Good News: Tyler Bozak Edition.
Tyler Bozak is Happy. You Should Be Too.
Twice in the last week – once after the Tampa Bay game, once during the first intermission of the Oilers game – we’ve had the opportunity to watch Tyler Bozak do interviews for television. Twice during the past week, he’s stood there in the hallway outside the Leaf dressing room, spiky hair soaked with sweat, talking first to Paul Hendrick, then to Elliotte Friedman, with a giant freaking grin on his face. The big grin on his face tells you that Tyler Bozak is a happy young man. He’s got six goals and eleven assists in twenty-three games as a twenty-three year old rookie centreman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he’s making $875,000 with another 2.8 million dollars worth of bonuses on the table. Of course he’s happy. Why the hell wouldn’t he be happy?
The big grin also tells you he’s a young man. Those of a certain age can’t help but be struck immediately by Bozak’s youthful appearance. He seems to have a little acne here and there, which makes him look even more like the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell than he otherwise might, but more than anything else you can see the excitement of a young man in his eyes and in the corners of his mouth when he simply cannot supress the grin that wants to get out. Doing those interviews, you can tell that he is absolutely stoked, the way only a young player – who hasn’t been doing this sort of thing since Chelios was a child – can possibly be.
It’s that youthful exuberance that Bozak personifies – not to mention a healthy dose of skill – that is getting the attention of a lot of Maple Leafs fans these days. It’s been a long time since the identity of any Maple Leaf team has been so deeply intertwined with the performance of its youngest players. The Pat Quinn teams of the late 90′s and the early years of this century, teams of the pre-cap era, were veteran, business-like teams, teams replete with known quantities, familiar faces and proven performers. The Pat Burns teams of the early 90s were probably the last teams to have a youthful prospect that electrified the fanbase – I’m thinking of rookie goalie Felix Potvin – but even he shone in the shadow of his more celebrated, but older, teammates Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark. Just off the top of my head, I think you may have to go back to the mid seventies Leaf teams that featured Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald and Errol Thompson up front, along with Borje Salming and Ian Turnbull manning the point, for a comparable level of excitement about players of such recent vintage.
That kind of excitement is very much what has been happening since the January 31st trade that sent established Leaf forwards out of town in favour of J.S. Giguere, Dion Phaneuf and his celebrity girlfriend. In the aftermath of that day, four of the Leafs’ top ten scorers had been dispatched elsewhere, and followers of the team were rightly asking, “who’s going to score the goals for this club now?” Obviously, Brian Burke and his management team were hoping that Tyler Bozak – who somewhat suddenly assumed the unchallenged the role of number one centre – would be a big part of the answer to that question. It’s pretty obvious to everyone that the Leafs have been building the team starting first and foremost with blueliners; free agent signings and the Phaneuf trade have left the Leafs’ rearguard undoubtedly the Messrs. Moneybags in the locker room. A further hefty chunk of change has been committed to J.S. Giguere in net, leaving a paucity of shekels to go around up front, or at least not very many for fellows not named Phil Kessel. With a decidedly mediocre crop of unrestricted free agents due to come on the market this summer, precious little cap room to devote to their acquisition in any event, and a relative paucity of prime quality surplus tradable assets, it is clear that Brian Burke and the Maple Leafs have premised their rebuilding plan on the assumption that some of the club’s existing young prospects can and will develop into serviceable offensive talent.
Back to the grin on Tyler Bozak’s face: it’s the smile of a young man who’s beginning to believe that he might be one of the young prospects who is going to deliver. There had to have been some part of even Bozak himself that doubted – or at least wasn’t certain – whether he’d truly be good enough to do the kind of job the Leafs were so desperately hoping he could. Up until the Phaneuf trade, he’d shown some flashes of ability at times – will anyone forget the terrific goal he scored against the Flyers for his NHL first? Aside from that wicked dipsy doodle though, he had collected an otherwise quiet 5 assists for a total of 6 points in 11 games. Now six points in 11 games is nothing to sneeze at for an NHL rookie, but it would be fair to say that the jury was still out on Bozak’s potential. In the 12 games since the young Saskatchewanian inherited the #1 centre role, however, he’s done nothing but shine. Solid in the face-off circle (he’s at 56.5% as of March 13th, 2010 according to nhl.com), playing top line minutes and in all situations, Bozak has been producing points at an encouraging rate. Over at Pension Plan Puppets, for example, Chemmy looked at the numbers and (keeping in mind the limitations and dangers of small sample sizes in such exercises) observed that Bozak’s early numbers put him in some pretty good company for his age – his production is comparable to that of Toews, Kopitar and Krejci. I don’t know if the numbers back it up or not, but he also seems to have been doing some decent work on the penalty kill.
