Well, I expected Tucker to return to his form of old, Nolan is an excellent player when healthy and Reichel was better than given credit for last season. Pilar had the potential to be as good as he is playing right now, Klee was known as a solid defenseman, so I have to go with Matt Stajan, who I never expected to be in the NHL right now. Honourable mention goes to Aki Berg as well btw.
Well, I expected Tucker to return to his form of old, Nolan is an excellent player when healthy and Reichel was better than given credit for last season. Pilar had the potential to be as good as he is playing right now, Klee was known as a solid defenseman, so I have to go with Matt Stajan, who I never expected to be in the NHL right now. Honourable mention goes to Aki Berg as well btw.
You read my mind. All the other guys you mentioned are playing the way they have proven that they are capable, although they all have overcome some doubts. Stajan wasn't even considered for cracking the lineup, then earning time on a scoring line.
I'm going to have to go with Matt Stajan
Reasoning:
- I knew Pilar would return to his old form ( like we all did )
- I NEVER doubted Nolan
- Klee was better than alot of people gave him credit for here
- Tucker, (same as Pilar)
- Reichel, has tons of talent, now he's actually using it
I was also surprised by Pilar. I thought it would take him much longer to round into form. I was fairly surprised to see Stajan make the team as well.
Tucker, Nolan and Berg haven't surprised me one bit.
I don't know why Reichel's even on this list. He's on pace for his worst offensive season ever.
But who could have expected Klee to play as well as he has? I knew he'd be pretty solid, but he's logging major time on the power play as well and putting up big numbers. He's made the loss of Svehla a lot easier to swallow.
I don't know how it's not Stajan. Klee has been solid as advertised. Stajan has not only made the team as a 19 year old with only a handful of AHL experience, he's been a solid contributor as well and has not looked out of place.
Id have to agree with the majority and say its really between Klee and Stajan on that list. Klee's offense in particular and Stajan making the team and playing like he has. The others havent been 'surprises' per se, but they have been playing well nontheless.
I think there are a Number of leafs playing very well, I really like the play of all the above players, especially reichel. Renberg as of late has been playing great too.
I'll go with someone off the list, who I originally thought was a spare part: Tom Fitzgerald! He's been such a great foot soldier. Great on the PK and the forecheck!
And it's not really the numbers, although they have been surprising. He's over his head offensively and I highly doubt he'll keep putting up those numbers.
But this guy has absolutely blown me away defensively. I had no idea he was this good in his own end. I don't think I've seen him burned once in a bad way -- and that's remarkable when you consider that he's got below average wheels.
I didn't think Klee would be able to compensate for losing Wesley (who I've always liked and was just elated to see him as a Leaf). But he's been as good as Wesley and then some.
A great signing -- what is with the Leafs and free agents? It seems the snag the best ones every year -- Nieuwendyk has been and absolutely awesome addition and the biggest reason for the team chemistry improvements, imo.
Berg's ability to get people to actually watch him play now that he's been paired with a dependable partner who doesn't make him look bad.
I'm not that surprised about Stajan.
My position is that they could do a similar job every year with a youngster. Give him limited minutes, play him with skilled and tough veterans to protect and show him the ropes and bring along slowly. Stajan was just fortunate that Quinn and JFj decided he was the recipient of this treatment.
Chances are they could have done the same thing with Steen, or perhaps even Immonen were they under contract. Stajan isn't leading a line, he's been following the lead of competent, strong veterans on the team.
Other clubs do this all the time, the Leafs have been more inclined to use a Travis Green, Corson type player for those minutes. That is short sighted and has proven to be ineffective.
The use of players like Stajan, Poni, Perrot, Druken over the season will help prepare them for the post season, when they might have similar impacts that Justin Williams did for the Flyers or Rupp for the Devils.
Quinn has always permitted more time for big players, with (Antropov) or without (Belak/McAllister) talent, but he has little time for smaller players (Sullivan, Boyes, Perreault).
It isn't always about overall talent, sometimes it is more about opportunity.
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Woodlief
using his big frame to create space and his skating ability to find open lanes to drive the net. He stands 6-3 and is a natural goal scorer with plenty of confidence.
He's a scout's dream in the way he prepares himself and plays an unselfish game, making smart decisions with the puck. With his bloodlines, he certainly understands what it will take to make it at the next level.
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