Blake poised to join Leafs' front line
'It's A Great Opportunity'; Lineup far from finalized, Maurice says
View Larger Image
Toronto Maple Leafs winger
Jason Blake will join captain
Mats Sundin and
Nik Antropov on the top line in an inter-squad exhibition game in Oshawa tomorrow. "Chemistry is a big deal when you play with linemates, whoever it is," the 34-year-old said. "Hopefully, [playing with Sundin] happens."
Undrafted by the National Hockey League, the 5-foot-10 forward has continually been told that he is too small to succeed. But even in the darkest times, Blake has always believed he could be a top goal scorer.
Last year, he finally proved his critics wrong by potting a career-high 40 goals. But it was not without its initial struggle.
Blake began the season with the New York Islanders stuck on the third line with role players Richard Park and Shawn Bates. And in his first four games, the 34-year-old failed to find the back of the net. Instead of accepting his place in the pecking order, the Moorhead, Minn., native decided to ask New York Islanders head coach Ted Nolan for a promotion.
With the team struggling to win games, Nolan gave the winger a shot.
"It kind of just took off from there," said Blake, who scored twice and added an assist in his first game on the top line.
By the end of the season, the Islanders were the NHL's surprise playoff team and Blake was the league's most unlikely 40-goal scorer.
"When [Nolan] put me in that role, I just knew that this was it," he said. "[I told myself ] 'this is your shot, so do your best.' "
Blake, who signed a five-year contract worth US$20-million to play in Toronto this summer,
is under similar pressure with the Maple Leafs. Head coach Paul Maurice said he expects his new forward "to score important goals in the 40-ish range." But Blake, whose previous season-high was 28 goals in 2005-06, refused to talk about specific numbers.
"Forty goals?" he asked. "I haven't even thought about 40 goals. I've thought about what my game is, and I've got a good grasp of what I can do within myself ... I'm hoping to do more this year. But I don't know what that is."
One thing is for sure: Blake, who practised on a line with Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov at training camp yesterday, will not have to go asking around for a promotion.
"Hopefully, [playing with Sundin] happens," said Blake. "If it does, obviously it's a great opportunity for myself, and hopefully I can help Mats out and vice versa. But whoever I get a chance to play with, I'm just out there to do the best I can do and hopefully provide energy and some offence."
FULL STORY: Blake poised to join Leafs' front line
Top line for the Leafs
Top line for the Leafs
Linear Mode
