By Sam Laskaris /
He hasn’t played any games yet for them this season.
But one of the best moves the Toronto Maple Leafs made this past off-season was signing free agent centre Tim Stapleton.
The 26-year-old Illinois-native was leading the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies in scoring in mid-January.
Stapleton had picked up 34 points (6G, 28A) through his first 37 matches with the Marlies.
The fact the 5-8, 180-pounder could produce some points should not come as a surprise.
Following a stellar four-year career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth,
Stapleton had spent the past two seasons starring in Finland’s top pro league with a club dubbed Jokerit Helsinki.
Stapleton racked up 62 points, including 29 goals, in 55 matches last season. That was an increase from his 48-point rookie season in Finland.
Even though he was in his fourth month of the season, Stapleton said he was just getting acclimatized to the North American style of play.
“I feel like right now I’m just starting to get comfortable,” Stapleton said, adding that playing in smaller rinks in the AHL as opposed to the spacious European facilities takes plenty of time to get used to.
Stapleton did have a brief taste of AHL life prior to hooking up with the Marlies. After his collegiate career was over, he joined the AHL’s Portland Pirates in 2006. He ended up appearing in nine games with the Pirates, earning five assists.
Though some East Coast Hockey League squads expressed some interest in his services that summer, Stapleton opted to take his act overseas. Being a diminutive, skilled player, he felt his game would be better suited in a ?European circuit.
“After my first year, I really liked it there,” Stapleton said. “I thought my entire career would be in Europe.”
But as it turned out, his play with Jokerit Helsinki managed to turn some heads in North America.
Besides the Maple Leafs, Stapleton also received an offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization this past off-season.
And since he is putting up some decent numbers, Stapleton’s dream of playing in the NHL has once again ?been revived.
“That’s always been my dream,” he said. “A few years ago, I had kind of given up on that. But now, who knows? Anything can happen.”
Though he’s an American, Stapleton said he’s thrilled to be playing his hockey in Canada’s largest city.
“I love Toronto,” he said. “Everybody wants to make it onto the Leafs. And I’m trying my best to do that. And I love Toronto because the city is very similar to my hometown of Chicago.”
Stapleton though admits he was not raised a Blackhawks’ fan.
“My dad grew up in Michigan so I’m a huge Detroit fan,” he said. “I’m a Lions’ and a Red Wings’ fan.” |