CANUCKS: Josh Leivo ‘excited’ to be getting opportunity with new team
New winger hopes his fortunes improve with familiar No. 17 on back of his jersey
There’s getting to play a game in the NHL. Then there’s getting the chance to play a bigger role on your team than you might have had before.
And then there’s the chance to do all of that in the jersey number you’ve always liked best.
For Josh Leivo, the newest Canuck, the latter two appear set to become reality.
He was playing on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ fourth line, but with the return of William Nylander, his spot as a regular was likely gone. Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas had promised Leivo in the summer that if there wasn’t a regular spot for him in the Big Smoke, he’d look to move him to a team that could give him more playing time.
Enter the Vancouver Canucks and possibly a chance to play with Bo Horvat right off the hop.
“It’s exciting,” Leivo said after Tuesday’s morning skate. “I might be playing with some good players.”
Leivo has played 84 NHL games since 2014-15, when he first hopped on the AHL/NHL shuttle with the Leafs. He’s scored 14 goals in that time, suggesting he’s got offensive potential if he plays higher up in the lineup.
He was also among the Leafs’ best forwards in shot-attempts percentage. For a player playing limited minutes, that suggests a smart game sense.
Playing on the fourth line “you’re more about forecheck, sticking with the basics,” he said.
In a bigger role, he’ll be looking to create scoring chances. But he’s not putting the cart before the horse, emphasizing he’s arrived in Vancouver with no expectations about his role, even if he’s hoping for a chance to show he’s more than a depth winger.
“Wherever Greener (coach Travis Green) puts me, I’m ready to go,” he said.
Green said he wants to see how Leivo does on one of the top-three lines.
“I watched him on the ice, it looks like he moves around pretty well and has a pretty good shot,” he said. “I think he understands the game. He’s been well-coached in Toronto.”
The trade didn’t surprise Leivo. He’d been thinking about it all summer. Monday morning he was flipped to Vancouver for minor-leaguer Michael Carcone and then it was all about flying west to join his new team.
Leivo had time to pack a suitcase before heading to the airport. Of course, his flight west wasn’t a straightforward affair, as they had to change planes because of mechanical trouble. But he woke up in his new city on Tuesday morning and met his new teammates. He also got a nice surprise: being able to wear No. 17, like he has for most of his nonNHL career.
“I was excited,” he said of finding out the number was available.
Since the Leafs had No. 17 out of circulation — they retired it officially two years ago in honour of former captain Wendel Clark — Leivo never wore his favoured number while with the organization. He wore No. 14 with the minor-league Marlies, and No. 32 with the big club.
“It’s always been that number,” he said. It’s his father’s old number and the Leivo kids have worn No. 17 whenever possible, he said. “My sisters were ecstatic.” His dad has always rushed out to buy a Leivo No. 17 jersey.
“He can’t wait for a Canucks jersey,” he said.
As for Vancouver, he’s only ever been here on Leafs’ road trips. But he’s excited to explore.
“A lot of hiking, I hear,” he said. “That’s good.”