Mueller - A- The kid is awesome, no doubt in my mind he will be a top center in this league for years to come. But I think we can all agree he has lots of work ahead of him despite the good year he had. How cool is the fact that he got hattied up, his first year out? How cool were his shootout performances?

Of all rookies he was {3rd for goals and 4th in the race for the Calder?}. He also had a pretty impressive performance on the PP despite his slow start (remember WG sitting him in the press box to get the big picture?)

When he learns to keep his feet moving at all times and to bull his way around the ice when necessary w/ that big frame I think he becomes that 1st line center we need for real (at least until KT puts on some muscle and bumps Mules to exceptional 2nd line center or 1B center like Malkin is to Crosby, we can only hope).

Locker room views:

“I give him an A-. Once he got relaxed he really started to shine. For a rookie he became very comfortable against any one. His work on point on the PP was great…I think that’s what made Jovo step it up too. He was a -13 though and that’s why he gets an A- and not an A or A+ from me.
The kid has a certain cockiness about him but not in an arrogant and offensive way…I like that.”

“Mules gets an A in my book. For most of the year he led the rooks in goals. This kid is on his way to the top.”

“Mules gets an A from me. I love this kid … he’s not afraid to learn and to grow … a good sign of a first tier player. He came in a little afraid to step up, but what rookie wouldn’t with TGO right there? But after being sat in the press box, he stepped up and allowed his natural talent to start shining through.”

“While not a Calder finalist, achieving 54 points in your rookie campaign is nothing to sneeze at. The kid made a believer out of me and was able to work effectively with Shane Doan. While he can continue to work on his skating and defensive play, once he and Shane work with a legitimate center to anchor them, expect an onslaught of offense for the Coyotes.”

More: http://www.azsportshub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=715

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