Paul Coffey might be gone, but he hasn't been forgotten by Carolina defenseman David Tanabe.

Last season, Tanabe entered the league as a wide-eyed rookie. But his 31-game stint was more than an introduction to the NHL. It was an indoctrination to being an offensive defenseman, as well as a tremendously humbling experience. And although Coffey's skills had diminished – especially on the defensive end – he was the master teacher.

"He was amazing," said Tanabe, 20, of the now-departed Coffey and his 1,531 career points as a defenseman. "He explained to me when to jump up in the play and how to jump up in the play."

	Coach Paul Maurice thinks Tanabe, left, could be a Ray Bourque-type player -- he matches offensive ability with good defensive awareness.

One of the biggest lessons he taught Tanabe might make Pee Wee coaches cringe.

"Don't ever stop," Tanabe said about how to make sure he can get back on defense after an offensive rush. Coffey impressed upon Tanabe never to lose speed. Stopping and starting not only eliminated all forward momentum but also consumed a heck of a lot more energy.

Tanabe has used Coffey's lessons – along with some hard time in the minors last year – to emerge as one of Carolina's best defenseman. He plays a lot with Glen Wesley on the team's top defensive pairing and sees plenty of power-play time. In 55 games, he has three goals and 20 points, including 11 on the power play.

But Tanabe's story is not just about lessons learned from a sage veteran. Tanabe left the University of Wisconsin after his freshman year, and turning professional wasn't an easy experience for him.

"Last year was a big adjustment," said Tanabe. "I had to get out of being a kid and be an adult – a professional. I do regret some things like time with friends and being a kid.

"I regret why I turned pro."

Which was?

"Money."

That's right, a professional athlete admits he did something for money, and now looks back somewhat forlornly at the decision.

"I was living off $100 a week and living in a dorm, scrounging money to go down the street to Subway to get a sub," he said. "When they start throwing big numbers around, it gets you thinking."

So Tanabe – a first-round pick (16th overall) in 1999 – took the money and turned professional. But after 31 games with Carolina, he was shipped to the AHL and found himself riding the bus in the minors, which isn't too different than riding the bus in college, except that life isn't so collegiate in the minors.

Tanabe didn't take the demotion well, and he was miserable. Beyond miserable, in fact.

"I was really broken down in the minors," he admitted.

	Breathing easier
	Another reason Tanabe is playing so well this season is because of his breathing. While getting his preseason physical, Tanabe failed the breathing test. "I said, 'Whatever, I'm a professional athlete,' " he said. "I did it again and still couldn't pass it." He was diagnosed with asthma, and the doctor gave Tanabe an inhaler. It has increased his lung capacity by 30 percent.

Some advice from his brother, Marcus, a 24-year-old dental student, led to Tanabe's renewed religious faith and a personal and professional turnaround that has made all the difference. "It made me feel better, and then it got to a point where someone answered me."

Coach Paul Maurice doesn't acknowledge – or know – how difficult a year it was personally for Tanabe. He's a professional hockey coach. But he does acknowledge how important the experience in the minors was for Tanabe's career.

"He'll tell you he was disappointed getting sent down," said Maurice. "But he had to learn a work ethic. He went to the minors and played a ton of minutes."

Tanabe agrees that his growth on the ice was equal to his personal growth. The turning point at the rink was when the coaching staff pulled him aside and told him to let it all hang out and be as creative as he wanted to be. Tanabe did and began taking chances and trying things he wouldn't – and couldn't – in the NHL. He learned his limitations ... and learned they weren't as limited as he thought.

Now, it looks like Tanabe is up with the big boys for good, and although he's not mentioned with Brian Leetch, Ray Bourque, Rob Blake or Chris Pronger when it comes to offensive production from the blue line, Tanabe has the potential to be an All-Star.

Frozen Ponderings

With 26 goals already, Keith Primeau likely will eclipse his career high of 31 set in 1993-94. Primeau shrugs off talk that he has rediscovered a scoring touch. He says it has everything to do with his linemates, Simon Gagne (27-27-54) and Mark Recchi (19-35-54). The trio could be the league's best offensive line. "I don't think I'm any different, but when you play with guys like that, sometimes you just have to be in the right spot with your stick on the ice," Primeau said. Saturday's Panthers-Islanders didn't feature Roberto Luongo against Rick DiPietro. But look for this matchup to become a future rivalry now that both are in the NHL. In the offseason, the Isles shipped Luongo to Florida and chose DiPietro with the No. 1 pick. DiPietro agrees about the potential rivalry, but he's not yet ready for the comparisons. "I've been in the league for just eight games, so it's not easy to compare," he said. Luongo has started 27 games and appeared in 33. Kings fans are disappointed about losing Rob Blake. But L.A. had to make the deal because Blake forced the issue. By refusing the Kings' last offer, Blake clearly indicated he would pursue unrestricted free agency, and it's doubtful the Kings could keep him. General manager Dave Taylor needed to get something. And what he got could be a windfall. Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller together do not make up for Blake, but they are solid NHL players, who are respected for their work ethic. Throw in the draft pick and possibly more if Blake re-signs with the Avs, and it's not so bad – especially if the Kings can somehow make the playoffs. That would ease fan pain – at least until Blake and the Avs beat them in the first round.

"He is so far ahead of schedule for a defenseman his age," said Maurice. "It's not totally fair to compare, but he's more Bourque-esque in terms of his defensive awareness. His skating is phenomenal, but he has an acute defensive awareness."

Tanabe also has an acute appreciation for how far he's come in one year.

"I feel real confortable this year," he said. "The guys respect me more, and I've established that if I make mistakes, it's going to be because I'm working hard."

Mailbag
During the season, a question or two from ESPN.com users will be answered in every edition of In the Corners. If you want a question answered, click here and ask away.

Question from Peter Berglund, Stockholm, Sweden: I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming Olympics and which one of the NHL's top Canadian goaltenders will have the No.1 job.

Response: Goaltending will be such a difficult decision for a few countries, especially for Team Canada. At the moment, the top candidates are Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour, Martin Brodeur and Curtis Joseph. The problem is that the best approach is to have one goalie and stick with him. To have three world-class goalies doesn't make sense because one likely will sit on the bench the entire tournament. Can you imagine Belfour accepting the No. 3 position? Not likely.

For Canada, expect general manager Wayne Gretzky and his management group to choose two out of these four and then have a young, promising goalie like Roberto Luongo along for the experience.

Of course, that doesn't make the decision any easier. Roy, Belfour and Brodeur have six Stanley Cup rings between them, and Joseph is extremely popular with front-office brass, as well as Canadians. If the decision needed to be made today, Brodeur and Roy might get the nod. But a lot can change in one year. Injuries and who is playing well near decision time will have plenty to do with it.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.