National Post
September 19, 2003
By Sean Fitz-Gerald

KITCHENER - Brad Leeb became a goal-scoring king while playing with the St. John's Maple Leafs last season, ascending to a leadership position with the aid of a keen eye and a blistering snap shot.

But he is finding that being minor-league royalty -- King of the Rock -- carries few rewards with the parent club. So while the established stars and touted hopefuls of the Toronto Maple Leafs skated in Scandinavia yesterday, Leeb continued working to avoid exile back to his kingdom.

"You play this game to play in the NHL," he said. "My goals aren't any different. You try and improve every year. I'd like to improve, if I'm starting on the Rock again -- [I'll] try and get better and try and put myself in a position where I'm a consideration for a call-up."

The 24-year-old scored 35 goals and 61 points with Toronto's American Hockey League affiliate last season, both team highs. He also had a team-best 15 power-play goals and 242 shots on net.

Toronto recalled him in the playoffs, but he never played a game in the opening-round loss to Philadelphia. In fact, the only meaningful time he's had with Toronto's crest on his jersey has been in his two training camp appearances.

In all, the undrafted right-winger has played in just four National Hockey League games since signing as a free agent with Vancouver on Oct. 8, 1999, all of those coming with the Canucks.

"To me, it looks like he skates fine," said first-year St. John's coach Doug Shedden. "I don't think that's the problem. If anything, maybe size [hinders him] a little bit, but again, he doesn't play a small man's game. Everything I've seen of him, you've got to like."

Leeb is listed at 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, but might only be a swollen bruise or two taller than tiny Tie Domi. He did not strike an imposing figure during a scrimmage at The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium yesterday, but he moved with a low centre of gravity. He also threw at least two heavy bodychecks even though the game itself was light on contact.

"He hasn't scored a lot in this camp yet at all, but he's certainly getting the chances and that's the main thing," Shedden said. "When the goal-scorers get the chances, it'll eventually come."

Like former Toronto captain Wendel Clark, who was watching from the stands, Leeb is able to release his shots quickly because he has no long wind-up.

"He likes to go top glove, and he'll be the one to tell you that, too," said Toronto goaltending hopeful Mike Minard. "He's got a good shot. It's accurate. It's hard. And it's hard to stop."

Injuries may allow him to make his first appearance in a Toronto uniform this season. Forwards Owen Nolan, Alexander Mogilny, Gary Roberts and Mikael Renberg all battled their share of aches and pains last season and some have already hurt themselves in pre-season.

"You don't want anybody to get hurt, you don't want anybody to have a bad season, but an injury does open up an opportunity for a younger player to step in and play," Leeb said. "During the year, guys are going to get hurt, whether it's now or in the playoffs or whenever. You just have to be ready."

A space may also open with the departure of Paul Healey to the New York Rangers.

"If you look back in history, maybe some of the top scorers in the American league are older guys," Shedden said. "And when [teams] bring guys up, they're bringing younger guys a lot of the time ... [Leeb's] still a young guy in my books."



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