Don’t call him Jake the Snake-bitten.
Still only 22, despite already being in his fourth season, Flyers left winger Jake Voracek is convinced his time will soon be here. Which will only make the trade that brought him and rookie sensation Sean Couturier here from Columbus for Jeff Carter look that much better.
“I don’t get frustrated,” said Voracek, who prefers Jake over his Czech name, Jakub. “I just keep working hard and I’m sure it’s gonna come. When you get traded for Jeff Carter, a 40-goal scorer, you know Homer [GM Paul Holmgren] did that for a reason.”
Voracek occasionally has flashed the potential that made him the No. 7 pick in the 2007 draft. Still, many wonder what’s holding him back? When he keeps missing the net from point-blank range or getting robbed by goalies making spectacular saves, can it all be bad luck?
“I think I have good speed and I’m strong on the boards,” said Voracek who could surpass his career-best 16 goals and 50 points set back in 2010. “I can work in the summer on my shot, on the placement.
“You never know what can happen, but my game has always been to look for the pass and try to set up a goal. I don’t put pressure on myself. I try to play my game and I know if I play my game I’ll be helpful to the team.”
Voracek has proven to be a smooth puck-handler, with the speed to initiate the attack, yet a player who isn’t afraid to use his strength to bang opponents around. It just hasn’t translated onto the score sheet.
“Hopefully, there’s a lot more to come,” said Voracek. “But to be a point-per-game player you have to make points on a consistent basis. That’s what I’m missing. I can do better.”
