Full Description:
Jake Taylor was a big solid d-man that, personally, I think would have made it to the NHL if not for two fluke injuries in his first two pro seasons. First, he took a puck to the face in practice (from coach Ryan McGill) that fractured his orbital bone and wiped out a good chunk of his rookie season.
The following season, Dan Carcillo sucker punched him and broke his face...again, forcing him to, temporarily, play a less physical game.
Then in his third season, he got hurt in training camp. I can not recall the exact circumstances, but it was equally fluky and unfortunate. He returned at the end of January and then blew out his shoulder at the start of March in a fight with Louis Robitaille -- season over.
By his fourth season, no longer eyed as a prospect, he was supplanted in the NYR depth chart by the likes of Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, and Michael Sauer so a change of scenery was much needed.
His first season under the Edmonton Oilers umbrella was interupted early with a knee injury that kept him out for all but 28 games. Shame, too, as he had impressed during the Oilers training camp.
This jersey is from the 2009 pre-season where Taylor played one game in the blue jersey -- September 16, 2009 against the Islanders. He was subsequently assigned to Springfield 5 days layer and remained in the AHL all season.
He never did reach the NHL during the regular season but, man, what a great guy off the ice too. Humble. Truly humble...and I cant say that about too may of the guys Ive photographed during my years working in Hartford.
|
New York Rangers
