By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Sep. 11) — Fans of the Maple Leafs that are hoping or expecting to see No. 1 draft choice Luke Schenn in the NHL this season are likely to be disappointed. That’s because general manager Cliff Fletcher confirmed today that Schenn will have to “overwhelm” management and coaching in training camp to make the club. Fletcher was speaking to a group of reporters that cover the Leafs full time in an informal setting at the Air Canada Centre. Gathered in the players’ lounge of the Leafs’ dressing room, Fletcher spoke cautiously about Schenn, who the Leafs selected fifth in this year’s NHL draft.
“The fact he’s a defenseman makes it even tougher to jump right into the NHL,” Fletcher said. “Luke will have to overwhelm us to play here in his rookie season. The Leafs have a bit of a history of rushing players inti the league to play a very difficult position.”
The Leafs do have sufficient numbers on the blueline, including seven players with NHL experience. In fact, incumbants Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo and Staffan Kronwall could be victims of the numbers game in camp.
Fletcher also made a startlingly honest, but accurate, statement about his very average group of forwards, in the absence of Mats Sundin. “If you look at our club, we really have only one player you can consider a top-six forward, and that’s [Nik] Antropov,” said the GM. “We have a couple others [including Alexei Ponikarovsky] that are on the fringe of the top-six, but no one else.”
It was intriguing that Fletcher excluded veteran Jason Blake from top-six consideration, and fitting that he has consigned Matt Stajan and Alex Steen — players the Leafs are counting heavily on to raise their performance levels this season — to nothing more than third-line status at this point of their careers.
Fletcher knows the Leafs will have “some tough stretches” this season, but is hopeful the team will make steady progress. “We look to be better in December than we are when we start the season, and better in March than in December,” said the GM.
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If Fletcher is basing is comments regarding top-six forwards on last years performances, then he accurately described the situation. Blake was not a top-six forward last year. But that’s not to say Blake, or Steen for matter, aren’t capable of being top-six forwards. It’s an honest assessment by Cliff. You’ve gotta respect that.
- sbwow
Howard great passion you have for the blue&white,well done
hosting hockey central,seriously i vision you
in that same capacity in the near future.
Thumbs up for Cliff,having the stones to make that comment in front of the hockey world even know he is telling the truth and is in my opinion 100% correct.Leaving blake off the top six list im not so sure given the fact he played all
season as well as fighting cancer.If i am Jason Blake im thinking this might be an insult or Cliff in his way is saying put the puck in the net more often.Im thinking Jason is not to happy today.
Keep up the great work Howie
- billUnless you’re a goal scoring machine you need to be able to play both ends of the ice to be considered a top six forward. Jason Blake was a major defensive liability last year on way too many nights. I’m guessing that will change on a Ron Wilson coached team or Jason will see a major drop in ice time this year. They won’t be scoring many goals so the guys eating up the ice time will probably be the ones willing to help prevent them. Not very exciting I’m afraid but long overdue.
- PaulWhat will the team do with Colaiacovo, White and Kronwall?
- ChrisTrade bait for a top 6 forward?
Send them to the Marlies?
Hey, another honest assessment of the players. Maybe a few of them will concentrate on living up to their perceived value. Nobody to hide behind this year.
- Peter CIt’s nice to see some honesty and realism out of Leaf Camp.
- bobbyshowHey howard, the schenn/marlies situation is a tough one in my opinion. Do we not have a lot of ex-marlie players on this team already? Why not let schenn develop with the big club? We aren’t going anywhere anytime soon anyway. But yes, i understand the importance of minor leauge development in the NHL, especially for a defense man, as fletcher stated. I was a bit surprised that flether did not include blake among the top six as well. Maybe as a motivational technique? Anyways, about the captaincy situation. Why not give it to Kaberle? I know a lot of people say that hes too quiet, not the leader type. But hes been around the longest, and I would guess that he has tremendous respect in the locker room, and around the league. Sundin was not the most vocal guy either, but he was well respected in every aspect; as a player, teammate, and a person. I dont know Kaberle personally, but im sure the same can be said about him.
- Rockyi really don’t mind the mayers or hagman pick-up–but where were the leafs when it came to guys like malone,camelleri[LA],tanguay–they relly could have done better—it’s going to be a boring year and it’s got to be hard for all of you at fan 590 to talk about there dismal season –thanks but this year i might watch alot of chicago games
- Ron ChambersRegarding Pavel Kubina, I have to say I’m shocked that Ron Wilson (and apparently others) consider him captain material. Anyone who understands hockey should readily recognize that he is the most undiciplined player on the team and maybe in the league. He is prone to mistakes and for a big man - he plays small. This guy has got to go. Wilson needs people to play their position, not everyone elses. He has some talent but I don’t think he’s coachable.
- Burn Carlyle