Of all the depth players the Toronto Maple Leafs’ acquired during the off-season, the most important in Dave Nonis’ mind may surprise you.
Sure, checking forward Leo Komarov — currently sidelined with a concussion — has contributed 16 points, kills penalties and strikes fear in anyone who catches him charging in on the forecheck. And Mike Santorelli is both the highest-scoring Leaf not on the the first line (22 points) and leads all Toronto players in plus/minus (+17).
But it’s on defence where Nonis wouldn’t hesitate to make his move again.
“If we had to go back and do one signing last summer, it would be bringing [Stephane Robidas] in,” Nonis said Monday on The Jeff Blair Show. “We brought in Robidas for two reasons. One is we believe he can still play at a high level, or we wouldn’t have signed him, and I think he’s rounding out into form.
“The second reason is because of his character and leadership qualities. If you speak to anyone who’s had him as a coach or a manager around the league, they’ll talk about his play, but they’ll talk glowing about him as a person, as a leader and how he can have an affect on younger players.”
LISTEN: Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis talks about the club’s hot streak, the mumps and upcoming road mission
The Maple Leafs’ senior vice-president and general manger joined Sportsnet 590 The Fan to discuss his team’s winning streak, and gave special mention to Robidas for helping turn the team around since its abysmal 9-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Nov. 18 — the most disappointing defeat Nonis said he’s witnessed since he joined the club.
The Leafs have now won five straight games, are 9-1-1 in their last 11 and sit just two points behind Tampa Bay for the Atlantic Division lead.
Robidas seemed like a risk when the Leafs signed the 37-year-old free agent to a three-year, $9-million deal. He was coming off two leg fractures and failed to stick in Dallas — a team lacking blueline experience itself.
When I spoke to Stars GM Jim Nill in September, he said the front office debated keeping Robidas in Texas.
“There just wasn’t room on the roster,” Nill said. “We’ve got four or five younger players knocking on the door and I didn’t know what opportunity there would be there for him. The younger players—it’s their time right now. Time for them to step up.”
Ironically, it’s Robidas who has stepped up. His ice-time is creeping north (he saw more than 19 minutes during Sunday’s victory over L.A.) and his plus-10 rating ranks second only to Dion Phaneuf’s among Leafs defencemen. He has been an even or plus player in each of the team’s 11 games since the Nashville debacle.
And, like Nonis said, hockey folks — even the ones who let him walk — rave about his character.
“You won’t meet a better character player. He was a big part our organization tutoring a lot of these kids. They went through some tough times the last four or five years, and he worked with the younger defencemen on the team,” Nill said.
“He taught them how to do it the right way, how to be an everyday player, what it takes to be that—the hard work and dedication. You won’t meet a more dedicated hockey player than Stephan Robidas. He’s committed.”
