Becoming a Playmaker: Emerson Etem
Speed can get you noticed. Moving up demands more.
In Becoming a Playmaker, we ask players, coaches, and agents five questions about what it takes to climb—and stay—at the highest levels of hockey.
This time, former NHL forward Emerson Etem shares his perspective. A first-round draft pick, Emerson played for the Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks.
His answers take us back to a jump at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, where his speed and confidence were ahead of other parts of his game. He also shares a specific detail about entering the offensive zone—and a candid reminder about competing for a job.
1. The Biggest Jump—and What Caught Him Off Guard
What was the biggest jump in your career, and what were you never prepared for?
My biggest jump came between my freshman and sophomore years, when I went from Bantam AAA to Prep—the highest team at Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
Physically, I was ready, and my motivation to succeed was at an all-time high. However, my hockey IQ was still catching up, and at times, the size and speed of the older players could be intimidating.
Outside of my speed and one-on-one ability, I felt like I was behind in several other areas of the game.
The takeaway: A strength that separates you at one level can carry you only so far at the next. Emerson had speed and one-on-one ability, but moving up exposed the areas that needed work. When the game gets harder, identify what the new level demands—and be willing to develop beyond your biggest strength.
2. The Work That Created Separation
What actually separated you from players with the same talent who didn’t make it?
Hard work, refusing to cut corners, and learning to push through the pain were key.
I also developed a consistent routine for shooting pucks and training off the ice that was specifically tailored to my development and goals.
The takeaway: Emerson’s preparation had both consistency and purpose. He built a routine around his own development needs. For a young player, that means knowing what you’re working toward, choosing work that supports it, and returning to it regularly.
3. Knowing When to Attack—and When to Delay
What’s one detail you worked on obsessively that most players at lower levels overlook?
Delays on offensive-zone entry. Even at the NHL level, you’ll see guys accept getting squeezed off on the entry.
Using the top of the circles to the blue paint is a great measuring stick. Can I get to the net from the top of the circles, either to score or draw a penalty trying to do so?
Do I have a step on the pressure player at that point, or am I hip-to-hip with no separation and should delay?
Understanding you have two options on every offensive-zone entry should give any skater all the confidence in the world.
The takeaway: Entering the zone with speed is only part of the play. Read the defender’s position. If you have a step, use it to attack the net. If you’re hip-to-hip with no separation, recognize the opportunity to delay and create another option. Practice that decision alongside the skating and puck skills needed to execute it.
4. What Makes a Player Lose Their Spot
Once you’d earned your spot, what makes a player lose it?
Getting complacent, taking that foot off the gas.
The takeaway: Earning a spot can change how comfortable you feel. It shouldn’t change how deliberately you prepare. Keep the habits that helped you earn the opportunity, and keep looking for the next part of your game to improve.
5. The Competition Inside the Room
What would surprise a serious young player most about your level of hockey?
Teammates for the most part are buddies, but it’s a business and at the end of the day, the guy in the stall next to you is trying to take your job.
The takeaway: Friendship and competition can exist in the same dressing room. Be a good teammate, support the players around you, and understand that opportunities still have to be earned. Let that competition sharpen your preparation and effort.
🎯 The Playmaker Lesson
Across Emerson’s answers, one theme keeps surfacing: keep adapting, even when you’ve already earned your place.
At Shattuck-St. Mary’s, that meant developing beyond his speed and one-on-one ability. In his preparation, it meant building a routine around his goals. On zone entries, it meant recognizing when to attack and when to change the play.
Before your next practice, identify one part of your game that needs to catch up to your biggest strength. Choose one specific way to work on it—and make it part of your routine.
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