GoDogsGo
09-14-2007, 03:08 PM
Sportsnet.ca -- If the early line combos at Leafs' training camp are a harbinger of things to come, then head coach Paul Maurice took captain Mats Sundin's desire to play with a goal scorer to heart.
Sundin skated on a line with the newly acquired Jason Blake and Nik Antropov at Friday's practice, lending creedence to last week's story that had Sundin issuing an ultimatum to play with the Islanders' 40-goal scorer of one season ago.
"We all want to play with a guy who scored 40 goals in a season, that'll help," Sundin told reporters prior last week. "But saying that Me, Nik and Alex had the start of something good I thought last year."
The 'Big Unit' of Antropov, Sundin and Alex Ponikarovsky combined for 66 goals in 2006/07. Sundin has not played alongside a true goal-scorer since the Alexander Mogilny era, something Blake might be able to re-create.
"I am definitely looking forward to the opportunity to play with him (Sundin), but it's not my decision," said Blake in the wake of the ultimatum rumour. "If the opportunity does arrive I will embrace that."
Top line aside, the Leafs also used the following pairings at practice on Friday:
Kilger/Ondrus/Mitchell
Wellwood/Steen/Tlusty
Battaglia/Belak/Newbury
Gamache/Bell/Tucker
Murphy/Aubin/Leveille
Sundin skated on a line with the newly acquired Jason Blake and Nik Antropov at Friday's practice, lending creedence to last week's story that had Sundin issuing an ultimatum to play with the Islanders' 40-goal scorer of one season ago.
"We all want to play with a guy who scored 40 goals in a season, that'll help," Sundin told reporters prior last week. "But saying that Me, Nik and Alex had the start of something good I thought last year."
The 'Big Unit' of Antropov, Sundin and Alex Ponikarovsky combined for 66 goals in 2006/07. Sundin has not played alongside a true goal-scorer since the Alexander Mogilny era, something Blake might be able to re-create.
"I am definitely looking forward to the opportunity to play with him (Sundin), but it's not my decision," said Blake in the wake of the ultimatum rumour. "If the opportunity does arrive I will embrace that."
Top line aside, the Leafs also used the following pairings at practice on Friday:
Kilger/Ondrus/Mitchell
Wellwood/Steen/Tlusty
Battaglia/Belak/Newbury
Gamache/Bell/Tucker
Murphy/Aubin/Leveille