Dominic Moore Continues to Impress in Leafs Nation

It has surely been a long road for 28-year-old Dominic Moore, who was drafted 95th overall by the New York Rangers back in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. However, it seems the gritty third line centre has finally found his game since joining his childhood hero Toronto Maple Leafs midseason last year.

Moore has been a part of three other NHL teams already—the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Minnesota Wild. The Wild was Moore's last team and they placed him on waivers, after which Cliff Fletcher and the Leafs did not hesitate to jump on him, despite his measly numbers of one goal and two assists for three points in 30 games.

However, a new team was just the thing Moore needed. Joining the struggling Leafs, he ended his slow start to the season with four goals and 10 assists in 38 games.

Since putting on the Leaf uniform Moore has been an exciting player to watch every time he steps onto the ice. He has truly developed into an impact player with the Maple Leafs. They are definitely depending on Moore to have a career year and finally prove that he belongs in the NHL as a full-time player—something he has yet to prove with his last three teams. 

Although his strong finish to the 2007-2008 season with the Leafs was a delight to the organization, he came into the Leafs' training camp without a guaranteed spot on this young roster. While many expected that Moore would make the team but not be an impact player this year, he showed us in preseason that he was ready for the NHL full-time.

After a strong preseason, Dominic is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Toronto, which is always an honor as that's not an easy feat (just ask Nik Antropov). Now he is off to a great start to the season. He put up a goal and was a +2 in the opening game of the season against defending Stanley Cup Champions Detroit Red Wings. The game ended in a 3-2 win for the Leafs.

No matter how the team's season goes this year, Moore is definitely going to be a fun and exciting player for Leafs Nation to follow this year. Dominic Moore is surely going to be that player everyone knows he can be, and this is the year for him to do it.

Let's just hope that Moore will finally prove that he can be a player in the NHL and finally reach his potential that the Rangers saw in him back in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.