Sheldon Keefe says one of the Leafs summer acquisitions has exceeded all expecations
The Toronto Maple Leafs will come into the 2022-23 season as very different club than the one that lost a 7-game series to the Tampa Bay Lightning back in May. While the team's core of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly are all back this season, the supporting cast that surrounds them give the team a much different look.
The Leafs will enter the season with a new goaltending tandem, a few new faces on the blueline and a handful of forwards who should make the team a lot harder to play against. There is one acquisition from this summer though who is exceeding the expectations of Sheldon Keefe and the rest of the coaching staff. 31-year-old Calle Jarnkrok.
Keefe spoke with the media ahead of the Leafs' preseason matchup against the Montreal Canadiens tonight and he had some pretty high praise for the veteran forward.
-Keefe on Jarnkrok coming into camp as more than advertised
The Buds inked Jarnkrok to a 4-year deal this summer worth $2.1M per season. Given the versatility of the Galve, Sweden native, there's a pretty good chance that he far exceeds that value to the team.
Jarnkrok has the ability to play both left and right wing, as well as center. The latter should bode well for the Leafs, considering the fact that John Tavares is slated to miss a few weeks with an oblique strain. There's a very realistic possibility that Jarnkrok could start the season as the team's 2nd line center until Tavares is ready to go.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 28 | 251 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe says one of the Leafs summer acquisitions has exceeded all expecations How many goals will Jarnkrok contribute for the Leafs in 2022-23? | ||
| 10 or less | 12 | 4.8 % |
| 11-15 | 73 | 29.1 % |
| 16-20 | 114 | 45.4 % |
| More than 20 | 52 | 20.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
