Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd year center Nick Cousins(52) is making the most of his second recall to the big league after leading affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms in points through the current season.
He also led the AHL team in the same category and in assists for 2014/2015 and was first (or tied for first) in both categories for 2013/2014 rookie scoring.
Through 10 games with the parent club he’s starting to click scoring his first NHL goal and adding a pair of assists (with one coming in the same game as his tally for his first multi-point effort) with a +2 rating.
The not exactly huge 5’10” 169 lbs. forward has been skating an average of 14 shifts per contest for roughly 10 minutes of ice time but those stats also seem to be on the increase with some power play looks being added to the mix.
The now 22-year old is in the final year of his entry level contract but it looks like a sure bet that he’ll be extended for another couple seasons to help him keep thriving in the system.
Nick Cousins(25) Adirondack Phantoms
Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#68 overall), center Nick Cousins(25) was more than a point-per-game player in 4 years of junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
His totals in his last two seasons were completely off the hook, scoring 62 goals and 129 assists in 129 OHL games and picking up another 6 in 6 in the playoffs.
In 14 AHL games, the 5’11” 190 lbs. rookie forward leads minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms in scoring with 3 goals and 6 assists.
He is signed through 2016 on a three-year entry level deal and despite his sort of small-ish size, he moves pretty quickly into the open spaces on the ice and does look to have almost unassumingly good play-making abilities.
At only 20-years old, he may even be a little ahead of the parent club’s schedule for his progress but seeing as where the NHL team is in the standings at this point, they could use some nice surprises to add to the roster.