Kids and Goals

Only in Toronto, it's fair to say, does a 23-year-old rookie's first NHL goal get so much ink, plus radio and television coverage.

Good for Tyler Bozak. It was sure a beauty, one to tell the grandkids about. Of course, Leaf fans being Leaf fans, the debate today will now be whether Bozak where ranks with Syl Apps, Ted Kennedy and Darryl Sittler among all-time Leaf centres.

And how long after he retires will they put him into the Hall of Fame.

Things just get so exaggerated in Leaf-land, and that's both good and bad.

In the case of the 4-0 triumph over the Flyers, meanwhile, Bozak's goal, to me, was only the second most important one of the night off the stick of a young Leaf player. The most important? Well, that had to be Luke Schenn's early in the third period, and for a few reasons.

First, it stretched a 2-0 lead to 3-0 lead. Pretty much game over at that point.

But after such a difficult season for the 20-year-old blueliner, one in which he has seemed so lost so often, and frequently curiously awkward, it had to be a shot in the arm for both Schenn and Leaf management.

It was an expression of the possibility that there is more to Schenn's potential, possibly an offensive upside. He joined the 3-on-1 rush with Matt Stajan and Jay Rosehill, then instead of trying to make a extra play because he didn't have the confidence to take a shoot, he buried his second goal of the season into the Philly net.

His smile alone was worth a million bucks. No one expects him to become a prolific blueliner like Mike Green or Sergei Gonchar, but you like to see a player develop different parts of his game.

Schenn, of course, was the victim of precisely the hyperbolic response to making it to the NHL as an 18-year-old last year as Bozak will now experience after his terrific goal against the Flyers. Schenn has paid dearly for that exaggerated response to his rookie season in this, his second campaign.

He could probably give some good advice to Bozak right now. Don't listen to it, pal. It can change fast, and we both have lots to learn about being consistent, productive NHLers.

Enjoy the moment. Then put your head down, don't read the clippings and work on your game.

Comments

[Belligerent Burkie]

Re: Bozak as best player ever

I know a lot of Leafs fans, and the only time I hear/read gross hyperbole is when I read your articles. Did not hear anybody talking about Bozak being the best thing since Crosby and Ovechkin until you said it as a jab at Leafs fans.

[Conn Smythe]

Bozak's first received so much ink/coverage because it was a great goal. End of story. As for Schenn, this season hasn't been as bad as you've made it out to be - players usually suffer from the 'Sophomore Jinx' and Schenn is no exception. Bit the way you carry on about him, it would make it seem like he's washed up.

[Ed Hussman]

Agreed belligerent! No one is talking Syl Apps or Darryl Sittler. The problem for you Cox is how wrong you have been about your veterans being better hockey players. Maybe they should bring Pat Quinn back for you so you don't have to spend time understanding post lockout hockey and the skill set of a younger player. Watch a game with open eyes and an open mind for once.

[Plan The Parade]

Damien, I must agree with Belligerent Burkie. Time and again from both you and various other media folks, it is implied that all Leaf fans are deluded, "Vito from Woodbridge" types. Couldn't be further from the truth, I think you are hearing these things only from other media types.

[Nick Martin]

I also remember Rocky Saganiuk's first big game with the Leafs, something like two goals and an assist in a shutout win. But we can all hope. As someone said on TSN last night, Bozak looks a lot better in the NHL than the AHL; he played here in Winnipeg just after he was sick, and didn't look impressive, but the three were flying last night and more importantly looked good together. Am I just deluding myself, but does Gunnarson look incredibly calm and steady for someone with a handful of NHL games? And isn't Kulemin looking more like an NHL player every game? Let's give Bozak a few more games before we confirm he's the second coming of Dave Keon, but for now, we can hope.

[PAT]

Bozak's goal was a thing of beauty for sure but I agree with you. I was so happy for Schenn and to see his expression after he scored. It is typical of Leafs fans to
dump on a 20 year old kid when he doesn't live up to their expectations. Leave him alone and give him time to mature as an
NHL defenseman instead calling for his head. In this day and age the only expectation is instant gratification and
that's not the way it works.

[Down Goes Brown]

Damien,

How has Schenn "paid dearly for that exaggerated response"?

He's clearly struggled this year, and it's certainly possible that the decision to keep him in the NHL last year will wind up being a mistake. But what does that have to do with how he was received by fans? Is there any reason to think that, under the same circumstances, he'd be having a better year if he played in another market?

