Maple Leafs' optimism is fueled by kid power
Stalberg, Bozak, Hanson, Gustavsson have looked great out of the gate
 | Toronto Maple Leafs forward Viktor Stalberg is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the first period of a preseason game Sunday. |
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Toronto rookie forward Viktor Stalberg was on the Joe Louis Arena ice, warming up before Friday's preseason game, when he took a moment to let the significance sink in. He looked across the ice at the Red Wings and saw fellow Swedes Nicklas Lidstrom, Johan Franzen and Niklas Kronwall.
Three former Stanley Cup winners. All heroes back home.
"It was almost like a dream," Stalberg said. "It was great."
But the star-gazing stopped there.
By the time the exhibition game neared its completion, it was Kronwall who was impressed—enough to kiddingly ask Stalberg not to get a hat trick.
"You could see the Red Wings a few times just turned and retreated when they saw (Stalberg) pick up the puck," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said after the Leafs' win. "He really does have blinding speed. It's amazing at ice level to see someone skating that fast."
That's not the only amazing thing. Stalberg isn't the only rookie turning heads in Toronto.
Before being sent back to his junior team in London, Ont., first-round pick Nazem Kadri scored three goals and made his own surprising bid to land a roster spot out of training camp. And Tyler Bozak looked good centering the Frat Pack line that featured fellow college stars Christian Hanson and Stalberg.
Perhaps most importantly, Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson has been perfect in his two preseason appearances, so far living up to the hype that surrounded him during the Maple Leafs' summer courtship.
General manager Brian Burke made a big splash during free agency when he spent more than $30 million to bolster his blue line with Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin. His public pursuit of Phil Kessel, one that eventually reached its resolution when Burke sent a package of draft picks to Boston for the gifted winger, gave the Leafs star power up front and the scoring they needed.
But spending money and trading draft picks for players has never been a problem in Toronto. Finding and developing a core group of young, elite talent has been. At least until now.
This weekend, against the best competition they'd seen yet, Toronto's young talent flourished. The 6-3 Gustavsson used his height to look over and around pest Tomas Holmstrom in front of the net. In his second-ever NHL appearance, Gustavsson used his athleticism to thwart a Red Wings two-on-none.
He has stopped all 22 NHL shots he has seen but is also smart enough to realize it doesn't mean much.
"When the season starts, everything is going to go even faster," Gustavsson told Sporting News. "I come from Sweden, I haven't even seen a live NHL game before. It's hard to set any goals. I want to continue developing and take a spot on the team."
The Leafs subtracted Kadri and Hanson this weekend, and they have a decision to make with Bozak. But factor in other young talent like Luke Schenn and Mikhail Grabovski, and there's a lot more to be excited about in Toronto than just the truculence Burke added in free agency.
"It's big because at least for our fans and for me in particular, it gives you hope that the cupboard is not bare," Wilson said. "We've got some young guys who, because I've given them opportunities, have looked better than some of the veterans. But going forward, after a little bit of seasoning, (they) can make our team better."
And seasoning is the key. Toronto made the right decision not to rush Kadri. Now he can return to London, confident he can play at the NHL level while also recognizing what he needs to do to improve.
It goes beyond skill, which Kadri clearly has. He quickly realized just how dedicated NHL players are.
"All the vets and guys here last year showed me the ropes," Kadri said. "This includes on-ice, off-ice and in the gym. They're extremely responsible individuals. I'm looking at that."
Following his NHL debut, Gustavsson came out to chat with reporters, and without the aid of his goalie equipment, he looked anything like his "Monster" nickname. He was a 24-year-old, skinny rail of a kid finishing up a slice of pizza. A player still developing.
They're all still developing.
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Yes, the playoffs may still be a long shot, but we're done trying to predict what Burke can't do. He's delivered on nearly everything else he set out to accomplish in Toronto. And he has done it in less than a year.
Adding young talent might be the one accomplishment that ultimately makes the biggest impact.
"All the young players have been contributors as the competition has gotten better and more difficult," said Toronto's senior vice president of hockey operations, Dave Nonis. "It bodes well for us long-term."
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