Broadcasters mention it when they see how Easton Cowan, who had his first three-point game on Tuesday night, has blossomed this season after winning the trophy with the Marlies last spring.
asserted
who → mention → Marlies
It came up when Marlies call-up Marshall Rifai scored his first NHL goal in Toronto’s 6-2 win over Columbus on Tuesday.
asserted
Rifai → come → Tuesday
It comes up when folks talk about Toronto’s near-perfect penalty kill, because the architect is assistant coach John Gruden.
asserted
architect → come → kill
Early in the season Marlies veteran Bo Groulx got a chance.
asserted
Groulx → get → chance
Now Vinni Lettieri — the leading scorer in the Calder Cup playoffs — is getting that chance.
asserted
Lettieri → lead → chance
“These guys have paid their dues in the minors, won a championship, we have to give them an opportunity,” Jim Hiller said before Tuesday’s game.
asserted
Hiller → pay → game
It paid off against Columbus.
asserted
It → pay → Columbus
Cowan had a short-handed goal and two assists and is proving to be more than a support player.
asserted
Cowan → have → player
“He’s physically matured, emotionally too,” Hiller said of Cowan.
asserted
Hiller → ’ → Cowan
“To play in the NHL last year like he did and contribute is amazing.
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he → play → NHL
It’s hard to do.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Sometimes we take it for granted just how hard it is to do at a young age.
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it → take → age
“He’s taken a massive step.
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He → take → step
He wants to be a hockey player.
asserted
He → want → ?
We’ve had a lot of conversations with him and he’s stuck with what he’s said, so he’s earned the trust of his coaches.”
asserted
he → have → coaches
An organizational championship is never a bad thing and GM John Chayka deserves some credit to give his Calder Cup champions the call — ahead of say, waiver-wire pickups — to fill for injured players.
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Chayka → deserve → players
It would be understandable if a new GM completely cleaned house, but Chayka largely inherited those players, and is rewarding them (and kept assistant GM Ryan Hardy with the organization).
asserted
Chayka → clean → organization
It will go a long way to team-building and boosting morale with the minor league team.
asserted
It → go → team
But of course, it’s what they can do for the Leafs that really matters.
asserted
that → ’ → Leafs
And for now, Cowan’s growth got a boost with the playoff experience he had in the AHL after the Leafs missed the post-season.
asserted
Leafs → get → season
“He went home for the summer and it was evident when he came back to camp he’s taken a step,” Rifai said of Cowan.
asserted
Rifai → go → Cowan
“He’s more confident.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
He’s now a first-line winger, a puck hound and a bona fide option on the penalty kill.
asserted
He → ’ → kill
He got the team’s first short-handed goal.
asserted
He → get → goal
Hiller lets Gruden typically put Cowan and William Nylander — offensive-minded players — out late in penalty kills when the other team might have its second unit out or a tired first unit.
uncertain
unit → let → kills
“It means a lot,” Cowan said of earning the coach’s trust.
asserted
Cowan → mean → trust
“Getting out there, getting in the flow, getting confidence helps a lot.
asserted
Getting → get → lot
As far as prospects go, Cowan is separate from the rest.
asserted
Cowan → go → rest
He was an NHLer playing in the minors last spring, really just to keep the learning curve going.
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curve → play → minors
“He has a vision for himself, where he wants to take his career, what that will look like, and we’re in alignment with that, and with what he’s capable of,” Hiller said of Cowan.
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Hiller → have → Cowan
“He has a high ceiling.”
asserted
He → have → ceiling
Groulx has some versatility as a centre or a winger, who can defend and has shown offence.
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who → have → offence
Lettieri has NHL speed.
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Lettieri → have → speed
He played 19 minutes 41 seconds on Tuesday night – by far the most of his five-game NHL career.
asserted
He → play → career
In addition to his goal, he led the team with four blocked shots.
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he → lead → shots
“All the individual stuff feels a lot better when the team gets the job done,” said Rifai.
asserted
Rifai → feel → ?
“Our leaders led the way.”
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leaders → lead → way
The Leafs lost another defenceman, Jake McCabe, to injury against Columbus.
asserted
Leafs → lose → Columbus
Though post-game comments suggest McCabe would be fine, teams can never have enough defencemen.
asserted
teams → suggest → defencemen
Injuries have limited the 28-year-old Rifai’s progress, but the scouting reports are always positive.
asserted
reports → limit → progress
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
