In the off-season it seemed like every team was after Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson and now we know why. Jonas certainly impressed in his debut with a 3-1 win over the Penguin prospects in the Kitchener rookie tournament. The Leafs came in as the host team and with new guys such as Nazem Kadri, the seventh overall pick in the NHL draft, Jonas Gustavsson, who if not signed by the Leafs was sure to be a top 10 pick in the draft. They also added some much needed toughness with Richard Greenop and Jamie Devane. This tournament looked like it would be a good one for the Leafs, a top goalie prospect, a franchise forward, along with top college forward Tyler Bozak, who had as many as twenty teams pursuing him, some great secondary scoring in Christopher Didomenico and Mikhail Stefanovich.
Pittsburgh, coming off a Stanley Cup win still has some prospects left including Eric Tangradi, Luca Caputi, and top defense prospects in Alex Goligoski and Simon Despress they would be a tough opponent. The Monster was absolutely terrific making 36 saves on 37 shots, only Pittsburgh's Joe Vitale was able to solve the monster. Viktor Stalberg opened the scoring for the leafs on aa 5-3, Tyler Bozak, who is supposed to make the 2nd line this season, got the assist, Pittsburgh than tied the game 1-1. the next goal wasn't until 17 minutes into the third when Greg Scott took a wrist shot from the circle than hit Penguins goalie Patrick Killen and went in. Alex Berry put the icing on the cake with 32 seconds left on an empty netter. 3-1 was the final score in Jonas Gustavsson's debut, with a strong showing in the first game, how would he do in the second game against Boston...
The Boston Bruins have some of the top young players in the league such as Blake Wheeler, Milan Lucic and David Krejci how many prospects coud they have left, maybe Joe Colbourne,Brad Marchand, Zach Hamill, Yuri Alexandrov, Jamie Arneil and Jordan Caron could be the answer. Gustavsson did not start the game which was a questionable move, considering Jeremy Reimer gave up 6 goals on 36 shots. This was one rough and tough game which included 3 fights, another questionable move was sitting top fighter Richard Greenop. The Bruins went up 2-0 on goals by Jason Wlson and Jamie Arneil. Christian Hanson scored his first goal of the game, from top prospect Nazem Kadri.
Toronto Fighter/Boston Fighter/Fight Number
Alex Barry Scott Fletcher 1
Stefan Gilliati Jordan Knackstead 2
Jamie Devane Peter Stevens 3
Once again Christian Hanson scored from Nazem Kadri, which makes you think that in the future they'll be a dynamic duo. Tyler Bozak finally got is first goal in a leaf uniform with 7 minutes left in the second period, giving the Leafs the lead. The lead lasted about as long as the Isles thought about choosing Hedman. 10 seconds into the third the game was tied at 3, but the leafs stormed right bac after Nazem Kadri beat Adam Courchaine on a backhand to make it 4-3 T.O.Once again the lead barely lasted as less than a minute later Tyler Randell beat Reimer to make it 4-4.Hanson scored his hat trick goal when his shot from the right circle went off the crossbar and fortunately in, so the Leafs got another 1 goal lead they couldn't handle.Rob Kweit put the puck over Reimers glove to make it 5-5. The way the goals were coming you'd think the Leafs would get the next one,but Jamie Arneil had other plans when he received a pass from Zach Hamill and put it past Reimers arm in overtime. The one thing that the Leafs could take from this game is Hanson's hat trick and Kadri's assists. I see a nice future first line in Kadri - Hanson - Kessel
The Leafs apparently didnt learn their lesson and they decided to put Reimer in again against Ottawa. This was the prospect version of the battle of ontario and you would think that the Leafs wanted to win, and the best way to win is to put Gustavsson in. This Was a painful game for leaf fans as Ottawa pounded the Leafs with a 7-1 sens victory. You couldnt tell it would be such a blowout when it was only 1-0 after the first. The Sens must have got some pep talk in the intermission because by the time the third started it was 7-0 on goals by Erik Condra(2) and Brandon Svendsen, Zack Smith, Craig Schria, Keegan Dansereau and Shea Guthrie all had 1 goal. Tyler Bozak scored the only Leafs goal inn the third period as he beat Robin Lehner who made 26 saves on 27 shots. The Sens outshot the Leafs 45-27. Reimers poor performance got him pulled after 2 periods when Andrew Engelage, who played all playoff and memorial cup games for the champion Windsor Spitfires.
Based on what happened in the tournament I will try to make future lines for the Leafs:
Phil Kessel - Nazem Kadri - Christian Hanson
Mikhail Stefanovich - Tyler Bozak - Christopher Didomenico
Viktor Stalberg - Jimmy Hayes - Dale Mitchell
Jamie Devane - Richard Greenop - Stefan Gilliati
Carl Gunnarson - Jesse Blacker
Phil Oreskovic - Juraj Mikus
Jonas Gustavsson
Andrew Engelage
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