Jake Dotchin making most of his first NHL chance

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
February 3 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Sometimes in the midst of a darkened season destined for doom, an unexpected bright spot shines a little light among the dinginess.

As the organization falls deeper down the standings with just one win in the past seven games and on the verge of seeing the season unofficially end long before many would have predicted, a handful of players have been brought up from Syracuse to make their NHL debuts.

The latest is defenseman Jake Dotchin, the fifth player this season to play their first career NHL game with the Lightning. Dotchin figures to stick around a little longer, earning a spot in the lineup on a regular basis as he’s set to appear in his sixth game since being called up with Tampa Bay hosts Anaheim on Saturday (7 p.m., Fox Sports Sun, 970-AM and tblpowerplay.com at Amalie Arena.

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A former sixth round pick in the 2012 draft, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenseman, the 22-year-old is in his third year since turning pro. After 155 games with Syracuse in the American Hockey League, Dotchin was recalled to join the team on the West Coast on Jan. 16.

His NHL debut came six days later at Gila River Arena against the Arizona Coyotes.

”It was definitely a dream come true and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,’’ Dotchin said. “I just have to keep playing the way I am, I think.’’

If he continues to play that way, he’ll find himself in a top four role the rest of the season. Because that’s the role he’s been playing, paired regularly on the right side next to Victor Hedman. His ice time and role have increased accordingly, reaching the 20-minute mark on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Dotchin was even out on the ice in the final minutes of the game as the Lightning tried to mount a comeback, picking up his first career point on Brayden Point’s goal.

With a mature looking game for a rookie, he’s quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.

”There is one thing about this team, it’s about meritocracy,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “So he’s earned the right to be here. We bring these guys up and if you are going to bring them up, you need to give them a fair look. I feel like we are doing that and he’s earned his right to play.

“And if he keeps doing this he’s going to keep playing just as much, if not a little bit more.’’

After two-plus years without getting a callup to the NHL, there are times when a player in Dotchin’s position wonder if that first chance will ever come. Playing top minutes, learning the game at the minor league level certainly has it’s advantages and Dothcin has used that time to continue improving and growing in his game.

But there was always that little voice in the back of his head that wondered if he would get that call.

”Yeah, there is that thought I think down in Syracuse that you want to be up here and you want to be playing with the big club,’’ Dotchin said. “But the team down there is a great group of guys and they make it fun to go to the rink everyday. I was just enjoying myself down there, trying to build my game and then the call came. Obviously it’s something I dreamed about my whole life, so I was just ready for the opportunity.’’

As a right-handed shot, Dotchin has helped the coaching staff balance out the defensive pairings, something Cooper likes to be able to do on a consistent basis. And Dotchin’s play has allowed that to happen while giving the staff the flexibility to split up Anton Stralman (also right-handed) and Hedman, which has been a top pairing for the better part of the past two seasons, balancing out the three pairs with a right-handed and left-handed defesneman.

”He’s made a couple of great plays, so it’s good to have that lefty-right combination, especially when guys are able to get the shots through like he has,’’ Cooper said. “And he’s shown confidence doing it.’’

That confidence has been shining through in the early going of his first chance at the NHL level, a chance he’s been building toward since he turned pro more than two years ago.

”I think I’ve been ready for this opportunity and I’m trying to make the most of it,’’ Dothin said.

So far, he’s done just that.

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