| Kaberle tails off as Leafs cut load Rookie fatigue, numbers game playing big part By Ken Campbell Toronto Star Sports Reporter February 1, 1999 |
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If you haven't noticed Maple Leafs rookie defenceman Tomas Kaberle lately, there's a perfectly good reason. It's simply because No. 15 is becoming less of a presence with Toronto's blue-line corps. When Kaberle showed up for training camp in Hamilton in September, it was almost a fait accompli that he would spend this season with the St. John's Maple Leafs and play 30 minutes a game, run the power play and make the adjustment to North American pro hockey. But a funny thing happened on the way from Poldi Kladno to the Rock. Kaberle was outstanding in training camp and carried that through the first part of the season. Instead of watching from the bench, Kaberle started the season looking every bit the part of a Calder Trophy candidate, playing more than 25 minutes a game and he was on the ice in almost every situation. But since logging 19 minutes, 44 seconds in a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins Jan. 9, Kaberle has seen his ice time significantly reduced. In the eight games since, the Czech Republic 20-year-old has been a healthy scratch twice and in Saturday night's 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals he had only four shifts. Part of the problem is the Leafs have nine healthy defencemen on the roster and are dressing seven, along with 11 forwards, for each game. That leaves Dallas Eakins and one other on the outside looking in. With Tie Domi expected to return from injury tomorrow night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, another numbers problem will have to be solved. There's no indication the Leafs will be sending Kaberle to the minors for ice time and to boost his confidence. He struggled mightily in the Leafs' 6-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday night and has no points in six games. He hasn't scored a goal in 19. ``Based on the way he has played this year, it would probably be unfair and rash to send him to the minors,'' Leafs associate GM Mike Smith said. ``If things don't change and the numbers stay the same, there might be some type of reconsideration, but it's not unusual for this to be the case with a European or college player. ``Not only do they play fewer games, but they play fewer significant games. Last year, Mike Johnson came out of college and he really struggled in the first part of the second half and then he rebounded in March.'' Coach Pat Quinn noticed Kaberle playing a nervously cautious style of late. Many of the long passes that were finding teammates' sticks are now being intercepted, players he's supposed to be checking are finding themselves in the open and Kaberle is looking a little fatigued. Tomorrow night will be the Leafs' 49th game of the season. Kaberle has never played more than 49 in an entire year. ``If we end up sitting him (which they have done twice) and he ends up getting three or four minutes (5:13 Saturday), then obviously that changes things,'' Quinn said. ``He's at the stage where he has to play games and we'll look at that differently then, but we're not there yet.'' Kaberle admits he's ``a little tired'' at this stage of the season, but refuses to use fatigue as an excuse. ``I must be ready to play every game; with seven defencemen I must always be ready,'' Kaberle said. FOUL MOOD: Leafs coach Pat Quinn is sounding a refrain that has become familiar. He says that after another NHL-mandated crackdown on obstruction fouls are once again being ignored. That's bad news for a team that plays the free-flowing style the Leafs employ. They're not very big and physical and one way to stop them is to hook and hold. ``In Pittsburgh it was a game of tackle most of the time in their zone,'' Quinn said. FAST HEALER: Backup goalie Glenn Healy, who sprained his right knee three weeks ago in the Leafs' skills competition, took part in practice yesterday and is likely ahead of the original prognosis which called for him to be out for at least six weeks. |