Model of consistency

Dion Phaneuf has been receiving many accolades this season and rightly so. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain is off to a wonderful start - a big reason why the team has found early success.

But behind every good defenceman is, well, his defensive partner. Ladies and gentleman, may we introduce you to Carl Gunnarsson. You've probably heard the name before, but what do you really know about the man?

"He's been our secret weapon," said Leafs assistant coach Scott Gordon. "He has been very consistent. I'd say he's only played one game that was just average. And even that game, by other players' standards, was pretty good."

The 24-year-old Swede often goes unnoticed on the ice. At 6-foot-2 and a little under 200 pounds, he's not overly large; he doesn't shoot the puck particularly hard and he's certainly not the most physically punishing defender around. Sometimes not being noticed in the NHL is a good thing - it means you aren't making mistakes. In fact, being a safe player just may be what defines Gunnarsson.

"I've said it before about Gunner; he sees the ice really well, moves the puck well and he's a real good shot-blocker," Phaneuf said. "I think he's one of the most underrated D-men in the league, if you want my honest opinion. He's been great to play with. He does a lot of the little things right and it makes it easy to play with a guy like that.

"He's just very consistent. As soon as we got paired together we fit well and worked well together. We talk a lot and I think that helps chemistry. He doesn't sound like a very vocal guy off the ice, but on the ice he's always talking and that really helps. On the ice he communicates very well and that makes the game easier for the guys you are playing with."

Gunnarsson played 68 games with the Maple Leafs last season, scoring four goals and 20 points. You would think he would feel perfectly entrenched as a regular, but with the team failing to make the playoffs once again and having eight NHL-caliber defenceman at training camp this year, it had him a little worried.

"I tried not to think about it too much," Gunnarsson said of the stiff competition to be one of the top six. "Last year I changed the way I played and I wasn't happy with my game. I decided no matter how many defenceman they had, I need to play the way I have always played. I try to play a safe, simple game. Obviously Dion is more offensive than me, but I try to get up there on the rush, too, when the time is right and try to get some scoring chances."

Gunnarsson doesn't get a lot of publicity, but those who pay close attention to details appreciate what he brings to the table. While some of the more high-profile Toronto defenders struggle to bring consistency to their game, Gunnarsson has that aspect of his game down pat.

"He's played very well," said coach Ron Wilson. "In fact he's played very well since halfway through last season. For some reason he struggled a little early and he's picked his play up. He's one of the better defenceman, one of the unheralded guys that a coach and other coaches would appreciate for the subtle little things he does. He's not a really physical guy, but he' first on pucks in the corner and he manages to keep pucks alive … strips people of the puck and head-mans it pretty quickly. He's also a pretty good penalty-killer, too. He's a shot-blocker."

Wilson said Gunnarsson and Phaneuf are feeding off one another and that is one reason why both are finding success. Phaneuf is tied for third in scoring amongst NHL defencemen with two goals and 11 points while Gunnarsson has four assists and is plus-4.

"The two things go hand-in-hand," Wilson said. "Carl is playing with confidence because of how well Dion is playing and likewise, Dion knows his partner will get him out of trouble. We're asking Dion to be a big part of our offence so he's going to get caught up the ice once in a while. You feel pretty good when Gunner is backing him up."

Wilson said Gunnarsson is something of a throwback for Phaneuf who played with Roman Hamrlik when he broke into the NHL with the Calgary Flames in 2005.

"He has a good relationship with his partner and that really helps," Wilson said. "In the past Dion has told me that he liked playing with Hamrlik because Hamrlik just told him to go and I'm always going to be back. Those were his two best years offensively, playing with Hamrlik, and he feels he's got a similar partner to play with in Gunnarsson."

THE PAIN OF SUCCESS: Maple Leafs left winger Phil Kessel is proud to be the NHL's first star for the month of October, and why wouldn't he be?

Kessel was the league's leading scorer with 10 goals and 18 points in 11 games and his Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a flying start. But if you gave the 24-year-old the choice between talking about the honour with the media or having a root canal, he'd likely opt for the dentist's chair.

As Kessel entered the dressing room to meet with the media, he noticed the announcement was written in blue ink on the announcement board.

"Aw, don't write that on the board," he said, rubbing it off with his bare arm. Then he turned and faced the pack.

"It's a team effort," Kessel predictably said - he hates talking about himself. "Obviously you can't do it without your teammates. Without my linemates, I can't score goals, right? They gave me great passes and (my shots) went in the first month. We've got to keep it going; you can't just have one good month in this league. We're going to try to keep it rolling and hopefully have another good month."

NOTES: Rookie right winger Matt Frattin was sent to the Marlies of the American League. Frattin, who had five goals in the pre-season, had no goals and three assists in Toronto's first 11 games and was minus-1. That said, he played well, but just couldn't find the net. "You don't want a young player who is used to scoring," Wilson said. "It's tough for him to come here and not score." Wilson said the decision to send him down had to do with building up the player's confidence … Rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner blocked a shot in the last game against Ottawa and has an injured right foot. He left practice early Tuesday and will be a game-time decision for Wednesday when the Leafs play in New Jersey …Goalie James Reimer remained on the injured reserve list. Wilson said he'll also be a game-time decision Wednesday.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.