Crouse Heating up as he Builds Upon Breakout 2021-22 Season

Lawson Crouse has 357 NHL games to his name, and is an alternate captain for the Arizona Coyotes.
Hard to believe he's just 25 years old.
The Mount Brydges, Ontario native was drafted 11th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2015 NHL Draft, and joined the Coyotes via trade in 2016. He played 72 games in the 2016-17 campaign, and though he spent most of the following season with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, he notched 25 points in 81 games during the 2018-19 season.
Last season was truly special for Crouse, as he hit the coveted 20-goal mark en route to a 34-point season. That performance earned 'The Sheriff' a five-year deal this past offseason,
cementing his long-term status
as a leader on the Coyotes.

"He's a huge leader on our team, there's no doubt about it," head coach André Tourigny said. "Everybody respects Crouser. For him, consistency is probably the best word in the sense of his preparation, the way he shows up every day, the way he prepares himself, and the way he works every day."
Crouse started a bit slow on the scoresheet this season, though that didn't take anything away from how he approached the game. He said he doesn't consider himself the most vocal leader - though he also won't shy away from speaking up if the situation warrants it - but he tries to lead by example with his routines, both on and off the ice.
That goes a long way on a Coyotes roster that's the second youngest in the league with an average age of 26.08 years old.
"I'm not afraid to speak up if I need to, but I try and lead with my daily habits, and just the way that I play, and the way that I approach things," Crouse said. "If I can help some of the young guys grow as people and as players, that's huge, and that's the ultimate goal."

The persistence, and his approach, have paid off. He's recorded a goal in four of his last six games, and is tied for fourth on the team with seven points overall. His five goals are second-most, behind only Nick Ritchie.
The list of intangibles Crouse brings to the Coyotes is a long one.
"He's a really good veteran," Tourigny said. "He's a structure guy. He plays really well defensively, and he plays really well in the structure. He has intensity, he has focus, he has purpose, he has toughness, and he has physicality.
"He brings a lot to the table."
It's not just his own numbers, either. Crouse said he is always looking to help make his teammates successful, too.
"I've been saying since the start of training camp, I want to continue to help my other wingers achieve more offense," he said. "Finding those loose pucks and getting them over to teammates. Hopefully they can put some in the back of the net."
On top of all that, he's a good person to be around, as evidenced by his reaction following rookie Dylan Guenther's first NHL goal. After the puck went in, Crouse briefly celebrated before spinning around and going to get the puck from the net.

He enjoys being there for the players who are just getting their start in the league, especially considering he's not that far removed from his own NHL debut, all things considered.
"Obviously being on the same line as Maccelli, I talk to him a lot," Crouse said. "I sit pretty close to Guenther in the room, so it's just non-stop chatter; Just chatting and talking hockey.
"I think that's important, and we like to talk about everyday life, too, so it's a good balance."

His attitude and the way he conducts himself is contagious. That showed during the
Coyotes' most recent win
against the Washington Capitals, in which the team rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to ultimately win the game.
Crouse may not have found the scoresheet on Saturday, but his contributions extend well beyond the box score.
Now that he's in a groove 11 games into his seventh NHL season, the sky is the limit for what he can achieve this year and beyond.
"I'm feeling good, feeling confident, and I think that's the key," Crouse said. "When you play with that confidence, it feels like you have an extra step with the puck.
"Obviously I've had a couple of good bounces, and pucks are starting to go in for me, so it's a good feeling."