Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Jean-Sebastien Dea spent last summer working to improve his strength and speed, hoping it would pay off this season.

It has.

In his second year as a pro, Dea’s 19 goals are a career high, as are his 35 points. But for a player who scored 45 and 49 goals in his last two seasons in juniors, Dea is using a different stat to gauge his success.

After posting a plus-1 in 43 games with the Penguins last season, Dea is a respectable plus-14 this year. It’s a sign that the goal-producer has bought into the importance of being a two-way player.

“It’s something I thought about this summer,” Dea said. “I came from juniors with a lot of numbers, but at this level you have to be good on both sides of the ice. That’s what I’m working on and it’s been pretty good so far.”

Helping out defensively not only leads to more offense – a model defined this season by Dea’s teammate Carter Rowney, it has also made him a more complete player.

“If I want to make it to the next level, I have to be a two-way player,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean Dea is going to neglect his high offensive upside. Going into this weekend, his 143 shots are third on the team.

Shooting the puck is simply part of his game, Dea said.

“I’m a goal-scorer. To do that you have to bring pucks to the net,” he said.

Head coach Clark Donatelli, who also coached Dea for a handful of games last season in Wheeling, said the biggest change he’s seen in the 22-year-old is maturity. Dea doesn’t get rattled this season, Donatelli said, and even when he’s been asked to shift from center to wing it hasn’t been an issue.

Donatelli also noticed that Dea’s speed has improved, and now the next hurdle to clear is consistency.

“He’s got to learn to play with his speed all the time. You see it for a while and it might go away,” Donatelli said. “But he’s aware of when that happens, and that’s the biggest thing.”

Consistency on the scoresheet has also been an issue for Dea at times this season. Dea scored five goals in a month twice this season – November and March, and tallied four in January. But in December and February, Dea scored just once each month.

Dea said he isn’t thinking about his point production as much as being a two-way player and helping his team win. But he admitted the success he did have this season is attributable to his strength and speed work in the summer.

“I’ve tried to be more physical, create turnovers with my speed and be stronger on pucks,” Dea said. “I can protect it better this season. When I have to go around a guy or get hit in the corner, I can keep the puck. Last year it was easier to get pushed in the corner and lose it.”

For a player who scored massive amounts of goals in juniors and is now stronger, faster and has added a two-way component to his game, Dea has a lot of things working in his favor.

He also has a lot of motivation to keep getting better.

“I was never drafted,” Dea said. “But I knew I would have to work harder, believe in myself and keep chasing the dream. It’s going to work.”

Jean-Sebastien Dea spent last summer working to improve his strength and speed, and this season he’s set career highs in goals and points.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL102915Pens4.jpg.optimal.jpgJean-Sebastien Dea spent last summer working to improve his strength and speed, and this season he’s set career highs in goals and points. Aimee Dilger file photo |Times Leader

In his second year as a pro, Jean-Sebastien Dea’s 19 goals are a career high, as are his 35 points.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Dea.jpg.optimal.jpgIn his second year as a pro, Jean-Sebastien Dea’s 19 goals are a career high, as are his 35 points. Aimee Dilger file photo |Times Leader

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky