The Norwegian Hobbit

CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Norway's forward Mats Zuccarello Aasen (48) vies for the puck against Swiss defenceman Mark Streit (7) during a game at the Vancouver Olympics.

So far, the Maple Leafs haven't made the same splash among NCAA free agents as they did last year other than signing Lake Superior State defenceman Simon Gysbers. In general, while the collegians are signing with various teams, there's a general sense the crop isn't as good this year.

Europe, however, may be a different matter.

The player coveted by six or more teams is Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, who many will remember as the diminutive forward who skated for Norway at the Vancouver Olympics wearing No. 48 and using an unusually long hockey stick. The Leafs are believed to be one of the teams in hot pursuit along with Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Edmonton and Chicago as this begins to turn into this year's version of the Fabian Brunnstrom Sweepstakes.

Some have nicknamed him MZA or the Norwegian Hobbit, and this week he was named the winner of the Yellow Helmet in the Swedish Elite League as MVP according to the players, a Swedish version of the Lester B. Pearson Award (which may yet be renamed the Ted Lindsay Award if the NHLPA ever gets its act together).

Zuccarello-Aasen 22, plays for Modo along with former NHLers Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Niklas Sundstrom and Dan Hinote. The 5-foot-7, 160 pound centre/left winger led the entire league in scoring.

The Leafs are clearly more interested in adding size up front, but at the same time they're on the lookout for players skilled enough to play a top six forward role in the NHL. Zuccarello-Aasen showed both a combativeness during the Olympics and an ability to succeed on the smaller North American rink.

Of the remaining NCAA free agents, meanwhile, the Leafs also continue to have interest in 6-foot-5 Vermont Catamounts forward Brayden Irwin, a UCC grad and former Brampton Battalions forward who scored 15 goals in 38 games this season with Vermont.

Gysbers is a 6-foot-4 blueliner from Richmond Hill who has already played four games for the AHL Marlies.

Comments

[JetsStruggaling]

Fabian Brunnstrom - 19 goals in 95 NHL games
lead up to his signing was the most embarrassing - and that's saying a lot - hockey punditry groupthink mania in recent memory

[other mark]

I would be absolutely shocked if the Leafs signed a 5'7" 165 pound European. This simply doesn't fit the Burke profile (and really, doesn't describe too many NHLs does it). I wish him luck (who doesn't want to cheer for guys like St. Louis when they take the ice?).... but if he's typical of a European player he won't sign a 2-way deal, making him a much bigger risk then meets the eye.

[SloMo]

I was at the Norway-Slovakia playoff game in Vancouver. We noticed MZA initially because he had the longest name and it took up his whole uniform. The guy has some skill. Scored a nifty goal using a d-man as a screen. But come on. The guy is tiny. MZA would stand out in the NHL for being even smaller than guys like Briere, Comrie and St. Louis. Let him play for a team that wants to be in the bottom 10 in the league, not the future Leafs.

[Chris]

No risk. He has to take a 2 way deal because until a player is 25 he must sign an entry level deal after which he can become a restricted free agent. If a player is drafted at 18 and doesn't sign with the team that drafted him within two years he can become a UFA but still has to sign an entry level (see Blake Wheeler). If it happens, you either get a potential Danny Briere or Martin St.Louis or you get a bust. If it's the latter it only costs money which MLSE has plenty of. It's not like they give up a draft pick, a prospect or a roster player.

[Matt B]

I'm more than happy to see the Leafs go after these type of players. I love small-speedy guys, but from a long-view signing these types of players helps us make up for lost draft picks. We can turn that 'free' player into an asset via a trade. If Kyle Wellwood, Cliff Ronning, Ian White can succeed there's no reason to suggest MZA can't.

[Brabinger]

from a Swedish perspective there were same doubts if MZA could produce points at all in the SEL when he arrived from the Norwegian league (which he dominated). After the first year many assumed that he benefited from playing on the same line centered by (ex Rangers/Canadiens/Sharks player) Niklas Sundström but now after the second year he's been the best forward in the leauge. MZA's strength is his will to compete and he's totally fearless of any opposition - he's like a pint sized Peter Forsberg in that sense.

I predict that he will succeed in the NHL as a top 6 forward within two seasons.

[Jacek]

Sign him! If he's the Norwegian hobbit he'll do whatever it takes to get a Stanley cup ring.... PRECCCCCCIOUSSSSSSSSSSS!

[BF]

I can see a lot of people here think MZA is too small. Well to compare, the best soccerplayer in the world , Messi is even smaller. MZA got great skills and as Brabinger said here, he is like a smaller Peter Forsberg. Its important for him to get to a team that likes to play offensive hockey. I also predict he will succseed in the NHL, and bet he'll surprice a lot of people. He's been outstanding in the Swedish league this year, and the supporters will love him, if you sign him.

[Dustin]

Adding an asset without expending a current one is simply smart management. White, Hagman, Mayers and Stajan for Phaneuf could one day be paralleled by MZA, Bozak, Schenn for Star Player X. No reason not to sign this fellow.

[other mark]

I take back my previous comment. If you can sign him to a 2 way deal, then by all means take a flyer on him.

[Johnnyk]

Seems to be about the same size as Henri Richard, Theoren Fleury and a few others. They did ok if memory serves.
But is he truculent?