Bozak Named NHL Third Star Of The Week, Marner Tallies In Win Over Denmark

Tyler Bozak may have not been the answer for the Toronto Maple Leafs as a top line center, but the 29-year-old has proved critics wrong by being the best the club has up the middle and by performing at a high level without former line mate Phil Kessel on his wing.

Bozak scored a hat trick in a 7-4 victory over Colorado on December 21 and added the Leafs opening goal in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday, earning him the NHL Third Star of the Week.

Tyler Bozak makes it 1-0. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/Oqga58DErZ

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 28, 2015

Playing with James van Riemsdyk and PA Parenteau, Bozak is tied for second on the Maple Leafs with Leo Komarov with 24 points (9 goals and 15 assists) in 30 games, leads the club in face-off winning percentage(54.8%) and is second to van Riemsdyk in power play points (8), in spite of averaging almost a minute less ice time than Nazem Kadri.

Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau and Dallas goalie Antti Niemi were named First and Second Star of the Week.

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World Junior Update

Toronto prospect Dmytro Timashov assisted on Alexander Nylander’s second period goal in Sweden’s 1-0 victory over the United States on Monday.

The Leafs 2015 fifth rounder is tied for second in tournament scoring with four points(2 goals, 2 assists), trailing Nylander, Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine, three players expected to be selected at the top of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Dmytro Timashov had an assist on Sweden's only goal in their 1-0 win today: https://t.co/ZBt0169ozJ pic.twitter.com/qRs8zjiVhv

— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) December 28, 2015

Swedish team doctors indicated that William Nylander has shown no ill effects for the second day in a row after being blindsided by Swiss forward Chris Egli on Saturday and that he may play if that continues for a couple more days. It is likely that Sweden at 2-0 with Denmark on their schedule before playing Canada will keep the 19-year-old out until their quarterfinal match on Saturday.

Finland suffered a 6-4 loss to Russia on Monday, with Puljujarvi and Laine each scoring three points. Marlies forward Kasperi Kapanen in his second appearance at the World Junior has been held scoreless in two games.

Team Canada rebounded from their Boxing Day loss to the US with a 6-1 trampling of Denmark. Leafs top pick Mitch Marner registered two points (1 goal, 1 assist) and second-rounder Travis Dermott added an assist in the contest that Canada outshot the Danes 56-11.

Mitch Marner makes it 5-1 for Canada #AllHeartCanada pic.twitter.com/rXUGXsi2xL

— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) December 28, 2015

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The Sun’s Steve Simmons reported in his weekend column that the Leafs have no plans to take advantage of the surprising offensive numbers being put up by Leo Komarov and entertain offers prior to the February 29th trade deadline.

The former Finnish Olympian leads the club with 15 goals, has two years remaining on a four-year, $11.8 Million contract and turns 29 next month, but according to Simmons they are not dangling the feisty winger and that the only way Toronto will consider moving him is if they are floored by an offer.

This is not a signal that the Leafs will not move the veteran, but that it will take a significant return to pry Komarov away from the Leafs. With years remaining at a reasonable salary, Komarov would be a perfect acquisition for a playoff contender looking for a versatile player with sandpaper and experience, but that would entail giving up a top prospect or a late first-round pick.

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