The good old rookie game
They’re NHL playoff frosh, one year after Leaf fledglings were all the rage in Toronto.
Perhaps that storyline just plumb wore itself out because the chronicling of their exploits has been rather less vivid and exhaustive.
But Travis Dermott, the defenceman, and Andreas Johnsson, the winger, have been essential factors in the post-season, each quickly absorbing the rhythms and frenzy of The Second Season.
Dermott, the 21-year-old who grew up in Newmarket, his bedroom awash in Maple Leaf paraphernalia — Leaf blanket, Leaf pillows, Leaf posters on the wall, a photo of his boy-cave tweeted out on the day he was drafted by Toronto — is well familiar with the city’s hockey craziness at this time of year, when included in the playoff jousting.
He used to own a Gary Roberts jersey. And a Curtis Joseph jersey. And a jersey where the back of the sweater was left blank. Now he’s seen kids on the street wearing his.
“Pretty cool,” he was saying after the morning skate, in a dressing room choked with wall-to-wall media as the hours ticked down to an elimination Game 6 versus Boston. “No, I’ve never gone up and said ‘That’s me!’ You can’t be like that.”
Well why the hell not? Since this has always been his heart’s desire. “Best time of my life. It’s the stuff you dream about your whole childhood as a Canadian hockey player, a little guy growing up. This is my first shot at it. I’m just trying to take it all in.’’
Not even the fact that he entered Monday night’s tilt with a minus-3 and zero points — stats that wouldn’t change in a 3-1 Leaf win — could knock the smile off his face.
A sponge, Dermott has been, on and off the ice, and a trusted player for his coach despite his babe-in-the-playoffs status — racking up the best puck-possession stats on the back end with partner Roman Polak in Games 1 through 4, five-onfive. Game 5 was a bit of an adventure, for everybody.
Bit of a tweak from Mike Babcock, however, at his face-the-scrum later on.
“He’s got a lot to learn. Confidence is one of those things, you’ve got it one day in the National Hockey League and it goes away quickly. You’ve got to keep your nerve. You’ve got to continue to make plays and you’ve got to be good defensively.
“Defence stands out a lot more. You’re on the ice and the puck goes in, the coach remembers that. So, the guy who puts you out wants you to be safe.’’ Don’t screw up. “Then he wants you to make plays, but be safe first.”
Dermott gets all that. More of an eye-opener has been the game-inside-the-game drama, the plots, the trash-talking. Led by brash Brad Marchand, the Bruins are expert at it, needling the rookie. Though the rookie, uncowed, needles back.
“That stuff can get in your head pretty easily, or you make more mistakes and then you’re going to be sitting beside the coach for the rest of the game.
“I’ve got a couple of shots in, couple of words thrown around. Anyone who’s up for a little bit. Nothing like Leo going at it with Marchand.’’ Do tell. “Ah, it’s not even stuff that makes you mad half the time. It’s kind of funny stuff that you can brush off. But it’s hockey, guys are competitive. You know it’s nothing personal, but anything to get your team on edge, you know? Some guys go about it in a way that you can’t help but laugh. I don’t know if they’re trying to make you laugh or trying to make you mad. Usually I end up laughing. I’ve got a couple of shots in, couple of words thrown around. Anyone who’s up for a little bout. Nothing like Leo going at it with Marchand.” Leo Komarov, who was pecked on the cheek by Marchand in the series opener, during that Beantown beatdown. Has the Bruins busser ever tried to lick Dermott’s cheek? “I’d be honoured,” he deadpans.
Across the room, Johnsson, son of former NHLer and long-time Swedish Hockey League fixture Jonas Johnson (note the difference is surname spellings), is also on the subject of words. Mostly how the laterblooming rookie used to get frustrated and flustered over his inability to express himself properly in English, a language he grew up studying in school, as all Swedish students do.
“Now I’m more comfortable with it. I can say wrong sometimes — s--t I said wrong — but I don’t care anymore. The guys will understand some of it.”
Johnsson was called up from the Marlies in mid-March and scored his first career NHL goal in his second game, against Montreal. No need for a translator on that occasion — his toothy grin spoke volumes. Just as it did after his first playoff goal in Saturday night’s 4-3 nail-chewer of a win, which kept the Leafs alive.
“I was not supposed to play from the beginning,’’ he says of his playoff introduction. “Then we got the suspension.” (Note the “we” rather than finger Nazem Kadri, whose nasty Game 1 hit on Tommy Wingels opened the door for Johnsson.) “All of a sudden I’m playing for the Stanley Cup. Everything has moved so fast, everything is so new. More fans, more media, so many things to be aware of every day.”
Alate 2013 draft pick, the 23-year-old took a longer, winding road to the Leafs, remaining in Sweden with the Frolunda club for three seasons.
“I took my time. I wasn’t in a rush. But I was playing pro hockey in Sweden. I think that made me a better hockey player. I never doubted myself. The only doubt is, am I good enough for the NHL?”
Any such angst has been erased. Johnsson made a smooth transition from the Marlies, a segue made more seamless because both teams employ similar systems. On a quasi fourth line with Kasperi Kapanen, the Swede and the Finn routinely lift fans out of their seats by flashing explosive speed.
“Speed has always been natural for me, since I was a kid. The biggest difference this season is, I’ve worked a lot with my balance.’’
Toiled with skating coaches back home over the summer and fitness trainers off the ice.
“I have better glide today. Before, I was fast but I couldn’t really (glide) that good.’’ He laughs at the admission. “I got tired fast. I’d been really fast one shift but then I was so tired the next shift, I couldn’t have the same explosiveness. Now, with the better glide, I can be faster more shifts than one.”
With Frolunda, Johnsson won an SHL championship in 2016. As with Stanley Cup victors, players were permitted to take the Le Mat Trophy on celebratory walkabouts. “If you were lucky enough, you could bring it home and sleep with it.” He was not so lucky. “I was supposed to, but then an older guy came and took it.”
Those big-footin’ Swedish bullies.