(above) Former University of Denver star Tyler Bozak made an impression with the Toronto Maple LeafsFrom: The Star
by Kevin McGran
The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a salary-cap numbers crunch and it looks as if impressive rookie Tyler Bozak is getting caught in the squeeze.
The Leafs are about $6 million (all figures U.S.) over the $56.8 million salary cap and GM Brian Burke must cut the roster to 23 players plus injured reserve by 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The team dropped hints over the last few days that Bozak – who impressed with his hockey sense and playmaking ability – had made the squad alongside fellow rookie forwards Viktor Stalberg and Jay Rosehill. Although no official announcements were made, it now appears the team is backtracking and thinking of sending him to the Marlies.
"If somebody doesn't play well, Bozak has a real good shot to get called back up," coach Ron Wilson said of Bozak. "He'll probably have to go down because of numbers. Based on the way he played in training camp, he's certainly worthy of playing in the NHL, but we may not have room at the beginning."
Indeed, hockey these days is about more than pure talent. It's about the salary cap, and the Leaf braintrust had its work cut out for it Tuesday night as it tried to pare down the roster.
"We'll have to make some moves in the next couple of days," said Wilson. "Some might be short term, some might be longer term. We have body issues and cap issues."
Bozak, a free-agent signing from the University of Denver, sounded far more optimistic.
"I got to play in all situations and show what I could do," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen this year, maybe get some games up (with the Leafs). We'll see."
by Kevin McGran
The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a salary-cap numbers crunch and it looks as if impressive rookie Tyler Bozak is getting caught in the squeeze.
The Leafs are about $6 million (all figures U.S.) over the $56.8 million salary cap and GM Brian Burke must cut the roster to 23 players plus injured reserve by 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The team dropped hints over the last few days that Bozak – who impressed with his hockey sense and playmaking ability – had made the squad alongside fellow rookie forwards Viktor Stalberg and Jay Rosehill. Although no official announcements were made, it now appears the team is backtracking and thinking of sending him to the Marlies.
"If somebody doesn't play well, Bozak has a real good shot to get called back up," coach Ron Wilson said of Bozak. "He'll probably have to go down because of numbers. Based on the way he played in training camp, he's certainly worthy of playing in the NHL, but we may not have room at the beginning."
Indeed, hockey these days is about more than pure talent. It's about the salary cap, and the Leaf braintrust had its work cut out for it Tuesday night as it tried to pare down the roster.
"We'll have to make some moves in the next couple of days," said Wilson. "Some might be short term, some might be longer term. We have body issues and cap issues."
Bozak, a free-agent signing from the University of Denver, sounded far more optimistic.
"I got to play in all situations and show what I could do," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen this year, maybe get some games up (with the Leafs). We'll see."
2 comments:
Ron Wilson said at the bottom of this article that Tyler was assigned to the Marlies today.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/leafs-a-team-without-a-c/article1307023/
that seems like a tough move on the leafs part if they want to win games. But this seems like it could definitely help bozak in the long run since he'll be 1st or 2nd line in the AHL and wouldnt have been used much in the NHL. Future line of Bozak and Kessel together? Thunder and Lightning
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