Father knows best for Bozak
TORONTO Tyler Bozak thinks all kids should listen to their dads.
In Bozak’s case, it helped the Maple Leafs centre become a wizard in the faceoff circle.
Bozak’s father, Mitch, had a habit of reminding his son the importance of winning draws. So the younger Bozak, while growing up in Regina, practised a lot.
“My dad emphasized it with me at a young age when not many kids were really focused on it,” Bozak said. “He thought it was part of the game that was important and would help me get to the next level.
“It was something I never liked doing, I never liked practising it, it was like, ‘Ah, this doesn’t matter.’ But looking back, it helped me a ton and helped me round out my game.”
Before NHL games on Friday, Bozak was fourth with a faceoff-winning percentage of 57.7 per cent.
Only Ryan Kesler of the Anaheim Ducks (No. 1 at 59 per cent), Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks (58.5 per cent) and Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes (58.1 per cent) were better at the dot than Bozak.
Bozak has been effective with the skill since his days as a rookie in 2009-10, when he appeared in 37 games with the Leafs. That year, Bozak came in at 55.2 per cent; in the five seasons between that one and this one, he has not finished lower than 25th in the NHL except 2013-14, when he dipped to 61st with a 48.7 per cent winning percentage.
Otherwise, Bozak has not been below 52.6 per cent at the end of a season.
“You always want to play the power play, and if you can be a guy who can win the faceoff, you are going to get a lot of opportunities out there,” Bozak said.
“I have had a lot of good help from my wingers this year, getting in there and winning lots of those 50/50 battles.”
Maturation, knowing how to cheat a bit and getting the odd break from the linesmen has helped Bozak’s prowess.
“You get older, you get stronger, you learn new things,” Bozak said. “A lot of it is mental.
“When you see the same guys over and over again, you tend to learn what they do and what their plan of attack is going into it. Being nice to the linesmen, getting a little leeway here and there, that usually helps.”