Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 2.1

www.afootinthecrease.com

After going down with an eye injury during the opening game of the Leafs 2005-2006 campaign and returning a month later only to put up very mediocre production, many people were wondering whether the 18 month layoff had taken the final spring out of the step of Mats Sundin. Then came the 2006 Winter Olympics that saw Sundin rediscover his dominant form as he led Team Sweden to the gold medal in Turin. Upon returning to the Maple Leafs, Sundin went on a tear registering 37 points in the Leafs final 25 games of the season, much of that time spent on a line with Alexei Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov.

Now that everybody knew he could still play at a high level, it resurrected the favorite question among Leaf fans: Who should play on Sundin’s line next year?

Not having been able to augment this part of their lineup through free agency, the Leafs will have to look to fill these two spots from within their own organization.

Considering his great success in the final portion of last season, there is a strong possibility he will start the year with the same linemates as he finished with last season. However it’s difficult to imagine any team that considers themselves a contender having Antropov or for that matter Ponikarovsky as first line wingers.

Alex Steen has said that he would like a shot to be Sundin’s wingman and judging by what he showed last season, I think he deserves a look. He’s young, fast and not afraid to go into the corners, something Antropov is often reluctant to do.

Jeff O’Neill has said he is ready to rediscover his form of 2003 when he led the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final. Despite a horrible season last year, putting him with Sundin would give the Leafs a chance to see if he ever will get his old form back. If he doesn’t put up, time to ship him about. If he can’t play on Sundin’s line, he’ll never be the player he was before.

Darcy Tucker may get a look as well, however he may be better used on a line with the newly acquired Mike Peca as part of an offensive grind line. Time will tell what Paul Maurice decides, but hey, all that was just rigamarole.