Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Steckel to Play Opening Night vs. Habs, Connolly Update & Brown's 'Stache

October 5, 2011, 4:13 PM ET [ Comments]
Ken Beckett
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
When the new season kicks off, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have another new face in the lineup.

Newly acquired David Steckel revealed after practice that he would be in the lineup when the Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens for the 2011-12 home opener on Thursday.

The 29-year old centreman said that while Leafs fans may have been surprised by the trade, he was not. Steckel added that he was ready to play in a great hockey market like Toronto.

"No I was not surprised," Steckel said of the trade. "Sat down and had a meeting with management in New Jersey, and it just wasn't going to work out. I was fortunate enough that Mr. Lamoriello was kind enough to get something done for me."

"I think this is the first time this many cameras have been around for a practice before. It's going to be great. There's a rich tradition and history here and I'm lucky to be a part of it."

When the trade to acquire Steckel was announced, some questioned why the Leafs would need another centremen. Leafs head coach Ron Wilson explained it is a problem he likes to have.

"The problem you get is when you don't have enough centres or wingers who've never played centre" Wilson said. "If a centreman goes down in the game, who steps in and takes face-offs? So I'd rather have more centres and the centres can play on the wing. It's easy to play the wing if you're a centreman. It's difficult to play centre if you're just a winger."

Steckel wore number 20 and practiced on the third line alongside Philippe Dupuis and Colby Armstrong. The newest Leaf practiced on the left wing, but with his high rate of success on face-offs, he will stay on the wing but still take plenty of draws.

Wilson explained that the addition of Steckel would greatly help in two areas where the team has struggled at.

"Dave is going to help a lot on face-offs," Wilson said. "That's something that outside of Tyler Bozak, that we might be a little weak at right now. And that will help our penalty killing. Because if he can continue to win 60 percent of the face-offs rather than some of the guys winning 42 or 43 percent, that just improves your odds when you get the puck down the ice on the PK."

To make room for Steckel on the roster, Joey Crabb was assigned to the Toronto Marlies. Wilson wouldn't comment on who would be scratched for the home opener on Thursday, but it does not appear as if Tim Connolly will be in the lineup.

Connolly did practice on Wednesday but he was on an extra line, playing with the suspended Clarke MacArthur and tough guy Colton Orr. The Leafs' official site also has Connolly listed on the injured reserve.

Toronto Maple Leafs Practice Lines

Forwards
Matt Frattin - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin
Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
David Steckel - Philippe Dupuis - Colby Armstrong
Jay Rosehill - Matt Lombardi - Mike Brown
Clarke MacArthur - Tim Connolly - Colton Orr

Defencemen
Dion Phaneuf - Carl Gunnarson
John-Michael Liles - Luke Schenn
Jake Gardiner - Mike Komisrek
Cody Franson

In addition to the new acquisition in Steckel, Leaf fans will see something else different on Thursday.

Mike Brown will be without his trademark handlebar moustache. The gritty forward shaved it off, explaining that perhaps it would bring a change in fortune after an injury plagued 2010-11 season.

"I took the puck in the face and it was kind of getting all crooked from the swelling," Brown said. "And just from all the injuries, I figured change something up and maybe change my luck around a little bit."

For up-to-the-minute Leafs news and updates, be sure to follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @KenBeckett
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Ken Beckett
» Going Camping - Leafs Announce Prospect Camp Roster
» Leafs at NHL Draft - Day 2 - Finn-ish Flash, Monster Moved and More!
» Ready for Rielly - Leafs Select Morgan Rielly Fifth Overall at NHL Draft
» 'Marked by Failure' - Brian Burke Apologizes, Reflects on Leafs' Season
» Max-imum Effort - Pacioretty Scores Game Winner as Habs Dump Leafs