Everyone, including Scottie Upshall, agrees the 20-year-old's stay in the American League won't be long.
By: Tim Campbell
After a mediocre training camp with the Nashville Predators, Upshall was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals. But he's not about to start shopping for a house in Wisconsin.“I didn't have the best which I did last year by leading the team in scoring,” he said.
“Being down here, it's about being my best, playing hard, and catching a break so I can prove myself again in the NHL.”Expectations have been high for Upshall since he was drafted sixth overall in 2002. The gritty right winger with soft hands was expected by many to win an NHL job this season.
The Hockey News Scout says:
-“HE HAS THE GRIT AND INTENSITY TO PLAY ON THE TOP LINE. BUT HE'LL SCORE LIKE A SECOND-LINER.”
Upshall was a camp standout last season and cracked the opening-night roster. He played eight NHL games, scoring one goal, before being returned to Kamloops. Team Canada made Upshall its captain and he was the emotional leader of a squad that won a silver at the World Junior.
The Hockey News Future Watch 2003 slotted Upshall as the No. 8 prospect outside the NHL, setting the stage for what was projected to be a breakthrough year for the rookie pro.
Instead, Jordin Tootoo stole his NHL job with a smashing camp.
“My whole life,” Upshall said, “I've been pretty successful and always I wanted to take the short route to reach goals.
“I don't want to be down here too long. I want to prove I can be a first or second-line player in Nashville. I want to do that quickly.”
What's it going to take? Time, seasoning, and maybe an injury or two in Nashville.
“He's good on the walls, he skates well, he's very skilled,” said Admirals coach Claude Noel. “(The Predators) didn't tell him specifically, 'This is what you need to do.' “
Noel sees why the Predators are thrilled to have Upshall.
“The first thing that stands out is his leadership skills,” Noel said. “He comes across with a lot of confidence and poise as a young man and that comes out as soon as you meet him. The other thing I like is his work ethic.”
Noel shares the view that good things will happen to Upshall.
“He has had a great start here,” Noel said. “He has come down with a great attitude. If he plays well enough, we won't be able to keep him here.”