expectation for Hunter is 15-20 goals.
Twenty well-timed goals would be good.
too damn slow i say under 10, and if we can get a fast winger for him, i say do it. cos he will only get slower.
OMG Joe, you just broke my heart!
And yes, Joyce, I totally agree 20 goals is where he should be. 25 again would be sweet though. Yeah, he’s slow, but he’s so goddamn strong. We’ll see if his speed picks up a bit under Gordon’s tutelage because I know he likes to play a fast game.
Couple of things: 1) Pat my Brother there are 4 billion on the planet do me a favor choose on of them to Damn rather then He who has created it all. 2) Joe in no way shape or form do we trade this guy, he will be a 20-30 goal scorer in this league, his hard work will reap success. I loved his game last year, would a few more goal have been nice? of course but I believe in this guy watch and see. Oh and Pat he would look good with the “C” no question…