Leafs take inspiration from legendary Bower
New dressing room message seems drawn from goalie’s approach to his NHL career
The Leafs were greeted with a new, inspirational message in their dressing room upon their return from their bye-week break.
The walls above their dressing stalls were adorned with the new phrase: “It’s a privilege, not a right.”
The previous saying asked the players to “Play fast, play right.”
The new message is believed to have been taken as a kind of summation of the feelings expressed by family and friends during the celebrations of Johnny Bower’s life. A crest with the initials “JB” were positioned on each side of the phrase.
“It’s a nice way to honour a man of his calibre,” Leafs centre Auston Matthews said.
NEW NUMBER: Defenceman Travis Dermott and centre Frederik Gauthier eturned to the Leafs Monday after being loaned to the Marlies during the break. Both were obviously happy to be back in the NHL.
For Dermott, the return came with a change in numbers. The 21-yearold, who wore No. 3 in his first two big-league games of his career, had No. 23 on his helmet when he came into the Leafs’ dressing room Monday. He said it wasn’t his doing.
“I won’t be coming in here and telling anyone what number I want anytime soon,” Dermott said, smiling. “I came in and it was on my helmet.”
LEARNING CURVE: Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has been talking regularly with Dermott, ever since the Leafs’ overtime loss to Columbus last week, when the rookie blueliner didn’t box out enough on a play that led to a Columbus goal.
“There are big guys down there (in the AHL) but they may not be as skilled,” Dermott said. “I have to make sure I get between guys (and the net), I have to make sure I box them out.”
OLYMPIC ENVY: Babcock was asked about his feelings for the Olympic hockey tournament now that the roster for the Canadian men’s team has been announced.
Babcock, who led Canada to gold medals the last two Games, would likely have been named head coach again if the NHL and the IIHF could have come to an agreement. Instead, the tournament will go on without the best the NHL has to offer.
“I talked to (the Team Canada executive),” Babcock said. “What do I think? I’m jealous, and a lot of the players in the NHL would be jealous too. It’s only the best sporting event ever.”
DANAULT DAZED: Montreal coach Claude Julien isn’t sure how long forward Phillip Danault will be out after suffering a concussion when struck in the head by a Zdeno Chara slapshot. All Julien knows for sure is Danault won’t make a road trip to Boston on Wednesday and Washington on Friday.
“I haven’t talked to him yet purposely because he’s still having headaches Julien said. “So just to give him a bit of space here.”
The 24-year-old was hit on the side of the head by a rising point shot from the big Boston defenceman on Saturday. With files from The Canadian Press