The always excellent Players Tribune has posted the answers to last week’s reader-submitted questions for Toronto Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan.
Rivalries, trash talk & being @MapleLeafs president.
You asked. @BrendanShanahan answered. https://t.co/AeIwdOII0r pic.twitter.com/Kb3kpKrBSq
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 9, 2016
At one point in the Q&A, Brendan Shanahan implicitly addresses the criticism of the Matt Martin and Roman Polak signings:
I sometimes see fans who question certain signings or the addition of certain players who maybe don’t measure up based on some metrics. And I think what they overlook is that it’s not necessarily the superstar on the team that imparts the most knowledge to young players who are developing. There are guys who can make a huge, franchise-changing difference with the leadership they provide off the ice.
For example, people will always ask me, “Who taught you how to shoot? Brett Hull?” And I’ll tell them, “No actually, it was Doug Sulliman.” Doug was a veteran guy when I joined the Devils early in my career. Playingwise he was in and out of the lineup, but he impacted my career because he had the time and the interest to pay it forward to us young guys and help us learn how to be pros. You can learn from superstars by watching them, but those guys have so much pressure on them that they need to put all their focus into doing their job. So it’s hard for them to spend a lot of time dissecting the game of a young player who’s coming up, and explaining to them how to improve. Also, sometimes a guy with that level of talent is just so naturally gifted that they can’t really fully explain it to others.
And that’s why healthy organizations need guys like Doug Sulliman. He transformed the way I shot the puck at a young age and that made me a much better player. And then when I went to St. Louis, I learned from Brett Hull by watching him.
I think people want to assume that you learn everything from NHL All-Stars, but when you look at the Matthews, the Marners and the Nylanders, you don’t really know who’s going to say the right thing at the right moment or provide an example that will put your young players on the right course. So our job sometimes is identifying those veteran players who can impart the right values and tasking them with sharing their wisdom so that our young players can get the most out of their careers.
In addition to some fun anecdotes from his playing days, Shanny has some insightful answers about analytics (“it’s only as valuable as the people who dissect it”), the progress of the Leafs‘ rebuild and the direction of the sport/league. Well worth the read.
Toronto-bound Trevor Moore bittersweet on decision to leave DU (Denver Post)
The decision to leave DU was difficult for Moore, 21, who would have been one of the NCAA’s top wingers playing on what still might be one of the country’s top five preseason-ranked teams. Moore led the Pioneers with 33 assists last season and was third in points, helping DU advance to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2005. In 121 career college games, Moore scored 120 points (47 goals) to rank tied for 52nd in program history. As a sophomore, he was the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s forward of the year and a second-team All-American.
Top 25 Under 25: Martins Dzierkals wins his way to No. 24 (PPP)
Dzierkals is everything you’d want out of a third line guy, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him on a second line someday. His style of play is that of a bigger player, elite prospects only lists him at 5’11” and 170lbs, but he hasn’t spent any significant time on IR yet in his career, so worries about endurance aren’t there yet. If he has a dynamite camp and can play in a few pre-season games he could make a case for himself on the Marlies, though I’m sure Latvia would love to have him back in the Q, as that would guarantee he’ll be available for the World Juniors.
30 Teams in 30 Days – Toronto Maple Leafs (OHL Prospects)
I’ve had a few Leafs‘ fans ask me this year, “how does Dermott differ from Matt Finn or Stuart Percy (two failed high Leaf picks)?” And it’s a good question and a valid one. I see why the question would be asked. Dermott could be perceived as a similar type of defender who is very good in a lot of areas, but not elite. My response would be that Dermott is a better skater and the more physical player, which should project him as a better defender at the next level.
Still no date set for Jared Cowen's grievance with the Leafs about the defenceman's contested buyout by the club.
— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) August 8, 2016
