Suter doing his part for Predators
The winning and the closeness of those wins has been the talk among Nashville Predators fans, but quietly and steadily a young player is progressing as he should.
That youngster is defenseman Ryan Suter. He has been teamed with both Dan Hamhuis and Marek Zidlicky this season. And with each game he becomes more and more adjusted to life in the NHL. If he has any problems Brent Peterson, the Predators associate
coach, is there to help.
“I don’t want to put him into situations he can’t handle yet,” said Peterson. “I’m very guarded about putting him into situations he is not ready for. I don’t like it to be too much too fast.”
Peterson has slowly moved Suter into the mix on the penalty kill and power play.
“Ryan is doing it all now,” said Peterson. “He is learning. He has been great. He has a long way to go, but 24 games into his NHL career he has been great. He has had to do the penalty kill. I feel confident in him and he is going to get more ice time. Now it is a matter of him doing it every night consistently.”
One thing Suter must deal with is getting used to playing in new buildings. Tonight at 6 he gets a look at another new arena when the Predators continue their string of games against Eastern Conference teams in a meeting with the Washington Capitals.
“He has to go out and communicate and learn,” said Peterson. “The more he sees the buildings and learns about the players and the league, he won’t have to rely on his teammates. He will have the skill and know-how to do what he has to do.”
Suter still has work to do. He must work his size and strength. He is only 20 years old. He has 196 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame.
“Ryan is going to get stronger and stronger,” said Peterson. “When he gets his confidence and gets his strength up I will be able to put him in all situations sooner or later.”
Penalties have also been an issue. The reduction in penalties will come with experience.
“That’s a matter of strength and technique,” said Peterson. “It’s about knowing what they are going to call and knowing the league. We are all doing that.”
Two seasons ago Peterson was helping Hamhuis chart his course in his first season in the NHL. Lessons learned through that tutelage are being carried over to Suter.
Making the job easier for Peterson is that Suter, like Hamhuis, is easy to coach.
“Ryan is a great kid and a very motivated young man,” said Peterson. “He knows what he wants and those guys are easier to coach. He listens. He works in practice. He has taken what we have all said to him. With experience he is going to be a great player for a long time.”
