ABERG GETS HIS CHANCE WITH LEAFS ON WESTERN ROAD TRIP
Talented winger called up from Marlies, set to play on line with Matthews, Nylander
On the same Toronto Marlies practice rink where he toiled in anonymity for two months, Pontus Aberg found himself on left wing with Auston Matthews and William Nylander and about to get on a jet for a weeklong western trip with the Maple Leafs.
But the leading scorer on the farm team certainly earned the first look after Andreas Johnsson was moved to long-term reserve earlier Friday with an undisclosed leg injury.
“I worked hard down there and I’m finally getting a chance,” Aberg said. “I’ve got the production going, and even though it’s in the minors, it’s been my best year. I’m happy to get the call. I hope I can take advantage.”
The bonus for Aberg is his strong start down the road at Coca-cola Coliseum, 24 points in 22 games, had lots to do with head coach Sheldon Keefe, who was promoted to the Leafs seven games ago after Mike Babcock was fired.
“He was positive towards me since I got down there and he had a smile when I walked in here today,” Aberg said. “A great coach and a great human being.
“Training camp wasn’t that great for me, but I got into new systems more and more. I was able to play my game, a lot of minutes and power play, too.
“Those are two players (Matthews and Nylander) you want to play with. If you can’t get the puck, you can’t score.”
On a team needing better offensive results after disappointing back-to-back losses and the upcoming challenge of a long Western road trip, Keefe didn’t hesitate asking GM Kyle Dubas to get Aberg up and put him right with two forwards who’ve had their dry spells even when the plucky Johnsson was around.
“The biggest thing, he’s played in the league, he’s scored in the league, he’s had success in the league,” Keefe said of Aberg’s 43 points in 127 games with Nashville, Anaheim, Edmonton and Minnesota. “He’s been with good players and, coaching him in the AHL, I’ve seen what he’s capable of when playing at his best. We’re going to give him an opportunity here to show he can belong.”
Aberg thrived with the Marlies as a scorer and playmaker, often with Pierre Engvall, who is also with the Leafs. He surprises goalies with his one-timer on the man advantage from the circle and eludes bigger opponents who have tried to squash him.
“He’s got a great skill set and ability to carry the puck, make a play, shoot and score,” Keefe added. “But he can also skate very well. And some of our best defensive clips, in terms of earning the puck back when I was with the Marlies, he was the guy leading the way.
“He won’t play for us as much as with the Marlies, but he’ll have to find a way to impact the game. He’ll get a chance with good players.”
Matthews, with no goals and one point in five games, is enthused.
“We saw him a little bit in camp, I played with him on the same (scrimmage) team. You get the sense he’s pretty shifty. He and Willy have a relationship (both Swedes, Aberg from Stockholm), so hopefully we can mesh well and create some offence.
“Andreas is tenacious, he makes plays, he’s small, but not afraid to go in (high-traffic) areas and come out with the puck. But injuries happen and we have to move on until he recovers.”
The Leafs did say Johnsson will be reassessed after Christmas. In a painful way, the club did get some salary cap breathing room due to the Johnsson injury, which came on a shot block Wednesday in the 3-1 loss to Colorado.
The Leafs were set to meet the Blues on Saturday with no reserve players after Mitch Marner’s reactivated contract pushed them right to the Us$81.5-million ceiling. Freeing up Johnsson’s $3.4 million provided room for Aberg and the recall of the two players demoted Wednesday to make room for Marner, winger Nic Petan and defenceman Martin Marincin.
After St. Louis, the trip winds through Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, three teams Aberg is familiar with from his days in the Western Conference.
I’ve got the production going, and even though it’s in the minors, it’s been my best year. I’m happy to get the call. I hope I can take advantage.