JJ Watt could have been an awesome hockey player

JJ Watt of the Houston Texans nearly chose hockey over football. What would an alternate reality in which he chose hockey over football look like? 

Hockey is a huge sport in Wisconsin. Despite having a model NFL franchise in the Green Bay Packers, the most popular sport in the state is probably played on the ice. People from all over Wisconsin love hockey. And yes, that includes Wisconsin’s most famous current athlete, JJ Watt.

In an NHL.com interview, the Houston Texans star discussed his love for hockey. Believe it or not, Watt even played it competitively at one point. However, he wisely chose football over hockey. Considering how awesome Watt is at what he does both on and off the field, it’s hard to argue with his choice.

"“Growing up in Wisconsin, a big hockey state, I started skating when I was 3 years old. I played all over. The hockey community [in Wisconsin] is great. It’s very tight-knit. It’s a lot of fun. You have to be tough to play hockey. You have to work hard, and I think that’s why I was drawn to it.”"

Getting a scholarship from the University of Wisconsin is likely what made him choose chasing quarterbacks over shooting pucks. But what if Watt made the opposite choice? What would he look like as a hockey player?

What Position Would He Play?

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Despite his athleticism and size, Watt probably wouldn’t be a goalie. That isn’t to say he couldn’t be a great one, standing at 6-foot-5 and having an elite level of athleticism. But come on, goalies can’t hit people and not be penalized. Though Watt’s unique skill set might make him an elite goalie if given enough development time, he wouldn’t be happy. And at that point, he’d probably choose football.

You typically don’t see forwards who weigh over 260 pounds, though Dustin Byfuglien has proven it can work. Watt weighs about 295 pounds, though obviously, he wouldn’t be nearly as muscular if he played hockey. He certainly possesses one heck of a shot and is a very good skater even at 289 pounds.

Watt’s go to shootout move is a bold one. During a 2015 charity game at the University of Wisconsin, he busted out the old-school Fulton Reed approach to a shootout.

Despite his skills at forward, Watt would probably be best suited as a defenseman. The same happened with Byfuglien, who was a heck of a force at forward. And what a blue liner he’d be. Imagine a more aggressive, more pissed off version of Zdeno Chara. Maybe not as good, mind you, but still extremely effective. Probably not a Norris Trophy winner, but maybe someone like Ryan Suter who you can rely on to play 25 minutes a game. And yes, Watt wouldn’t get to wear number 99.

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Watt clearly made the right decision with the NFL. He’s rich and he has a much bigger platform to inspire others with his constant selfless acts of kindness. But you can bet Watt still has nights when he wonders what could have happened had he chose hockey.