A Look at Taylor Pyatt

Alright, so the last time I      was here, I spoke about a  potential addition to New  Jersey that could really help  this team out next year. I  discussed the benefits of  signing Petr Sykora again.  Well, now I’m here to  discuss some more possibilities. How about Taylor Pyatt? He has never been an overwhelming force in this league, however, he has a lot of talent, and given the right situation I can really see him being a 20 goal scorer in a season. In the 2006-07 season with Vancouver, Pyatt had his first twenty goal season, with 23 goals, but only 14 assists. That was his best season to date and those are obviously not top performance kind of numbers. The bottom line with pyatt is that he has potential to advance his game further given the right circumstances. He has great size, standing at 6.04 and weighs about 230, so he can use his body to influence to flow of the game.

The Devils first and second lines are pretty much set, so anyone I consider to be a potentially good fit here in New Jersey, I am considering them to be roll players and be placed on third and fourth lines. Taylor Pyatt fits that description well. He fits well into the Devils mold of disciplined players, he has only 178 penalty minutes over a 4 season span (there are some guys in the league who come close that number in one season, some who go way over it).

The bad side to Pyatt, besides him not utilizing his best potential, is the tragedy that befell him late last season. His girlfriend (fiancee at the time) of many years was in a fatal car accident in Jamaica and it took quite a toll on Taylor. He missed the end of the regular season and some of the playoffs. When something like that happens to an athlete, two things can happen. Their play either suffers or they rise to the challenge and play above themselves. Perhaps this season Pyatt comes out to prove something and whoever signs him, gets a diamond in the rough.

From a fans perspective, I feel Pyatt would make a good addition to the fourth line for the Devils and would play well with Jay Pandolfo on the penalty killing unit. There is no telling how this guy will come out to play the upcoming season since that tragedy is still sitting with him, however, the man is a hockey player, and hockey players are the toughest SOB’s on the planet. I would take him on my team hands down. We will have to wait and see, more likely till close to training camp opens, to see who is close to signing Pyatt. But, like I said, he has a lot to offer the Devils needs right now and he can also develop in the right spot, to become a real mark for a team.