Leafs watch

By TIM WHARNSBY -- Toronto Sun
ROAD WARRIOR: Lost in the Maple Leafs' 1-1-1 trip to Carolina, Washington and New Jersey was the offensive display of veteran defenceman Dmitry Yushkevich.

He picked up an assist in each of the three games to double his point total to six assists in 13 games.

"I don't concentrate on my points, just the points for our team," Yushkevich said. "To score is a bonus for me. I'm more concerned about sacrificing my stats to play good defensive hockey and let a young guy like (partner) Tomas Kaberle rush up the ice."

Yushkevich had his best offensive season as a rookie in 1992-93 with the Philadelphia Flyers, collecting five goals and 32 points.

"That's when Garry Galley was my partner and I played like Tomas Kaberle," Yushkevich said.

KOHN'S NEW WORLD: The weather alone has given Ladislav Kohn a reason to enjoy his new surroundings in Anaheim as opposed to St. John's. But the former Leafs forward, plucked by the Mighty Ducks in the pre-season waiver draft, likes his new club.

"We play an exciting style of hockey, a lot of skating with a lot of young guys. I fit right in," Kohn said.

Kohn has been playing on a line with centre Antti Aalto and left winger Jim McKenzie. Kohn has six assists in 15 games, but has yet to score.

"It's something in the back of my mind," he said. "I want to score to get the monkey off my back. Once I get that goal, I will be more comfortable."

LAST ROW GREY: Toronto residents Bill Swail and Jeff Stanford may be the most ardent Leafs fans.

For four years, the pair has produced a monthly satirical publication called Last Row Grey, a name devised by Swail because he and his brother had season tickets in the last row of grey seats at the Gardens. They can be found selling their publication for a looney on game nights in the Bay Street tunnel, north of the Air Canada Centre. The November issue was unveiled last night.

The idea for a satirical rag was spun from Blue Line, a similar publication first sold outside Chicago Stadium. Last Row Grey is worth purchasing for the Tom Nicholson political cartoon on the cover alone.

"The people who buy it and come back and buy it again love it," Stanford said. "The response has been positive. We also have a bit of following in the press box."

Stanford doesn't know if he has a following in the Leafs front office. But among the people the publication often lampoons is Leafs president Ken Dryden.

"The stuff we do is controversial and it is designed for the fans," Stanford said. "We wanted another voice heard."

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