Leafs’ talent, skill level has team brass excited but GM warns it’s still ‘a process’
It’s safe to say Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello likes what he has seen out of his club so far this season, despite just two wins in seven games. A combination of energetic hockey from the stable of rookies and leadership from a core of still-young veterans has Lamoriello believing the franchise has the right building blocks in place. The GM answered questions Friday:
Is it a slam dunk that Mitch Marner remains with the Leafs after the 10 game threshold, which means the first year of his entry level contract is fully validated?
“There’s no thought process with Mitch Marner doing anything but playing here (with the Leafs). We’ve never looked at it like last year with William Nylander. Mitch is here and he’s establishing himself in the league, and getting better every day.”
So, what’s your first impression of Marner ?
“I can give you the same one for all seven of our younger players: It’s their first full year in the NHL, they all have different abilities and things to work on. In Mitch’s case, he has a talent for seeing people on the ice, that is exceptional, and he has been that way since junior. So now, it’s how quickly he can adapt to the game, the size and the speed here … and to play when you don’t have the puck. They (young players) are used to having the puck all the time, but now you have to play without it … But up to this point, there’s no question we’re pleased with what Mitch has done.”
Are you concerned with Frederik Andersen and the fact that some goalies, when they arrive on a new team, sometimes put too much pressure on themselves?
“It’s never been a concern with Freddie as far as his abilities . . . he’s proven to be a winner, his abilities are proven, and he’s been a winner in the playoffs. And, yes, I’ve had one of the better goalies to ever play the game (Martin Brodeur in New Jersey), and there was Corey Schneider too … and they went through different things. Freddie is no different . . . they put pressure on themselves, they want to win, and that’s great. But we made this decision to acquire Freddie for the right reasons, we’re in it for the long haul . . . and we were pleased for him with the result Thursday (a 3-2 win over Florida).”
How long can you go with defenceman Frank Corrado as a healthy scratch. He also sat almost two months last season.
“It’s always a concern, but this is a new season and it’s only been seven games. Right now, there’s eight defenceman and it’s not that he hasn’t played well. It has nothing to do with that … he performed well in camp and made the team but it’s what it is when other guys are playing well in front of you.”
What’s your overall impression of the way the team has performed? It has averaged 3.60 goals per game, but has also allowed goals at the same 3.60 rate.
“We’re really excited, with the future as well as the present, but keeping in mind, in the present, we go through peaks and valleys. We have young players being very excited to be in the NHL, then they realize there’s another team out there. Overall, our excitement is with the skill and talent of our young players, but also the commitment of our veterans. I think we have the core and foundation of who the Leafs are. Our coaching staff has 100 per cent grip on all of this, in terms of moving it along, and understanding it’s a process. We’ve overused that word at times, but the fact is, it is a process.”