More encouraging still, though, is the chemistry that seems to be developing between Bozak and Phil Kessel. It’s trite to say that the Leafs’ fortunes over the next few years will be strongly related to the type of production they can get out of the sniper in the 81 jersey. Much of the early analysis of the trade that brought Kessel to Toronto focussed on his supposed inability to produce without Marc Savard’s assistance. Kessel quieted most of those critics somewhat early on in the season when he began scoring at a torrid pace, but more recently his lamp-lighting had returned to a decidedly more earthly rate. In the last two weeks in particular, though, the Kessel-Bozak-Kulemin unit in general, and Kessel in particular, has been producing offensive chances like Habs fans flip over flaming cop cars. The defining moment of this revelation, and of the Kessel/Bozak connection in particular, was undoubtedly the overtime goal scored by Kessel against the Lightning on Thursday the 11th of March (UPDATE, 11:24 a.m.: I originally had this link tagged as happening on the 10th of March, but Charlie correctly points out that I shouldn’t be writing this stuff at 3 o’clock in the morning that it was the 11th). That goal was clearly manufactured by an absolutely brilliant Bozak pass, one that showed patience, skill and creativity at high speed and in a critical game situation. Yes, the goal happened on a Thursday in March, with the Leafs all but officially eliminated from the postseason and playing against a decidedly suspect opponent, but the fact is that it happened.
Tyler Bozak will turn 24 in 5 days; Phil Kessel is only 22. Maple Leaf fans may be forgiven for looking forward – fingers crossed – to many years to come of a smiling Tyler Bozak recounting for one suit dummy or another how he, Kessel and Kulemin managed to put the biscuit in the basket against the opponent of the day.
What do you think? Can you remember a time when there was as much excitement as there is right now about young Leaf talent?
Next up in this series: Nikolai Kulemin.
March 14th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I don’t think we need to fool around much more with our roster, I think the shipping out of all the dead weight and bringing in Dion, Sjoey and the other young guys was just what we needed. I think we’re a UFA winger away from being a contending team. If the kids continue to play with passion, and there’s no reason to suggest they won’t, I think they’ll develop nicely and win us quite a few games. Bozak and Kadri should be used as our first and second line centers, if they continue to play as well as they have. Overall, I think we’re making great progress. Kudos to Burkie.
Now on the subject of the Ovechkin hit on Campbell, I’m with the guys at NBC on this one. Ovechkin got a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for pushing.. The officials shit the bed and it’s all because of the confusion floating around the league right now concerning reckless hits. From what I see it was a push from the side and just an unfortunate case of Campbell slipping and hitting the boards awkwardly. A hit must be analyzed for more than 2 seconds to be labeled a RECKLESS hit, but nowadays some of us, much like the refs are too quick to pass judgment because we see a guy down on the ice.
March 14th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
if you guys were burke what do you do with kadri next year? d o you send him to the minors to get used to the pro league or do you keep him up witht the big club? i personally would do what they did with bozak and stalberg. send him down to the minors for a bit and then bring him up.
March 14th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Angry Analyst wrote:
It was a reckless push or hit from behind. One hand on the 5 and one on the 1 is hardly from the side. Campbell was vulnerable and Ovie pushed him from behind into the end boards. Hardly a first for Ovie either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD_v2JPgmi0
March 14th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Angry Analyst wrote:
Spoken like a true fan of Colin Campbell. Refs reaction was correct…no lets see them suspend the guy for a few games.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I’d start Kadri with the Marlies next season and call him up after he has some experience in the A (kinda like Bozo this year). Though I think Wilson and Burke will have him up with the big boys.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
mrburke wrote:
Yeah lets put him in the AHL for half a season, fuck around then bring him up. I think we need to develop him as a potential calder winner, NHL all season!!!!
March 14th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Kadri could have played in the NHL this year. Not saying he would have dominated, but he could have played. That said I don’t think it hurt him to go back and play in the World Juniors tournament and play in this year’s OHL playoffs. I think he’ll be given every opportunity to make the big club next fall.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Marlies Man wrote:
I agree, sending him back down was a good thing for Kadri this year. He was moody at the start of the year and then had a realization that he needed to step up his attitude partway through the year. Since that point, when he was 44th in scoring, and now he was tied for 3rd going into last nights games. Kadri learned a lot this year. Look out for him next year…two energy scoring lines.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
quick question how long does it take for my picture to be reviewed and confirmed?
March 14th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
I think a big factor in where Kadri plays will be how much weight he puts on in the offseason. They know he plays a physical game so they should make sure he has the size to do that at the nhl level without hurting himself.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Darkjester wrote:
Agreed…100%
March 14th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
@ mrburke:
I agree, i wud rather send kadri to the minors for a while. It could only be good for his development. Besides Grabo can be our #2 centre until Kadri’s ready
March 14th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Is the game on tv today
March 14th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Darkjester wrote:
It also depends who is on the Marlies to play with him. I think Kadri, like Bozak, has a tendency to play up or down to the level of competition. We also don’t have a ton of veterans to showcase this year so they can actually ice whatever they think is the best line up.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
@ wiski:
It’s on Leafs TV. Here’s a broadcast schedule:
http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/v2/ext/0910broadcastsked_2.pdf
March 14th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
@ wiski:
Leafs TV if you have it.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
@ rustynail:
Props on your avatar, dude. I’m loading a bowl as I type.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
http://atdhe.net/
the game is on their schedule…
March 14th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
kadri with the marlies for a couple of months couldn’t hurt.
i agree with the comment about it depending on his size when he shows up to camp.
he should be begging Gary Roberts to spend the summer with him right about now.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
anyone have a url internet feed for free?
March 14th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
NHL all season. Who’s to say Bozak wouldn’t have been better here for the year.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
@ honesthockey:
It was cap concerns that kept Bozak out. I think Burke just wanted him down there long enough to clear some space, and would have called him up on the first big salary injury. However, he then got swine flu, and shortly after, a concussion. I think they intended to use him more. Kadri should play most of the year next year.
Question, does he burn a year of his contract next year regardless, or does it only count if he plays more than 9 games?
March 14th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
@ Gilbert:
Ya obviously don’t know me,Gil….Pierre McGOOF is the worst thing to come around hockey since before Howie Meeker…at Least,Howie really did know about the game..
Most of the posters here think that the hard work and size of Kulemin has helped the Leafs team,and 1st line in particular.
March 14th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Is this the pregame thread? LOL game starts in like 5 miutes, hard to believe ehh?
March 14th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Cameron wrote:
He burns a year of his contract if he plays in the NHL or AHL next year. If he goes back to junior, he doesn’t.
March 14th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
game thread is up
March 14th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
rustynail wrote:
If I look at the hit it sure looks like a push from behind into the end boards, not from the side, if anything it looks like Campbell might have tried to turn sideways but OV stopped him by pushing him in the back.
March 14th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
peterbleafs wrote:
and send Him, Kessel and Bozak to train with Gary Roberts in the offseason
March 14th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
see! kulemin does the same move every time! but hey, it worked
March 14th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Bon Scott was a Leaf fan wrote:
That’s not exactly a flattering nickname for someone! LOL! I thought you meant Alfredson! LOL!
March 15th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Speaking of Gary Roberts. I’m surprised that the Leafs haven’t tried to make him the training coach/assistant coach for the Leafs. I knew there was some interest from Gary coming to Toronto a few years back.
If he replaced Acton that would be great.
Burke you’ve cleared the deadwood from the ice.
Maybe it’s time you cleared the deadwood out from the behind the bench as well.
March 15th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
[...] Having broken the news of signing to Toronto on MLHS himself, http://mapleleafshotstove.com/index.php/2009/04/02/race-for-tyler-bozak-in-the-final-stretch/#comments as well as having a distinguished week, congratulations, Tyler Bozak you made the list of prestigious Torontosaurus Rex recipients (and caught Junior’s eye). [...]
April 12th, 2010 at 2:22 am
[...] AND a young team? I posed that question at the end of my last post in this series, and dmnted brought up the Hound Line. That goes back to the mid 1980s, ladies and gents, a time when Joe Piscopo was believed to be [...]