Andy Andreoff

For a kid whos name was being tossed around at the begining of the year by some of us to not make the team possibly. I'm impressed. Congrats on a great start Andy.

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Andy Andreoff finding his niche with the Oshawa Generals
RON PIETRONIRO

OSHAWA -- Andy Andreoff has bided his time as patiently as any member of the Oshawa Generals over the last couple of years and now he's taking full advantage of the opportunity at hand.

After spending the better part of two seasons trying to find his niche with the club, Andreoff seems to have done just that this year, at least in the eyes of those who matter most.

"I've had a strong affinity for Andy and his play because he's such a great kid and he works hard," general manager and coach Chris DePiero said after a recent game. "I find Andy just to be one of the most reliable players we have. I can play him on the left side, at centre, right wing. He kills penalties, he's (on the) power play. He's just an all-around player and is getting rewarded offensively."

Indeed he is.

After breaking out for what many would consider a surprising 15-goal, 48-point year last season, Andreoff has put himself in a position to better those numbers this campaign.

Through 13 games, the Pickering resident and former Panther has eight goals and 15 points, good enough for second on the team in both categories, not far behind the pace set by New York Rangers prospect Christian Thomas.

Andreoff's plus-minus has also taken a dramatic turn. After finishing minus-18 last year, he is a team-best plus-13 to date and also leads the team in penalty minutes with 45, many of them coming by virtue of his seven fighting majors as the physical edge to his game has really been on display.

"Coach was telling me at the end of last year that I needed to be more aggressive, so it's coming out more," Andreoff said. "It's coming about that a few more people want to fight me and it's a part of the game. If it happens, it happens. It's an emotional game and I'm not afraid if it works out that way."

As for the spike in offensive numbers and the impressive plus-minus?

"I've just been battling," he said. "Battling in the corners, driving to the net and it's been working in my favour so far. My linemates have been helping me out, getting me the puck and driving to the net. It's working out."

While Andreoff, who was originally a fifth-round pick of the Generals in 2007 OHL Priority Selection, admits he didn't know what to expect coming into the season, he seems to have a solid grasp on what will be necessary to keep his place among the Generals' group of top-six forwards.

"To be relentless. Attack. Win battles in the corners and bury that biscuit," he said simply.

The Generals are up north this weekend with games tonight in Sault Ste. Marie and tomorrow at Sudbury.

I'm one of tose who were suggesting Andy shouldn't make the Gennies this year. I'm pleasantly surprised and offer a mea culpa! Well done, Andy!

I'm one of those who thought he was going to have a huge season last year with no JT and Parnham, I thought he would be stepping up to 25-30 goals. He wasn't nearly as good last year as I thought he would be so I didn't know what to make if it this year. I hope he lives up to what I thought last year even if it did take twelve more months than I thought.

What I'm noticing is that he's playing far more physical - he hits, he fights - somehow that has also translated into more offence as well. When I thought he could score 30 last year, I believed that he would be a finesse player but he's looking more like a power forward so far instead.