[Puck Swami]

Bozak's goal was a breath of highly-skilled fresh air into a re-building Leafs franchise. In a season where leap-out-of-your-seat/couch/barstool goals have been far and few between, it allowed Leaf fans to have a sense of hope that better days are ahead. Bozak is one of a nice nucleus of Leaf young guns that are getting a chance to show what they can do, gain some chemistry and develop at the NHL level.

What Bozak actually did last night is the dream of many Canadian boys who grow up to be grown men - to put on a leaf sweater in an NHL game, to come flying in off the wing with the puck at your command, deke a defenseman out of his jock and roof it over an NHL goalie to the jet-enging home crowd roar of 19,000+.

Let us enjoy it for what it was - a rare moment where we could all dream again.

[clark17]

Agree with the previous comment by 'belligerent burkie'. come on damien. Your generalizations make Leafs fans look like jerks.

[Clevie Baron]

More Rosehill and Bozak. Less Ponikarovsky and Blake.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!

[Meh]

I've never heard a Leaf fan in my life that talks how you imply Cox. The only people who over hype things are you and your pressbox warrior friends.

Everyone I know has said it was a great goal and it's exciting to see some young players doing a bit more than dump and chase.

[Sam]

Sometimes I wonder if it's really Leaf fans that exaggerate or the media acting as a catalyst to those exaggerations. Mr. Cox comments about how Bozak's goal gets so much attention in Leaf Land .. well guess who's contributing to that by writing a blog .. yea the media.

[Peter]

Damien, though I think you do have some good insights on the Leafs, you're wrong on this one.

Most Leafs fans aren't even sure if this guy is an NHL player yet. Sure, there was a lot of excitement, but who cares? It was an awesome, awesome goal.

Your gross exaggeration of Leafs fans reaction is a big reason why the fanbase has such a poor reputation. It's because small spikes of distress and excitement get blown out of proportion by the media. All Canadian fan bases are probably like ours. There's just more fans here and more media.

[George]

The Philly goalie was pretty weak abd the entire Philly team was not clicking.
The Toronto players don't have the work ethic, smarts or determination and the ability to play as a single unit to beat a good team.
The goon Rosehill almost blew Toskalas shutout by starting a fight when the game was over, giving Philadelphia the man advantage..
How stupid can a player be

[victor]

Damien I gotta say, most of these comments are correct in my opinion. You are piling on Leaf fans. I think Peter hit the nail on the head here regarding the media feeding the beast. I realize your are probably exaggerating it and simply trying to say that we are passionate, which is a good thing, but please give leafs fans a bit of credit and let us enjoy a good performance without having to endure taunts like that. It is only one game and the next one is coming up fast. I think you do report fairly but this time, not so much. It was good to see Schenn score indeed.

[rickybb]

Just curious:
How do the Leafs beat Philly 4-0 Thursday night and then get blown out the very next night against OV and the Caps? It couldn't possibly be that Philly is intentionally tanking in order to land the top pick in this year's draft...a kid by the name of Taylor Hall I believe. Give two points to a conference rival and the team drops even more. Now what would possess Philly to do such a thing? It's called strategy! Carolina is doing the exact same thing. God forbid we do that in Toronto. The fans would boycott and not show up to the games. What would MLSE do then? Oh, and why would Burke babble again to the media that he believes in this CRAPPY team? It wouldn't be to encourage his team to keep on battling to stay out of the basement in order that his name and reputation stays intact, now would it? Oh what a web we weave! If the Leafs even win half of their remaining games, which is highly unlikely, they will have accumulated the fewest number of points for a Leaf team dating back to the seventies I believe. Oh myyyyyyyyyyyyy! Yet Damien and his sports media colleagues just keep on writing the accolades and every word that comes out of the mouth of one very arrogant and pompous Brian Burke. Oh myyyyyyyyy!

[Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan]

Mr. Cox is inferring the obvious.
How can a team with 40 plus years of such colossal failure have ANY fans?

The entire MLSE organization is the laughing stock of all pro sports management companies, and LAFF fans are considered either insane or stupid.

I would dearly love this national paper to actually talk about other Canadian hockey teams and more hockey in general (thank goodness for your Olympics articles), and much, much less about the travesty of the game that occurs in the ACC.

[other mark]

Same old tired comments from the likes of 'Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan'. Your blog is pointless. Fans are fans and will continue to watch and have hope despite the troubles of the Leafs, MLSE and beligerent bloggers like you. I really can not figure out why you read/comment given your clear disdain for all things Leafs.

[Gerhard]

The Leafs fan forums I check out have been full of grandiose claims regarding Bozak since he was called up. Leafs fans did go over the top in their praise of Schenn last season, just as many of them did when the team had a successful preseason. Five seasons without playoff hockey have made the threshold of celebration very low.