White Knight in Not So Shining Leaf Armour

White Knight in Not So Shining Leaf Armour

It seems that I am not the only one who has been admiring the play of Ian White since last year and the beginning of this season.  I would have to agree with an article written by Paul Hunter for the Toronto Star and Lance Hornby for the Toronto Sun.

A few years ago I would not have shed a tear drop to see Ian White move onto other hockey pastures.  In fact, I would have helped him open the door and pushed him out.  I was wrong.  Funny how players play and fan opinion can change in a hurry in this sport.  

Since the 08-09 season Ian White has become the steady silent soldier.  So silent in fact that his name was hardly mentioned at the beginning of this year.  When his name did come up, it was not usually under the most flattering of sentences. 

High praise was reserved for the “fantastic” signing of the “tough and banging” Komisarik and the “steady and reliable” Beachemin or the “smooooth” skating Kaberle or even for “future captain” Schenn.  These guys in the eyes of Burke and Wilson were top 4 material that could compete with any other defence in the league.  It seemed like if all the other defensemen played like they were capable of, Ian White would be pushed out to the wing.  This is like being at the dinner table and eating everyone else’s scrap.

The ones eating his dust right now are these same favoured guys.  Ian White is the only defenseman on the Leafs to be a plus 3.  Komisarik and Kaberle are both minus 4.  Where are Beauchemin and Schenn?  Try Minus 5 for each.  This is a huge margin.  From a play perspective, Ian White is out playing most of his teammates.  The only other guy on the plus side is Poni with a plus 5 and he is a forward.

If you tuned into any of the Leafs early season fiasco, you would have witnessed a guy who would have done anything to keep the puck out of the net including throwing himself head first into the crease to stop pucks unlike Komisarik who has a tendency to throw himself into the penalty box.  Some would even say he has a better save percentage than the Leaf goal tenders.

The sad part of all this is the lack of respect he will be given by his coach because he is not the type to openly complain.  Recently Wilson said, “Probably our best defenseman, right now,” Probably?  The other guys are not even close to his performance.  White has earned the chance to play more minutes. 

I was able to admit I was wrong.  I just hope Leaf coach and management will do the same and reward accordingly.