After a 3-point night, Leafs winger now on pace for his first 20-goal season
After signing a 4-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs over the summer, expectations for Calle Jarnkrok were middling in the sense that no one expected anything other than his career numbers, which suggested 30-35 points.
After an early rough patch which led into a groin injury, Jarnkrok has come back with a lot more life as he now sits with 9 goals and 20 points in just 34 games. In a full 82 game season that would put him on pace for 22 goals and 48 points - well beyond his career averages.
He scored the game's opening goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in their 6-2 win and then added 2 more assists. In fact, the second line of Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and Jarnkrok has been humming like a well oiled machine ever since they were placed together and their chemistry was on full display, combining for 2 goals and 7 assists last night. With his 9th goal of the season, Jarnkrok is now on pace for his first ever 20+ goal campaign.
The Swedish forward has Mitch Marner to thank for that as he was quoted as saying "expect anything" when Marner has the puck in passing situations. The first goal was a perfect example of that as Marner waited patiently for Jarnkrok to dash towards the net before sending a perfect cross-seam pass as he was left untouched and unmarked by the Flyers defence.
He now has 6 goals and 15 points in his last 16 games, which coincides with the timeline of when Sheldon Keefe first put the line together - even with an injury taking place in between. Jarnkrok has provided the perfect intangibles for his fellow linemates as the Leafs' vaunted offence becomes that much better with the Swede's defensive prowess and solid finishing abilities.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 9 | 121 ANSWERS After a 3-point night, Leafs winger now on pace for his first 20-goal season Will Calle Jarnkrok hit 20 goals this season for the first time in his career? | ||
| Yes | 99 | 81.8 % |
| No | 22 | 18.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
