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It’s no secret that the Soo Greyhounds system suits smooth-skating defencemen with an ability to move the puck well.
For Robert Calisti, having the opportunity to spend his Ontario Hockey League career as a Greyhound s something he wouldn’t trade.
“It’s awesome,” Calisti said. “They let me do my thing out there, but also put pressure on me to be good in my own end. We’ve got a group this year that can really do some damage when we get hot.”
Playing his final season with the team, Calisti set career highs in goals (21), assists (36), and points (57) in 2021-22.
His 21 goals finished tied for the most among OHL defencemen with current teammate Jack Thompson.
“He’s having a pretty incredible year,” said Greyhounds coach John Dean.
“We’ve always seen the potential and the ceiling and the capability,” Dean said. “He’s an NHL skater. He’s got an NHL shot. He’s very physically strong, which is an underrated part of his game because everyone sees his speed and his shot. His strength is a big part of his game too. When he competes, when he’s hard on pucks and when he’s physical in the defensive zone, more often than not, he uses his strength and then he uses his legs to transport the puck. He can be a one-man breakout.”
“There’s a maturity to his game now, choosing when to go and when not to go,” Dean added. “He’s picking his spots offensively. He’s more consistent defensively. As you mature as a player, the biggest thing is consistency. Especially when you’re a guy who has got a lot of talent and puts himself in a lot of opportunities to be successful. That can go a couple ways. You can go too far sometimes and for him, he hasn’t this year. He’s picked his spots nicely. He controls games. For periods of time, he can take over and control games. We put a lot of pressure on him because we know he’s got that in his game.”
Calisti said the season has also brought with it an improvement in his defensive game to go along with his offensive instincts.
“My defensive game has jumped up a lot,” Calisti said. “My ability to read plays and pick apart opponents’ offensive zone in our defensive zone. Boxing out and taking my time with when to be aggressive and when to be offensive. That’s something that I’ve really tried to mature in my game and looked to get better.”
“Him and Jordan Smith have a really great relationship where they can really go over his games together and have cues inside of games to make sure that his defensive game is on point,” Dean said. “We always knew Rob could be good defensively.”
“With Rob, the skill level and the ability to defend has always been there,” Dean added. “It’s just that, because he’s such a good skater, sometimes the offence took over as opposed to the defensive side of the game. This year, there’s a real commitment to making sure that he’s defensive as well and it shows.”
In addition to looking to improve his defensive game, Calisti said he has also looked to “stay true to myself in jumping up in the rush.”
In early-March, the 21-year-old signed an American Hockey League deal with the Florida Panthers that will see him join the Charlotte Checkers next season.
The veteran blueliner was invited to the Panthers development camp in the fall.
“It’s something special and something that I’ve been working to my whole life,” Calsiti said. “My experience down there in Florida with their organization was absolutely unbelievable. It’s a really underrated organization. You can’t get much better in an NHL club.”
“Playing hockey in Florida on the beach every day is overlooked,” Calisti joked.
“Even the players that they’ve developed and have coming through in Charlotte, I’m really looking forward to it,” Calisti said.
Calisti called his training camp opportunities with the Panthers important in his development.
“You gain confidence in your game and try to pick up stuff from guys who are either there (in the NHL) or going to make that next jump,” Calisti said. “It’s huge for confidence. It’s huge from a learning aspect. You try to pick up as much as possible and get better everyday.”
And after three-plus seasons in the OHL, development in his game has definitely taken a step toward his ultimate goal of playing in the NHL.