National Post (National Edition)
Ozzy ‘can be an impact player’ for the Leafs
Russian could already be a fit on defence
Igor Ozhiganov continues to lead by example. Considering the Russian defenceman’s grasp of English is not yet at a conversational level, there has been little other way for the 25-yearold to go during his first Maple Leafs training camp.
What is most important is that Ozhiganov mostly has been doing a bang-up job while he is on the ice and it’s perhaps telling that the right-shooting rearguard has remained with the regular NHL players now that Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has split the club into two groups for the last four games of the pre-season.
“You look at him and it’s easy to see he can be an impact player,” defenceman Travis Dermott said Monday after the Leafs’ morning practices at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto. “He is picking up on the little things on the ice and that’s really all that matters now.”
Fellow defenceman Morgan Rielly was of a similar mind about Ozhiganov, who was signed in May to a oneyear entry level contract. He has been making a smooth transition after spending the past six seasons in the KHL.
“I think he has been outstanding,” Rielly said. “That night in Lucan, (Ont., Sept. 18 against Ottawa in the preseason opener), he was really good and then it has been building from there.
“One thing him and Z (Nikita Zaitsev) have in common is they just want to be so good. There is a trait that leads back to work ethic and strength and Ozzy has that.
“And guys really love it when someone comes over from another country and all he wants to do is learn English and be part of the team, part of the crew. It’s a good feeling.”
Before declaring whether 6-foot-2, 210-pound Ozhiganov makes team, Babcock is playing the wait-and-see game until the pre-season is finished.
Maple Leafs veterans will be on the ice in Montreal against the Canadiens Wednesday and, in all likelihood, in the final pre-season game Saturday in Detroit versus the Red Wings. After playing host to Montreal on Monday night, there also remains a home date for the Leafs against Detroit on Friday.
With the end of the pre-season in sight and with the NHL group now able to sharpen its focus together, Babcock is getting some answers where there might not necessarily have been questions.
Regarding Auston Matthews, Babcock said the centre is “at another level right now and his speed through the neutral zone is going to help anybody.”
Wingers Tyler Ennis and Josh Leivo, hungry to stick with the big club and without guarantees of a job, have shown progression.
Dermott is keeping his fingers crossed he can return from a minor shoulder injury to play in Montreal, but said that if the Leafs were in the midst of a playoff round, he would be in the lineup.
Defenceman Calle Rosen has had a solid camp after excelling for the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies in their Calder Cup run last spring and again was partnered with Ozhiganov Monday at practice.
The on-the-bubble defencemen who are with the group that is mostly made up of Marlies include Connor Carrick, Justin Holl and Andreas Borgman.
Ozhiganov, Rosen, Borgman and Dermott would not require waivers to be sent to the Marlies. Holl and Carrick would.
“There are lots of guys in the mix for a job and we will continue to watch and not get too fired up about anything until it’s time to make that decision,” Babcock said. “That’s why I don’t have to worry about those guys. They solve it for you.”
Meanwhile, forward Zach Hyman was absent from practice as he recovers from a hip pointer suffered against the Buffalo Sabres Friday night at Scotiabank Arena. And Frederik Gauthier (shoulder) continues to practise with the NHL group while wearing a red sweater, signifying his injury.
“He is feeling way better,” Babcock said of Hyman. “There is no sense rushing Hyman. We will take it on the slow side for sure.”
I THINK HE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.