TORONTO (Sep. 26) -- The league-wide repugnance towards Philadelphia’s Steve Downie for his obliteration last night of Ottawa’s Dean McAmmond spilled into the Maple Leafs’ dressing room after the club’s morning skate today. The Leafs host Buffalo in an exhibition game tonight at the Air Canada Centre.
Veteran Jason Blake had these comments about Downie: “I’ve got one thought… the kid should not be [allowed] to ever play in the league again. There’s no place in hockey for that. Our game is supposed to be fun, exciting, fast… and safe in the same breath. To watch that last night, it’s just unacceptable. Guys like [Downie] should either be suspended or kicked out of the league. To leave your point-man and run a guy all the way from the blueline… I mean, one day, a player is not going to get up. So, something needs to be done about hits of that nature.”
When asked about Downie’s claim that he has to play like that in order to crack the Flyers’ roster, Blake replied: “Has to play like what? That’s just a dumb comment from a kid that’s not going to make the Philadelphia Flyers. I mean, I watched the play over and over, and to see him hit Dean McAmmond with his head down, going full bore, and leaving his feet… [McAmmond] could have died last night. There’s absolutely no place in hockey for that and, if you ask me, [Downie] shouldn’t even be allowed to play hockey in the NHL again.”
Leafs’ enforcer Wade Belak plays the game close to the edge, and he incurred the wrath of the NHL in March, 2004 when he high-sticked Colorado defenceman Ossi Vaananen over the helmet, making a loud, cracking noise that echoed through the Air Canada Centre. He was handed an eight-game suspension for the incident, but Belak is not a head-hunter, and he also had harsh words for Downie.
“It was just a dirty hit, and I hope they really throw the book at him. You know, I did a stupid thing with that stick swinging, though it was unintentional. But, I’ve never taken a deliberate run at an opponent like that. Or blindly tried to hurt someone. I mean, he obviously tried to take [McAmmond’s] head off. But, the big problem is there is no fear factor in the game anymore, and there hasn’t been since the dumb instigator rule went in. I blame the league for that. When I came into the NHL, if I had done something like Downie, I think my own teammates would have slapped me around. If a guy does that, he SHOULD have 20 guys [from the other team] jumping over the boards and beating the crap out of him. He deserves it and it’s not going to happen again… he’ll think twice before he does it. Instead, you grab a player, try to get even for a teammate, and you get five [minutes], a game [misconduct] and other discipline… all for what? It’s a joke. I’m not the only player who will tell you this. We do need to police situations ourselves, to a degree. There has to be some sort of fear factor out there. Otherwise, first-year players like [Downie] can come in and hurt a veteran like McAmmond.”
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Coach Paul Maurice will play a line-up tonight against Buffalo that closely resembles what the Leafs will look like a week from tonight, in their regular-season opener against Ottawa. Only Alexei Ponikarovsky, Andy Wozniewski, Kris Newbury and Simon Gamache will not dress tonight among those who will likely make the team.
Youngsters Jiri Tlusty and Anton Stralman get another look against the Sabres. Tlusty has not been out of place in the Maple Leafs’ camp this fall, but neither has he done anything to distinguish himself. He’s an excellent skater and he will benefit from a solid season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. With Carlo Colaiacovo nursing a sore knee, Stralman has a chance to stick with the Leafs, as Maurice said today he has no aversion to carrying eight defenceman on the 23-man roster. In the same breath, however, Maurice reiterated that he does not want his young players sitting in the press box in the NHL.
“No, they have to be playing full time up here, or full time with the Marlies,” Maurice said. “With [Stralman], we’ve talked about the difference between the first four and last four exhibition games. He’s been really good in the rookie camp and I’m looking for that to continue now against better players, and playing with better players. We’re really looking for Anton to show an improvement in his overall game. Most young players at the Week 2 to Week 3 mark of training camp go one of two directions: Either their bodies and minds allow them to get stronger and do more, or the wear and tear of their first NHL camp takes its toll and you really see a drop-off in speed and puck-handling, and things like that.
“We’re looking for a stronger physical performance from Anton -- not necessarily in hitting, but in terms of confidence, moving the puck and moving his legs.”
And, physical performance, as mentioned several times in this corner, is Stralman’s Achilles heel right now -- as it is for virtually all young defencemen trying to break into the NHL. Particularly those who have not been exposed to an abrasive brand of hockey in Europe. Even Borje Salming, the best European player the Leafs have ever developed, took a couple of seasons to adjust to the physical nature of North American play. The NHL isn’t quite as violent on a nightly basis as it was back then (in the mid-1970s), but physical acumen is still a must for a blueliner… unless he has a particular skill-set that is so far advanced, he is able to compensate. Tomas Kaberle is the perfect example. For a relatively big man, Kaberle is easily knocked astray in his own zone, but his patience in handling the puck, and his keen passing eye, are enough to overcome whatever weakness he has.
Stralman’s entire package -- though highly tantalizing -- isn’t sufficient yet to displace either of Colaiacovo or Ian White on the Leafs’ blueline. But, he looms as a prime prospect and he should get a look from the Leafs during the season when injuries begin to mount.
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