EDMONTON, AB - By his own assessment, Oilers forward prospect Cooper Marody sees many similarities between his game and Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom's.
"I have a similar style of play to a Nikolas Backstrom-type guy," Marody said Friday on
630 CHED's Oilers Now
. "I think we do similar things like finding guys around the ice and have the ability to protect the puck around the ice. I try to play a Backstrom-style game."
Marody, a Michigan native, was raised a Detroit Red Wings fans. Some of his early influencers were Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.
"I grew up being a big Red Wings fan," he said. "Watching Zetterberg, Datsyuk and just their puck possession, their skill, the way they saw the ice and the way they manipulated defenders was something I studied my whole life growing up. That was something really special to see and learn from them."
The former University of Michigan Wolverine has one goal and one assist in two games with the Bakersfield Condors. Marody signed a three-year entry-level contract on April 8.
"I think I do have the skill," Marody said. "I see the ice really well and have the ability to make plays all over the ice. I think I have good hockey sense as well. If you give me the puck in a good scoring opportunity, I think I can put the puck in the net."
BLOG: Marody compares his game to Nicklas Backstrom's
Recently signed Oilers prospect sees puck-protection and playmaking as his biggest assets
