National Post (National Edition)
Leafs sign specialist Polak
When defenceman Roman Polak, 31, was activated, it was noteworthy that the Toronto Maple Leafs were sitting 24th in the NHL in blocked shots.
The Leafs signed Polak to a one-year contract on Sunday worth US$1.1 million.
While all teams have not played the same amount of games so early in the year, head coach Mike Babcock was asked if blocks factored into the decision to re-deploy the Czech who has got in front of almost 1,000 shots in his career.
“I like shot blocks, don’t get me wrong,” Babcock said Monday morning.
“But I like to play in the offensive zone so you are not blocking shots.”
RED LIGHT DISTRICT
Defenceman Jake Gardiner agreed the Leafs were trending in the wrong direction in goals against, the area that must be addressed this season if the club was to maximize its offensive gifts.
Before Monday, Toronto’s 28 were the most against the eight teams above the playoff line in the East.
“You look at the stats and it’s not obviously good this year,” Gardiner said. “But I think it’s more of a team thing; all three forwards, defence and goalies. We just have to do better.”
The Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev duo has mostly been a strength, but Gardiner conceded “we still have work to do. One of us has been off certain nights, we still have to get our chemistry and both be sharp on the same night.”
SMALL TOWN, BIG BANNER
Tiny Kelvington, Sask., was on the Leafs map one more time Saturday as Wendel Clark’s old No. 17 banner was brought back from the Air Canada Centre. It was raised to the top of the Kelvington Rec Complex.
With his energetic play for the 1980s and ’90s Leafs, the son of a grain farmer became a fan favourite.
Tracey Sauer, mayor of Kelvington, announced at the ceremony that South Railway Avenue in the town would be re-named Wendel Clark Way.
“Wendel always did things his own way, so that’s why we said ‘Wendel Clark Way,” Sauer told CKRM Radio. “That street runs by the (grain) elevator, where his family and his dad spent a lot of time, and by the rink, which again they spent a lot of time.”