Calle Jarnkrok Is Making It Impossible for the Leafs to Take Him Out of the Lineup
Photo credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images
Three games into the season and the biggest surprise of the season hasn't been from a newcomer, or even Auston Matthews; but veteran utility player Calle Jarnkrok.
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost two in a row to the Detroit Red Wings, there were some pretty positive things we can take away from them despite the results.
Matthew Knies is picking things up, Easton Cowan made his debut to critical acclaim, and it looks like Auston Matthews is finding his stride even if he's not scoring just yet.
Calle Jarnkrok's Hot Start Is Exactly What the Leafs Needed
But the biggest shock was Calle Jarnkrok, who managed to score the game and tie things up on Monday. Though it's not that he scored a goal, but that he's quietly been Toronto's best offensive player so far.
For a player who last season didn't play until March and looked a step or two out of place, what a difference does one offseason make. Jarnkrok looks agile, motivated and most importantly; comfortable.
No one would have thought that he would have three goals in three games, and showing an unbelievable knack around the net; and he's doing it in many ways.
First he wired a rebound past Sam Montembeault to score in the season opener; a very Jarnkrok-esque goal.
In the second game against Detroit, he trailed the puck and managed to slide the puck past Cam Talbot in yet another greasy and gritty goal:
But it was the return match against Detroit that has people talking. All credit to Matthew Knies for orchestrating the play, but Jarnkrok channeled his inner Auston Matthews and hit a disgusting snipe:
Three games. Three goals. FIVE shots. Jarnkrok is shooting at a 60% pace right now, and is, yes, on pace as well for 82 goals.
His Strong Play Could Shake Up Toronto's Lineup Plans
Will that happen? The odds are astronomically low, and it's more likely we see him cool off eventually (even if we don't want him to).
It's as if the line structure flip-flopped, as what was once the sore spot for the Maple Leafs (depth scoring) has now seemingly trumped over pure star power and talent; it feels like the fourth line could inject life into their expected top contributors.
But to get the 20-goal scoring version of Jarnkrok; only with more wisdom and experience? That's something Toronto has been missing the last few seasons.
If he keeps it up, there could be a chance he plays in the top-six, and knowing how cold they have been to start the season, the chance to spark someone like John Tavares or Auston Matthews (who was on the ice for Jarnkrok's third goal) could be beneficial.
For all the talk about how the Toronto Maple Leafs could improve their depth and bottom-six scoring, who knew all it would take was a healthy Calle Jarnkrok.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 14|984 ANSWERS Calle Jarnkrok Is Making It Impossible for the Leafs to Take Him Out of the Lineup Should Calle Jarnkrok be in the Maple Leafs' top-six? | ||
| Yes | 418 | 42.5 % |
| No | 566 | 57.5 % |
| List of polls | ||