This article is in response to a comment that I received on my first article, "Toronto Maple Leafs: The Best Roster While Still Remaining Under the Cap." Someone posted that my roster was ridiculous just because Luca Caputi was on the third line. My reaction: do you know how Brian Burke builds a team?
As Burke reiterated on Toronto's Fan 590 this morning, he puts six skilled forwards on the top two lines, and six guys who aren't afraid to go into the trenches on the bottom two lines.
I never said that I expected Caputi to light the lamp every game. If I did, I would have put him on the first or second line. Caputi is a player who can play on the third line and will score his share of goals, but more importantly, he hits and drives to the net, things that not many Leafs do.
Every team needs role players, young or old, to play on the third and fourth line. Think of the Chicago Blackhawks. It wasn't all Toews, Kane and Byfuglien, they had major contributions from guys like Dave Bolland, John Madden, and Adam Burish in their roles. With Pittsburgh, it was Matt Cooke, Craig Adams, Max Talbot, and Mark Eaton.
You can't fill four lines with ...
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Article written by Jeff Langridge
Luca Caputi: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Most Hated
June 28th, 2010 by Jeff Langridge Leave a reply »
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