A natural goal scorer that possess a quality shot, he elevates his game in key situations. He tries to be the prototypical powerforward, but there is no way he can be the same in the NHL considering his size. A clutch scorer, I think his skating problems are slightly overrated, even though he does need work. I remember one goal where he literally snuck up on a defenseman and buried a pass. He does a very good job getting open. Unlike many fancy forwards, he won't amaze you with a brilliant end-to-end rush, but he will be an effective finisher on a odd-man-rush. Obviously, this makes him effective on the powerplay, although not as the quarterback.
Although he is not selfish with the puck, I have never seen him make a daring pass; he lacks elite hockey sense. However, he seems to be defensively responsible, although with better skating he would not be caught down low so much. Surprisingly, he plays a very legal, clean game; he never takes a dumb penatly. Considering his inferior speed, one would think that he would be hooking and holding all the time, he he has refrained from that. He could very well be a poor man's Luc Robataille. In a way he is like Brett Hull, but Voloshenko does not have as good a slap shot, nor does he use it as often. Like many, he cannot "create space;" he needs effective linemates. He has to be a secondary scoring threat on the first two lines. Since Gaborik, Sullivan, and Pouliot ahead of him, that is probably the role he will be asked to follow.
Pouliot and Voloshenko should form a very good 1-2 punch on the left wing. With a top-notch playmaking center (Koivu?), Pouliot and Voloshenko could line up on opposite wings and be an absolutely killer line. Actually, Minnesota could have two deadly powerplay-units in a few years:
Pouliot-Koivu-Voloshenko
Foster-Thelen
Gaborik-O'Sullivan-winger
Aiello-Burns(if hes playing defense, that is
)
Can wee see him play with the big Boys next season?
