Bozak still has links to Denver

DENVER There have been some low points for Tyler Bozak as a Toronto Maple Leaf, but he’s come “home” to a Rocky Mountain high.

Few in Toronto had heard of Bozak or knew much about the University of Denver’s program back in 2009, but with persuasion from NCAA-friendly GM Brian Burke, the centre spurned other NHL offers to sign with Toronto. Bozak was part of the short-lived “Frat Pack with Christian Hanson and Viktor Stalberg and later took heat as a supposedly unsuitable centre for Phil Kessel. A string of 30-goal seasons for Kessel and Bozak getting 100-plus points since the Pittsburgh trade weigh in his favour.

All of the above players have moved on now, along with nearly all the Leaf roster from the Burke-Ron Wilson days — yet Bozak has persevered. He became a plank in the Leaf rebuild to the point of playing his 550th game on Thursday in Arizona, moving him past Tod Sloan to 25th in franchise history.

Which allowed him to savour his return on Friday to his off-season home and summer training base. Bozak could be an unrestricted free agent next summer as he completes the last season of a US$4.2- million deal. “It’s always fun coming here, it’s where I have a lot of friends and I’ve had some success there (at the Pepsi Center) when I’ve played,” Bozak said before Friday’s game.

Bozak has a place near Cherry Creek, southeast of downtown. In an earlier interview, he said that’s where he keeps some pictures of his most memorable day as a Leaf, scoring the shootout winner before more than 105,000 fans at the 2014 NHL Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich.

“It’s a nice area and a lot of guys I work out with in the summer live there, a great group of guys. A lot of buddies played different sports in school; lacrosse or whatever and some just work in Denver in other jobs. ”

He married Molly Robinson this past summer and their young son, Kanon, loves coming to the ACC to tap the glass in Leafs warm-up, though he’s too young to stay up through three periods. Bozak, who was born in Regina, has credited the serious workout time in Denver for helping extend his career into his early 30s.

Such experience makes Bozak the go-to guy for advice on surviving in the Mile High City.

“Nothing you can do, it’s going to affect you a little bit for sure,” Bozak said. “You just have to try keep your shifts short.