Keith Petruzzelli — have you heard the name before?
The 23-year-old was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft but was never signed to an entry-level contract. Fast forward five years and Petruzzelli has made his way into the Maple Leafs organization.
There’s a lot that stands out about the six-foot-five netminder. Yes, he’s really that tall, but it’s not just the size he’s valued for. His athleticism, calmness, and positioning are all strong attributes that make him such a solid netminder.
And when you put them all together, plus his height, Petruzzelli makes for a scary goaltender.
“It is difficult (to score on) when you play as square and as positioned as he is with that size,” said Marlies head coach Greg Moore of Petruzzelli. “There are some goalies out there that have the size, but try to rely on athleticism rather than just positioning for themselves, and they catch themselves out of the net or they lose their net at times, where Petruzzelli plays a really strong system. He’s not trying to over play shots, he just keeps it calm, keeps it square, and allows the puck to hit him.”
Petruzzelli signed a two-year AHL contract with the Marlies back in August an …
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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation