Blacker Skies Made Blue

Naz Tracker. Kadri Nation. Kaptain Kadri…

… Kadri, Kadri, Kadri!

Who would have guessed that with all the attention surrounding the Leafs 2009 1st round pick, it would actually be the Toronto kid selected in the 2nd round that would be first to string some games together on a pro club. Though not officially announced, Jesse Blacker has left the OHL and joined the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the season.

I first was introduced to Jesse last July at a charity run/walk-a-thon around the Toronto Indy track. I was there to film an interview with his recent rival, Nazem Kadri, whom Blacker’s Spitfires had recently eliminated in the OHL championship game. With a goofy grin, a couple teeth shy of perfect, Jesse immediately introduced himself as if I was the one just drafted 58th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

So who’s Jesse Blacker? He’s the kid who has spent the past 18 years dreaming of playing as a Maple Leaf (unlike a certain London Ontario family who spent all their time watching the Habs – ahem) and the kid who is one step away of having his dream come true. Jesse Blacker is eager and excited, he is ready for the reward and, if those missing teeth are any indication, ready to work every step of the way.

Blacker spent a little over two full OHL seasons with the Windsor Spitfires before being traded to the Owen Sound Attack. Rumour has it Blacker’s diminished ice time on a stacked Spits team drew the attention of MLSE scouts who then leaned on the upper brass to “influence” a trade to Owen Sound. Either way, Blacker’s here and he’s brought with him 97 OHL games worth of experience including 10g, 48a, 134 PIM’s and a heck-of-a playoff run that ended with a Memorial Cup.

Blacker brings to the Marlies a slightly underweight 6’1″ frame - which is not out of the ordinary - sound defensive awareness and a very Burk-esque view of team toughness and truculence. Though the Marlies have been defensively solid most of the season, the testing of Blacker in these final regular season games will no doubt aid in the decisions Nonis must make in the off-season (including what to do with Fletcher folly, Jonas Frogren).

Blacker will make his first appearance wearing the blue and white this Saturday as the Marlies are set to take on the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Ricoh Coliseum. Jesse is coming off his best season yet in the OHL, and is eagerly anticipating an AHL playoff appearance.

And for any that are curious as to how I spent my summer afternoon with Blacker and Kadri…. we played video games, what did you expect?

UPDATE (4:27pm): The Toronto Marlies just released an official presser announcing the signing of Blacker to an amateur try-out contract.

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  • rustynail

    Another reason to get excited. Thanks for comments and utube.

  • daniel marois

    @ Clayton

    What is the chances of the Marlies making the playoffs? Do they stand a chance of sweeping Hamilton and Abbotsford this weekend? If they don’t, I would say that would seal the Marlies fate of making the post-season.

  • daniel marois

    Sorry guys I made a mistake. The marlies game this Sunday will be live on CBC, not the NHL Network. So no worries on catching the game this weekend.

  • ryhon

    I’m just hoping Kadri and the team can utilize that attitude (see the video) to push them, not bring them down. It will be interesting to see how things go in the locker room next year. Hopefully well. I still think its vital that a really strong, established top 3 forward is brought in to mentor these guys, give them something to look up to.

  • http://mapleleafshotstove.com Garrett Bauman

    Aside from Kadri, Blacker and Gunnarsson were the two Leafs who stood out most at the Rookie Tournament last fall. I’m looking forward to watching Blacker take a similar step forward in two years’ time as Gunnarsson this past season.

    If anyone is wondering about the timing of the signing, Blacker’s OHL team (Owen Sound Attack) was eliminated from playoff contention. Hence his availability now that the OHL season is done – had the Attack made the playoffs, he would not have been eligible to sign.

  • kingkessel

    YESSSSSSSS!!

  • Clayton Hansler

    daniel marois wrote:

    @ Clayton
    What is the chances of the Marlies making the playoffs? Do they stand a chance of sweeping Hamilton and Abbotsford this weekend? If they don’t, I would say that would seal the Marlies fate of making the post-season.

    The Marlies are 9 points out of a playoff spot. At this stage of the game it would be near impossible for an NHL team to make it in. But because the AHL playoff system is structured divisionally, and the Marlies schedule to end out the season, I still believe there is a reasonable hope of a blue-and-white post season (reasonable being not impossible, but not probable).

    The Marlies have a good chance of taking both wins this weekend. The Marlies have shown earlier this season their ability to dominate the Dogs, and the Abbotsford Heat aren’t all that hot.

  • 2 Minutes for Looking so Guru

    I remember watching this last summer… good stuff!

    I like Blacker’s attitude! “I’m gonna pound it out of him”… definitely sounds like a Burke type of player response haha!

  • 2 Minutes for Looking so Guru

    Clayton Hansler wrote:

    daniel marois wrote:
    @ Clayton
    What is the chances of the Marlies making the playoffs? Do they stand a chance of sweeping Hamilton and Abbotsford this weekend? If they don’t, I would say that would seal the Marlies fate of making the post-season.
    The Marlies are 9 points out of a playoff spot. At this stage of the game it would be near impossible for an NHL team to make it in. But because the AHL playoff system is structured divisionally, and the Marlies schedule to end out the season, I still believe there is a reasonable hope of a blue-and-white post season.
    The Marlies have a good chance of taking both wins this weekend. The Marlies have shown earlier this season their ability to dominate the Dogs, and the Abbotsford Heat aren’t all that hot.

    This is going to turn into Marles and Knights Hotstove haha

    It’s nice to have some excitement in the AHL.

  • Charlie

    Garrett Bauman wrote:

    Aside from Kadri, Blacker and Gunnarsson were the two Leafs who stood out most at the Rookie Tournament last fall. I’m looking forward to watching Blacker take a similar step forward in two years’ time as Gunnarsson this past season.
    If anyone is wondering about the timing of the signing, Blacker’s OHL team (Owen Sound Attack) was eliminated from playoff contention. Hence his availability now that the OHL season is done – had the Attack made the playoffs, he would not have been eligible to sign.

    I think he’ll do it a lot earlier than Gunnarsson did.

  • Charlie

    Clayton,

    I wonder how much you’ll agree with my Blacker future prediction: A smaller Shea Weber.

    Also, great title!! And great youtube video!

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