There comes a point in time when trying to do it all becomes too much.

Sophomore center Blake Geoffrion crossed that line in his first year.

According to UW head coach Mike Eaves, he thought he was Pavel Datsyuk — a "fancy-dancy, go end-to-end, go backhand, top shelf every time" hockey player. He thought he could beat opponents one-on-one and be a one-man show. But he isn't that player, so he struggled.

Nashville made Geoffrion a Predator with its first selection — 56th overall — in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. With that fresh on his mind, Geoffrion entered his freshman campaign with not only plenty of hype from the media, but also with high expectations for himself.

He thought that since he was a high-profile draft choice, he should perform like one.

"Being a draft choice, second-rounder, other guys get the perception of you that, 'Oh, he's going to come in and be an unbelievable player for us,'" Geoffrion said.

Instead of playing his game — the style that Nashville saw when it drafted him — he let the lofty expectations get the best of him; he let his emotions get the best of him as well, resulting in a season dictated by ups and downs.

Of course, since Geoffrion wasn't playing up to his potential, his playing time became more and more infrequent. And with fewer opportunities to show what he could do, Geoffrion found himself trying even harder to prove himself in the times he was on the ice.

"I wasn't getting the opportunities I wanted to get because I wasn't playing very well, so I tried to do things that would get me noticed and in those roles on the power play and whatnot," Geoffrion said.

On top of that, it's never easy to come in right away and settle into a groove for any player, high-profile or not. The physical, grueling nature of the WCHA and college hockey doesn't work that way.

"It's tough to just settle in and be yourself right away," UW forward Ben Street said.

"He was getting used to the level, and he was trying to be someone he wasn't," Eaves added. "I think that combination led him to be caught in between."

Eaves remembers needing to sit Geoffrion down on several occasions to try and settle the freshman down and get him to find his own brand of hockey.

It wasn't easy. The son of a former NHL player, the grandson of Hall of Famer Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion and the great grandson of Hall of Famer Howie Morenz, inventor of the slapshot, went through a slow, arduous learning process.

"Sometimes as a young man, it takes awhile for those words to settle in and become a part of who you are," Eaves said.

Now, a year later, the more mature Geoffrion is a wholly different player.

His stats speak for themselves. Last season, in 36 games, he scored two goals and tallied four assists. This year, through 12 games, he has already eclipsed both of those totals with five goals and five assists.

In the second game against Robert Morris alone, he recorded five points on a goal and four assists.

"I see his maturity as a young man," Eaves said. "I think he has become a better hockey player. I think he has come to understand where his strengths are and how to play to those strengths.

"It's about being effective as a hockey player and that's what I think he's come to understand."

He has learned that to be a successful hockey player, he doesn't need to deke out the other team, according to Street. Rather, Geoffrion can use his linemates — senior Josh Engel and freshman Patrick Johnson — and his skating and passing abilities to create scoring opportunities. It's all about keeping it simple.

Due to the makeover, Geoffrion has become a versatile and reliable talent.

"He's one of those solid guys that you need on your team, one of those guys who has been great on penalty kills and special teams for us this season," Street said. "He can be put out in any situation in a game and you know what you're going to get; you don't need to worry about him."

The days of wondering where he'll fit in on offense and letting his performances get the best of him whether they were good or bad are gone. His new perspective on the game says it all: "If a play is there, I'll take it. If not, whatever," Geoffrion said.