George Parros is a perfect example of a guy who had to change his style and become an enforcer so he could make the NHL.
Many of these enforcer types didn't start off as these kinds of players, but instead were ripping it up in all levels as they moved up. Those other skills didn't quite translate to NHL success, so they have to change their style. Wade Belak was the 12th overall pick in his draft year. He didn't get to that position for his fighting skills, but his other skills. However those skills wouldn't keep him in the NHL, so he had to change his style.
Although George Parros changed his style to become an enforcer so he could stay in NHL, the guy had a Economics degree from Princeton University.
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But does that Ivy League degree mean that if he wasn’t playing hockey, he would he be wearing a suit and tie on Wall Street – possibly as the world’s most intimidating stock broker?
“You know what? Everybody asks me that, but I’ve never really thought of anything except playing hockey,” said the 28-year old.
“It’s kind of what I was trained for, but I never applied for any jobs or anything like that. Hockey was always my favorite sport and something I wanted to do for as long as I can remember.”
Even with a deep passion and commitment to the game, Parros hit a few bumps in the road when attempting to continue his career after college. Playing in his first professional season with the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs, he struggled with the realization that he would have to adjust his game to suit a new style of play.
Parros readily admits that he began to lose his feel for the game upon receiving reduced ice time, and realized his offensive abilities weren’t going to punch his ticket onto an NHL roster. Instead, he adjusted on the fly and began using his large frame to fill the role of an enforcer for Manchester.
“It was tough going from Princeton, where I played lots of minutes and was an important part of the offense, to being an enforcer,” said Parros.
“But that’s fine, because it’s what got my foot in the door. I’m happy to fill my role now, but it was certainly an adjustment. Sometimes it’s tough to accept a new role at the beginning, but it got me where I am.”
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