Kapanen makes case to stay with Leafs
Scoring in bunches could take the potent Toronto Maple Leafs a long way in 2017-18.
But if there’s not yet a term for defending in bunches, coach Mike Babcock will likely coin one.
Playing effectively away from the puck and retrieving it will be key to Toronto getting back into the playoffs and beyond, maybe even more so than how many goals Auston Matthews scores or Frederik Andersen’s net worth.
Twelve-year NHL veteran forward Eric Fehr assessed that all quite succinctly when asked his
observations of the team as training camp ends.
“When we’re working and playing as a five-man unit, the sky’s the limit for this team,’’ said Fehr. “(But) you can see when we’re not working and we have breakdowns, things can spiral pretty quickly.
“So it’s important for our team to stay focused and make sure we are not getting ahead of ourselves, realizing that it’s the will that’s going to win it, not the skill.”
Case in point was winger Kasperi Kapanen’s work in Saturday’s final pre-season tune-up against Detroit, a 3-2 Wings’ victory in a shootout. Though it must frustrate the Finn to be among those on the bubble to make the roster considering his work in last year’s playoffs, his penalty-killing and checking presence will be a major asset to the Leafs if he makes the roster.
“Penalty killing is something I started last year and I feel I’m getting better at it,” said Kapanen, who was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014. “There are some things I need to get better at on it, but there’s always the opportunity to score when you’re on the ice. It’s a lot of fun.”
WILL POLAK BE BACK?
Roman Polak, looking at an uncertain future as his PTO ends, was relieved to make his pre-season debut in the Saturday game, if for no other reason than peace of mind that his broken leg has healed.
“I was excited,” the 31-year-old defenceman said. “I haven’t played since April, so I was happy to play a little game with the boys. I was working hard during the summer and through the camp. I said I would play when I felt good and we decided it would be the last game. Everything felt OK. I felt like myself out there.”