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. Center. Assat. Leo Komarov. 29. player. 121
The Coyotes really had a rough draft, landing two bonafide busts in the first round with Peter Mueller and Chris Summers. It’s tough to be Chris Summers when a guy who was drafted 180th overall in the same year has more value than him.
Leo Komarov is known for his pesky two-way play in which he limits the production of top guys by frustrating the hell out of them. Many Leafs fans still believe that one of the reasons they collapsed against the Boston Bruins in the playoffs was because Randy Carlyle didn’t play Komarov at all in the third period.
Last season was his best in terms of scoring as he put up 36 points and earned himself a spot in the All-Star Game. Granted, his All-Star campaign was John Scott inspired, but he had good enough numbers to stake a claim on the team. He also cooled off after the All-Star Game, but production like that whether it’s sustainable or unsustainable is always welcomed.
His overall body of work and his manner of frustrating opponents would have made him an instant favorite in the Coyotes locker room. Stuff like that is also important in playoff situations when drawing a late penalty is enough to swing the game the other way.
But considering that their top center in 2006-07 was Yannic Perreault, Komarov could’ve made a legitimate case to be a second line center or a top six forward right out of the gate. The Coyotes were a joke of a franchise back in 2006, and if Uncle Leo had really been able to serve as the team’s saving grace, he would’ve been an even better story than he already is.
Next: 30. New Jersey Devils