Borgman has size for blue line
Defenceman edges out smooth skating compatriot Rosen for one of final spots
The Winnipeg Jets and their raucous fans are going to rekindle some favoured memories for centre Eric Fehr when the Leafs open their season Wednesday night. They’re also going to create some new ones for defenceman Andreas Borgman.
The two players survived the final day of cuts Tuesday, and will open the regular season with the Leafs in Winnipeg on Wednesday.
“Yes, of course, that’s what you dream for your whole life,” said Borgman, who beat out fellow Swede Calle Rosen for the sixth spot on the Leafs’ blue line. The team opted for Borgman’s bodychecking largesse over Rosen’s smooth skating.
Rosen, who had a terrific camp, will start the season with the Marlies along with the team’s top draft pick, Timothy Liljegren. Incumbent Martin Marincin will open as the Leafs’ extra defenceman while Roman Polak, who has been released from his professional tryout, will continue to skate with the Leafs.
Marincin’s three years of experience in the NHL gave him an edge over Rosen, who will get to play regularly with the Marlies and who will likely be the first call-up. Another deciding factor was the fact that Marincin required waivers to be sent to the AHL, while Rosen didn’t.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock admitted size played a role in the Borgman-Rosen decision.
“I just think the biggest thing is, when you’re heavy … my buddy is a fireman, and he always tells me … when you drive a big vehicle, no matter how many airbags are in the little vehicle, the big vehicle wins every time,” Babcock said.
“Well, when you’re 230 (pounds) and you’re bumping into 190, the bigger guy wins. So that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything different than anyone else, but the wear and tear of the league, there’s heavy guys . . . and when you run into him (Borgman), people fall over.
“His edges are elite as well, so he can make that good breakout pass. Now, does he have a lot to learn? Absolutely. But we like a lot of things about him.”
Borgman, who couldn’t help breaking out a hint of a smile after Tuesday’s practice, said his mother, Jenny, and stepfather, Jesper, would be staying up late in Stockholm to watch the Leafs-Jets game Wednesday.
It will be a thrilling first NHL game for the entire family, with mother Jenny (a nurse) and father Jesper (who works for an elevator company) sending their best wishes to Winnipeg for Borgman’s NHL debut.
“I think I’ve done OK,” Borgman said. “I have some stuff to work on, but I feel I’m learning and playing pretty good,” Borgman said. “It’s more system stuff, I think my strength and skating are pretty good.”
Fehr, meanwhile, grew up in Winkler, Man., about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, and became a Teemu Selanne fan from an early age.
“It’s always exciting for me to be playing in Winnipeg,” Fehr said. “I grew up watching the Jets, and to be coming back to Winnipeg, with a team that has all the history that the Leafs do, is awesome.
“I watched Selanne’s rookie year (when he scored 76 goals, a freshman record) and he was one of my favourites growing up.”
Now a 13-year NHL veteran, Fehr was part of the season opening group of 14 forwards the Leafs announced Monday after reducing their training camp roster to 26. Fehr’s only remaining hurdle was whether he or Dominic Moore would be centring the fourth line to start the season.
Fehr, though, has overcome a devastating broken finger he suffered last March after blocking a third period shot in a game against Columbus.
“I dip it in hot wax every morning, it kinda warms it up,” Fehr said of the ring finger on his left hand.
“It’s still sore, but I can get it around astick. It’s my top hand, so I do a lot of stick checking and poking with it. On faceoffs, my bottom hand is the strong hand there, so there isn’t any (effect).”
The Leafs placed Joffrey Lupul on long-term injured reserve after he failed a second medical, this one ordered by the NHL. Lupul is owed $5.3 million this season, but the figure will not count against the salary cap.