Rigmarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.10

www.afootinthecrease.com

Finally after fifteen games, the Maple Leafs got their first look at Mark Bell when he made his season debut last Tuesday against Ottawa after concluding a suspension related to his off ice incident a year and a half ago in San Jose. Throughout training camp and the first part of the regular season, fans and media alike wondered out loud just what could be expected from Mark Bell. Understandable considering Bell had spent his entire career in the Western Conference before coming to the Maple Leafs. We knew Bell was a big, tough, physical player but just how big, tough and physical would he be? We knew he had some offensive talent, but just how much would we see from a player who still clearly has a lot of off ice issues to think about.

Against the Senators, Bell gave Maple Leaf fans a very good sampling of what kind of player he can be expected to be. He was strong and physical. He was not afraid to go into the corners and he was very willing to come to the defense of his teammates. Perhaps the best word to describe Bell’s game is robust; a strong skater who enjoys playing the body and is willing to challenge anyone from the opposing team. For Mark Bell, his play against the Senators was just what the Leafs were hoping for out of him. Once he gets ten games under his belt, Bell will start to get more comfortable offensively and find his niche within the Leafs offensive system.

Keep in mind, Bell was essentially thrown into the deal that sent Vesa Toskala to the Maple Leafs. Take Bell or you don’t get Toskala was the message from the Sharks. If Bell can continue his physical brand of hockey throughout the remainder of the season and net 15 to 20 goals, he will go from being looked at as a cast off at the beginning of the year to a valuable member of this Maple Leaf team come game 82. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.