It’s been a frustrating season for Tyler Duke. The junior defenseman has been banged up intermittently, traversing in and out of the lineup due to numerous injuries.
From handling a foot injury to taking a massive hit that sent him out of a game against Wisconsin, Duke has played in just 17 games this season for the No. 10 Michigan hockey team.
Against then-No. 1 Michigan State, Duke returned to the ice. And after his four-game stretch out of commission, Duke was looking to make a positive impact throughout the weekend and going forward.
“Definitely nice to get back out there and be out there with the boys,” Duke said Tuesday. “Just giving it our all to give our team the best chance to win.”
This past weekend against the Spartans, Duke’s return to the lineup provided the Wolverines the firepower they needed to earn a weekend split. From making his presence felt in the defensive zone to a clutch assist Friday, Duke’s impact was felt all over the ice. And that’s exactly what Michigan needs more of throughout the back half of the season.
“Just huge,” Wolverines coach Brandon Naurato said about Duke’s return. “Logs a lot of minutes, hard to play against defensively. Good to get him back because I think everything else will start coming — timing and stuff like that since he’s been hurt.”
In Duke’s absence, Michigan suffered from a lack of depth, relying on inexperienced players and rotating lines in order to find the best fit. With years of experience, though, Duke’s presence in the lineup is a balancing force that’s cut down on the line volatility the Wolverines previously faced.
“It’s been good having another (defenseman) back there that can kind of do everything — plays physical, shut down plays and move pucks and add a little bit of offense,” freshman defenseman Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen said. “That’s where our offense starts from, is from our back end. So having just another versatile D-man back there definitely helps.”
Though some of Duke’s time sidelined can be attributed to this physicality, it’s a hallmark of his game. Duke has shown time and time again that he’s willing to put his body on the line for the sake of the team, no matter the circumstance. For example, against Arizona State, he took a one-timer shot off the skate that forced him out of the game. Meanwhile, that block — and his effort throughout the game — was a big part of why Michigan didn’t skate off the ice in defeat.
While part of Duke’s impact is from using his body, he’s also threatening up the ice. Duke ranked second in points from defensemen last season for the Wolverines, including 14 assists. With his +13 plus-minus throughout his time in Ann Arbor, Duke has also consistently made winning plays — which he proved again this past weekend.
But above all, getting back on the ice healthy is more than just an opportunity for Duke to star in the game he loves — it’s an opportunity to help Michigan win.
The post Tyler Duke’s recent return to Michigan lineup providing widespread benefits appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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