Ethen Frank is once again in a fight for his place with the Washington Capitals, and this time he’s taking a different route to get there.
The forward, who earned a full-time NHL promotion last season after grinding his way up from an AHL deal out of college, has spent this summer leaning into the mental side of the game. Frank said he added cognitive training to his routine, working on reaction time and decision making as he tries to sharpen the way he reads the ice.
“I did a lot of training, a different approach this summer,” Frank said. “I did some cognitive stuff, more reaction time, decision making... it's been good and a lot of fun.”
That approach came after Frank finished last season with 12 goals and 24 points. Before the summer, he met with the coaching staff and came away with a clear message: his speed is a weapon, but he can get even more out of it by improving his hockey IQ, his positioning and how he uses open space.
“That could really help my game at this level, just with how smart everybody is and positionally sound. They're always in the right spot,” Frank said. “I think (it's about) not panicking and just whacking pucks up the wall and just kind of hoping that it gets by him, realizing that you can make that play and taking that extra half second to settle the puck down, get your head up and then hit a tape-to-tape pass.”
A lot of that work happened with Takano, through drills and interactive sessions in the gym and on the ice. Frank also used apps on his phone and iPad built around visual cues and prompts designed to challenge his decision making.
“It’s a lot with technology... there's arrows and different colors. If it's red, you go the opposite way of the arrow, and different things like that,” Frank explained.
“You try to do active memory and things like that. It's a lot of fun.
It kind of makes you feel like a kid, where you're playing games on a TV and touching everything.
“(It) helps you take that deep breath,” he added. “You get a puck, you know there's a guy coming, but you also look to see where your support is and take advantage.”
Frank said the work has helped him slow the game down, and that’s a big part of what he’s trying to carry into training camp. He’s battling for a roster spot again, with Ivan Miroshnichenko and Jonny Brodzinski among the players in the mix, and he knows nothing is being handed to him.
“In any organization, there's not going to be any easy spots given or anything. I'm not the only guy going through this around the league... you're always going to end up battling for stuff,” Frank said.
“It's the best league in the world, so nothing's going to come easy... I'll do whatever I can to help the team win.
“It keeps you on your toes, and it always makes sure that you're not taking any days off or any time off. You're always working for everything you get,” Frank explained.
“It's just kind of how my whole life has been, and I've enjoyed it. It's hard work, but it's a lot of fun.”
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