Leafs Watch

By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun
ADAMS FAMILY: At first glance yesterday, centre Kevyn Adams did not look like the same rugged forward who threw his body around with reckless abandon during the Maple Leafs playoff run last spring.

Gone were his long-flowing golden locks, the victim of a barber's scissors. On his face were a pair of distinguished eyeglasses.

But the biggest difference was attitude. Simply put, this Kevyn Adams seemed much more mature.

Adams was called up yesterday from the Leafs' American Hockey League farm club in St. John's. In 24 games with the Baby Leafs, Adams scored six goals and added 11 assists for 17 points.

Coming out of training camp, Adams figured he had a good shot at sticking with the big club. When he didn't, he was faced with a decision.

"Sulk or play," Adams said. "It would have been easy to sulk. But when they needed a guy to call up, I wanted to be it.

"It's difficult any time there is a situation where things are not going well. But you have to just do what you can on the ice and realize you can't control other things. It's called maturity."

Adams was on a line with Sergei Berezin and Garry Valk in the first period of last night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Air Canada Centre.

TROOP MOVEMENTS: While Adams was called up from The Rock, defenceman Dimitri Yakushin was re-assigned to St. John's.

THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE: Centre Alyn McCauley isn't out of the woods yet. But according to Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn, McCauley was feeling better yesterday. McCauley has been plagued by an ailment which has left him dehydrated and with a high fever.

Meanwhile centre Nik Antropov (sprained shoulder) could be back tomorrow against Ottawa.

SIMON SAYS: Flyers rookie centre Simon Gagne welcomed GM Bob Clarke's decision to keep him with the big club instead of sending him to the national junior team.

"My dream was to play in the NHL, and now I'm here," Gagne said. "The guys here have been so great with me.

"I like this life."

After the shocking news came out on Friday that Flyers coach Roger Neilson has bone cancer, Clarke didn't think it was an appropriate time to disrupt the chemistry of his team.

When asked about Neilson's condition, Gagne replied: "I don't want to talk about it. I really don't want to say the wrong thing. I'm just glad that I'm still here."

QUOTE, UNQUOTE: "This is no longer a hockey issue. This is a life issue." -- Flyers captain Eric Lindros, referring to Neilson's situation.

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