Leafs’ Corrado finally gets to play
First game since being picked up back in October
TORONTO • Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Frankie Corrado is no stranger to making the most out of his free time.
The National Hockey League shut down for the entire 2004- 05 season due to a lockout, leaving Corrado, an 11- year- old at the time, with fewer entertainment options. That’s when he decided to pick up the axe.
“There was no hockey on TV so I decided to pick up a new hobby and it was guitar,” Corrado said. “I always liked the older bands like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and AC/ DC. So I was drawn to the guitar solo a little bit and I wanted to just learn how to do that.”
On Oct. 6, Corrado was picked up by the Maple Leafs after the Vancouver Canucks placed him on waivers. With the exception of a two- week conditioning stint, Corrado didn’t play. Sending him down to the Marlies wasn’t an option, given he was claimed off another team’s roster.
But, much like he waited for the National Hockey League to open its doors again in 2005, Corrado didn’t just sit idle. He focused his energy on getting stronger and getting his conditioning level up.
“The great thing about sitting out every single day is they have lots of time to do that,” said Leafs head coach Mike Babcock. “There’s the part that you see and the part in developing players and getting them stronger so that they are ready to compete at the NHL level.”
Exactly 10 weeks after he was claimed by the Maple Leafs, the Woodbridge, Ont., native finally made his Maple Leafs debut Tuesday in front of approximately 50 family and friends.
There is a lot emotion behind the game. In addition to the hometown support he is receiving, there is his past with the Vancouver Canucks that was re-opened late last week.
“I can’t comment on another team’s player, but usually, when you pick up a player you play him,” said Canucks GM Jim Benning on a weekly radio hit with TSN 1040 in Vancouver, in reference to Corrado’s inactivity. “But that’s their business and I don’t want to get into what they do.”
Corrado played 28 games with the Canucks spanning three different seasons. Being cut on the final day of training camp no doubt stung the 22-year-old defenceman.
“They can say what they want. I’m not there anymore, they made their decision and that’s fine with me,” Corrado said. “My job here now is to prove to everyone the player that I can be here.”
When Corrado sat out last Tuesday in a game against the New Jersey Devils, it marked his ninth- consecutive week on an NHL roster without seeing any games. But when he showed up to the rink for practice after the last game, Corrado was given the lowdown.
“Mike (Babcock) just basically told me it was going to happen. We’ve got a plan for you and just stay ready. Things will kind of work itself out,” said Corrado. “I just came in and (assistant coach) DJ ( Smith) said there was a chance that I’d play next week. Sure enough, I saw my name on the board and it just kind of happened over a few days or so.”
Corrado’s 10-week long wait to make his Maple Leafs debut is unorthodox. Not having the defenceman during training camp was enough for Babcock to decide to play the long game. Given that it has taken this long, at least Corrado makes his team debut while his teammates deal with a little rust, given the week- long break in the Leafs’ convoluted schedule.
Either way, Corrado has to perform. But he’ll no longer wonder what the immediate future holds and he can play a different tune.
“I had a little more jump in my step,” Corrado said with a smile.
I saw my name on the board and it just kid of happened