When the Arizona Coyotes acquired Lawson Crouse from the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2016, many pundits wondered why the Panthers were giving up on the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
The Mt. Brydges, Ontario, product put together a solid junior career with the Kingston Frontenacs and was named to the 2015 and 2016 Canadian World Junior clubs.
Like many young hockey players, Crouse’s adjustment to professional game has taken some seasoning in the minors. In his second professional season, Crouse has put up a respectable 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points in 50 games with Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.
On Friday night, Crouse scored that tenth goal of the season in style. After receiving a bouncing pass in the neutral zone, Crouse chipped it around an Iowa Wild defender to himself, then swatted the puck with his backhand to elevate it before batting it out of mid-air.
Wow.
The fact that he passes it to himself and then props it up in the air before smashing it in is very impressive. Channel your inner baseball player or Sidney Crosby-like attributes, Lawson. Not to mention, he completely blows by the defender in style, and finishes it with authority.
The Roadrunners went on to win the game 6-4 and improved their Pacific Division leading record to 37-18-5-1 on the year.
(h/t Tucson RoadRunners)
