By Amy K. Nelson
SportsTicker Staff Writer
Brad Boyes |
If
Brad Boyes thought he was going directly to the NHL from juniors, he needed a reality check.
Boyes was the Toronto Maple Leafs No. 1 pick (24th overall) in the 2000 draft. He spent four seasons with the Erie Otters in the OHL, three of
which he and fellow teammate (and 2001 Toronto first-round pick) Carlo Colaiacovo dominated the league.
Boyes, a Mississauga, Ont., native, improved his point total each season in the league, except his final one where he spent part of it injured.
Last year, the then-19-year-old center had 36 goals and 41 assists in 47 games and helped Erie advance to the semifinals of the Memorial Cup.
Boyes also is a veteran of two World Juniors Tournaments. In 2001, he had a goal and three assists as Team Canada won the bronze medal. Last
year, skating on a potent line with L.A. Kings prospects Mike Cammalleri and Jared Aulin, Boyes netted four goals and five assists in seven
games, with Canada losing the gold medal to Russia.
With so much success, Boyes headed into the 2002 camp with all eyes on him. In the hockey-crazed city of Toronto, it is sometimes difficult to
remain under the radar. When Boyes' performance in camp was less than spectacular, and with 19-year-old Colaiacovo making the club, Boyes,
surprisingly, felt a sense of relief when he found himself with the St. John's Maple Leafs in the AHL to start the season.
"I found (getting sent to St. John's) pretty good because I was able to now concentrate knowing what team I was going to be on," said Boyes.
"That way, I am able to have fun and try to work hard and definitely improve on things."
Towards the end of camp, head coach and general manager Pat Quinn told the media that Boyes needed time and there wasn't much reason to keep
him in Toronto. Boyes admittedly said the not-knowing of where he would play in the fall was affecting his concentration.
"For whatever reason, things just weren't going well for me," said Boyes. "Things weren't clicking. It obviously was the right choice to send
me to (the AHL)."
Through November 14, Boyes has posted a respectable five goals and five assists in 10 games. But St. John's head coach Lou Crawford has
witnessed Boyes playing with some of the same inconsistencies he had in camp, and as is the case with many offensively gifted players, wants
him to focus on his play away from the puck, specifically, two-on-two play in the defensive zone.
"He's in the transition stage," said Crawford. "He might have been able to get away with things in junior, but not at the this level. He's
learning that he needs to change his game a little bit."
Boyes, who totaled 82 and 90 points in 1999 and 2000, respectively, is a playmaker who has great tape to tape passing abilities and has been
known as a "magical" stickhandler. At 6-0 and 181 pounds, he lacks a bit in size and speed, but has worked on his aggressiveness. Last season,
he was named the OHL's Most Outstanding Player as well as Most Sportsmanlike. Erie's general manager was once quoted as comparing Boyes
and Colaiacovo to the Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of his hockey club. The Maple Leafs expect him to be a top two-line center, but his
progress has not improved to the point where a call-up is imminent.
"We call players up because they warrant it, they're playing well, and they deserve the opportunity," said Mike Penny, director of player
personnel for Toronto. "It could be anybody. It doesn't have to be Brad Boyes. We're not just going to call Brad Boyes up just because his name
is Brad Boyes."
With the big club struggling and with trade rumors of Darcy Tucker and Shayne Corson floating, it would likely be best to resist the temptation
to bring Boyes up if he's not ready.
"I've just got to make sure to play my game and play the way that I've played in the past," said Boyes, on how he needs to improve. "And I
don't know if I've really done that a lot this year. I want to make sure I can do that and do it consistently, then I think I'll have a better shot at
maybe making the jump."
When a player, his coach and upper management all believe that the player needs more time, then the message seems pretty clear: Brad Boyes has
talent, skills and a future. Don't rush him.
"He has great instincts," added Crawford. "Man, does he have superb instincts. Sometimes I go up to him and check that he doesn't have eyes in
the back of his head. He has great perception and he sees the ice really well.
"However, there are other people that are at that same level playing against him. They've kind of seen the tricks before. But Brad is educating
himself. He's learning."
