Toronto Maple Leafs' Luca Caputi: Home Town Kid Ready for a Breakout Season?

Last year, Luca Caputi came home to Toronto, Ontario, to the team he watched growing up, after playing in Pittsburgh's organization since being drafted in the fourth round in 2007 111th overall.

Caputi spent time with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the AHL and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

In his 28 NHL games with Toronto and Pittsburgh combined, Kaputi has registered three goals and six assists for a total of nine points, along with 16 penalty minutes.

Not numbers that wow by any means.

Looking back to his last year of junior with the Niagara Ice-Dogs of the OHL, the numbers certainly have a wow factor, 66 games, 51 goals and 60 assists for 111 points and 107 penalty minutes.

Sometimes when players end up out of their elements and away from home it can be overwhelming, the recent example of Nikita Filatov comes to mind.

Caputi will be 22 years old when the regular season starts and is listed at 6'3" and 200 pounds, physically NHL ready. With a full training camp and preseason under Ron Wilson's system he should be mentally prepared, along with being in his own backyard now which may help him as well, a comfort factor.

The skills are there though they may have been lying dormant and just under the surface waiting to break out. On a team that is giving every opportunity to anyone willing to step up their game, this could be the year Caputi comes out of his shell.

The Buds have needed a front of the net presence since Dave Andreychuck planted himself there from 1993 until the 95-96 season and Caputi has the size and reach to possibly fashion his game after a great player like Andreychuck.

Caputi can bring the physical style of play which is right up GM Brian Burke's alley, so he should get enough playing time because we all know double B adds his two cents in though that's a hush hush subject however blatant.

Nothing would make Leafs fans happier than to see a home town kid succeed while bringing some much needed scoring to a team whose biggest question is offense.

The stars are aligned over the city of Toronto to see their home-grown product have a break out year. Let's hope Caputi realizes his opportunity and and seizes the day!

Caputi's first goal as a Leaf, going to the net!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz8xYJAJKA8