Hartnett: Skilled Etem Hopes To Take Advantage Of Fresh Start With Rangers

By Sean Hartnett
» More Columns

Ahead of his first training camp as a Ranger, Emerson Etem is aware of head coach Alain Vigneault's track record of maximizing the potential of promising youngsters.

Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller have taken large strides forward under Vigneault. Etem wants to follow in their footsteps by reaching his potential in New York.

"That just goes to show how good of a coach AV is on managing younger players who are going through that situation," Etem said. "I feel very much that I was in the same position as those guys. He worked with them. You see the success and what they bring to the table now. That's exciting for me."

Etem described his time in Anaheim as one where he faced "a lot of hardships." He never played more than 45 games in a single season with the Ducks, spending much of his time alternating between Anaheim and AHL Norfolk. The 23-year-old winger feels he has grown enough to move past the struggles that restricted his progress in Anaheim.

"A lot of hardships, bouncing up and down from the minors and the NHL," Etem said. "I feel like I'm physically and mentally past that. I'm to go."

Vigneault has always offered a "clean slate" mantra to new players joining the Rangers. When Etem visited the Rangers' Greenburgh, New York, practice facility during rookie development camp on July 1, he wanted to show Vigneault that he was willing to do whatever it takes to be ready for training camp.

When Vigneault saw Etem, the 54-year-old head coach pulled him aside for a chat. Etem was expecting the focus to be on learning the coach's uptempo system ahead of the Rangers' Sept. 17 training camp start date. Instead, Vigneault asked Etem to make sure he's physically prepared for a demanding training camp.

"When the rookie conditioning camp was going on, he pulled me aside and I asked him what I could work on -- or if I could have any videos," Etem said. "He just said 'come to camp in shape and get ready to go.' I don't think he's all too worried about getting the system down. All that will take care of itself. I feel like I'm conditioned and ready."

Etem's jet-like speed is a natural fit for Vigneault's fast-paced system and the collection of quick-striding teammates he's joining.

"There's a lot of fast guys on this team," Etem said. "I feel like I fit right in."

Speed is just one element that Etem brings to the table. At 6-foot-1, 212 pounds, he has grown into a powerful frame. Although Etem modeled his style of play after childhood idol Pavel Bure, he said he's looking to round out his game.

"What an exciting player, a guy that I might try to emulate," Etem said of Bure. "But actually maybe add a little bit more physicality. I guess I'm a bigger guy. He's obviously a Hall of Famer. For me, that's a goal I'm nowhere near. I'd like to think of myself as a speed guy, adding a little bit of grit and physicality to my game. That's what I'm trying to do."

Whether it's getting chances to play alongside star forwards in the top six or being asked to play a more defensively responsible role as a bottom-six forward, Etem said he's willing to do whatever it takes to impress his new coaches.

"I'm just going to do what I'm asked," Etem said. "They brought me here because they see something they like. I'm going to keep doing my thing, try to add a little more offense. Like I said, I'm going to do what the coaches ask me to do."

His high-ceiling potential is now in the careful hands of Vigneault, whose track record shows he's the master of polishing rough diamonds into glowing gems.

Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey