Kyle Connor arrives in Ann Arbor ready to deal with high expectations
By @MichaelCaples –
ANN ARBOR – When Red Berenson was asked about his team’s offensive leaders for the 2015-16 season, he said his team could have up to four 15-goal scorers.
Three of them are returning players – Alex Kile, JT Compher and Tyler Motte.
The fourth, Kyle Connor, is only a freshman, but he’s coming in with the highest of expectations.
“You hate to pigeon-hole a kid, but he’s a Dylan Larkin-type player, even though he’s a winger,” Berenson said of the latest first-round NHL draft pick to join the UM hockey program. “He’s a speedster, you’ll notice when he gets the puck that he can skate, he handles the puck well and he can score. I’ve been really impressed with the kid so far, and he did it last year in USHL, he not only led the league in scoring, but he was the player of the year. He was the real deal in that league, and when you come out of that league with that kind of momentum, you’re ready to play at this level.”
Connor, a Shelby Township native, claimed USHL and USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year awards after his remarkable campaign with the Youngstown Phantoms. That led to him being selected 17th overall in this summer’s NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
Those accolades, along with the fact that he used to play with Larkin at Belle Tire and topped the Red Wings prospect in scoring, have led to lofty Larkin-like comparisons by those inside and out of the UM program.
The reigning USHL player of the year isn’t letting the pressure get to him, however.
“I think, for me, just working hard in the gym over here and on the ice in practice as well…just playing the game the way I’ve been playing my whole life, the points and stats will kind of come themselves,” he said Monday.
While he won’t be skating alongside Larkin – Connor said “it bummed me out” when he heard Larkin was leaving – he does have another Belle Tire teammate in the locker room with him. Zach Werenski, who faced his own pro-or-another-year decision of his own, is back in Ann Arbor, ready to help Connor through his lofty expectations.
“He handles it well himself,” Werenski said. “He’s a mature kid. I think he will handle those expectations well. I tell him if he needs anything just to come talk to me. Being a sophomore, I feel like I’ve been through it a little bit. But yeah, he’s going to be compared to Dylan a lot, but I just tell him to not worry about that and go out there and play his game. He’s a great player, so just go out there and play.”
As far as his skill set, Werenski has confidence that Connor’s going to excel at the NCAA level.
“He’s someone who can always find the back of the net,” Werenski said. “He can always get on the scoresheet. He’s a very dynamic player. I think on Belle Tire he always led our team in points. I know it’s Michigan Hockey and college hockey now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he found his way up there again. That’s just the type of player and who he is. He’s a great person off the ice too, it will be good to have him in the locker room. He kind of brings a calming energy to the room, which is nice.”
Berenson isn’t concerned about how he’ll handle the pressure, either.
“I don’t think so. He’s not that kind of kid. He’ll be anxious to play, but I don’t think he’s going to be wired too tight. He’s confident, he’s coming in with confidence and momentum.”
For Connor, the first few weeks of his collegiate career have been enjoyable.
“It’s really exciting just to kind of get here. I had been committed for a long time, and to finally be here, be around the team, be around the coaches, it’s exciting.
“No surprises. Obviously balancing school at the University of Michigan, it’s prestigious and well known for its academics. For hockey, it’s an adjustment for the first couple weeks, but it’s going well.”
He’s appreciative of Werenski’s guidance through the process, as well.
“He’s helped me a tremendous amount, whether it be school – tips on a teacher or homework – and on the ice, as well.”
Connor’s also getting used to playing for the Wolverines’ legendary head coach. He admitted there was a little bit of intimidation there when he showed up on campus.
“Yeah, a little bit when you first meet him. Now that I’ve had some practices and team meetings, I feel a little more comfortable.
“He’s really smart, just in anything that he’s talking about. On the hockey side of it, really attention to detail, and I’ve learned a lot already.”
Berenson said that Connor has gotten stronger during his USHL days, and dropped in another Larkin comparison while doing so.
“Physically, he’s stronger than he was,” Berenson said. “He’s one of those kids, he played in that league as a 16-year-old. He was just skin and bones when he started. He’s a wiry kid, he’s a little bit like Dylan, he’s wiry strong, he’s just going to get stronger the longer he’s here.”
A little bit like Dylan – if that holds true, the Wolverines will be in good shape for the 2015-16 season.