It's OK by Lee Falardeau if no one ever confuses him with Jaromir Jagr or a similarly skilled, speedy hockey player.
The 6-foot-4, 211-pound sophomore center knows his role on the MSU hockey team extends beyond racking up goals and assists.
There's defense to be played. There are penalties to kill. There are bodies to bang.
Offensive production is usually considered a throw-in with grinders such as Falardeau. But at the same time, a forward who plays as much as he does is bound to get scoring chances. So when they come, he had better bury them or he'll be out of a job.
Falardeau has struggled to put the puck in the net since he came to MSU, but he converted twice this weekend, including a crucial goal that put MSU up 4-3 early in the third period of Friday's 7-4 win over Northern Michigan.
The goals were Falardeau's first since Nov. 29 and only his third and fourth tallies of the season. He also notched four as a freshman, giving him a total of eight goals in 66 career games.
"I think it was about time I started to put the puck in the net," the Midland native said. "But I know I've been contributing to the team, and the bottom line is that we've been winning."
Indeed, Falardeau and his linemates - senior left wing Brian Maloney and sophomore forward Brock Radunske - contribute quite a bit defensively. Together, they are MSU's top defensive group of forwards, so they often match up with the other team's top scoring line.
On the ice, their first priority is to play airtight defense. Priority No. 1A is to generate offense.
It's a delicate balance, but MSU head coach Rick Comley said Falardeau is starting to catch on.
"I don't think he'll ever be a 20-goal scorer," Comley said. "But he can be a 10- to 15-goal-a-year scorer. Goal scorers need to spend more time down by the net, digging away at pucks.
"I think he's so aware defensively that he spends a lot of time being ready for that, but we've been prodding him to shoot more."
Most of Falardeau's collegiate goals have resulted from mucking things up around the net.
On Friday, he was one of a horde of bodies to the left of Northern's crease when Radunske sent a pass into the crowd from behind the net.
Falardeau was the first to get his stick on it and tucked a shot under Wildcat goaltender Craig Kowalski's right armpit to give the Spartans the lead for good.
Last year, Falardeau helped beat Wisconsin 2-1 by pushing a Badger defenseman into the net with the puck on his back. Although former defenseman Andrew Hutchinson was credited with the goal, Falardeau's physical play made it happen.
On Saturday, Falardeau got an opportunity to record a slightly prettier goal. Radunske set it up again, this time drawing the Northern defense to him along the right wing before hitting an open Falardeau driving down the slot. Falardeau had plenty of time to pick his target, and he squeaked a shot between Kowalski's pads to give MSU a short-lived 2-1 lead.
"It was a 3-on-2, and Brock made it a breakaway," Falardeau said. "He made a great play."
The New York Rangers tabbed Falardeau, 19, with the third pick of the second round (33rd overall) in the NHL Entry Draft this summer.
Considering Falardeau isn't an exceptionally quick skater, nor does he have a top-notch shot, Comley figures the Rangers probably liked his size and potential.
"As he gets stronger and older, he'll get better," Comley said. "When I came in here, people told me his role in hockey is as a defensive center man, and that's probably true. He's a smart player, and I think you'll see a good jump in him next year."
