Scott Wheeler does a series for the Athletic called “The Gifted”, focusing on prospects who have an extraordinary talent that separates them from the pack. He does 10 per year. Last year he focused on Necas’ use of speed bursts to create openings for playmaking. This year, #10 is Patrick Puistola.
Article goes into a lot of detail (and a lot of video) about Puistola’s talent for carrying the puck to develop scoring chances. Key skills include baiting the defense/goalie by showing them the puck for a split-second, leaning on his edges to make quick cuts to the slot without losing control, and carrying the puck off faceoffs when most players would dump it to the point. The main takeaway is that he’s a player who needs the puck on his stick, and needs his linemates to be good away from the puck. When those factors align, he can make magic happen.
On the other side of the coin, he is a boom-or-bust prospect. 2019-20 went sideways for him as he never earned the trust of his coaches at Tappara and ended up bouncing between leagues. He certainly isn’t going to slot into a “safe” non-scoring role, so the trust and patience of his coaches is vital.
The Gifted: Hurricanes prospect Patrik Puistola controls the...