Allsports Wonders, Should Luke Schenn Stay?

I was searching the web today for sports news stories when I came across this article on Luke Schenn in the Globe and Mail. I was just a little surprised by the fact that the leafs are going to keep Schenn with the big club and have him miss his last year of junior. But as the leafs have stated they feel he can learn more from Ron Wilson and company then he can returning to the junior ranks. On this point I agree, but…

Don’t get me wrong based purely on performance Luke Schenn should be staying with the leafs, hands down. He has played over twenty minutes a night against some of the best in the league and held his own, being likely about the best leafs defense man, night in and night out. His performance in the first eight games of the season has been outstanding and there is nothing he has done that has generated any negative sports press in print or on the web.

Here is the but with allsports, yes he can learn more with the big club but he is only eighteen years old, playing about the toughest position to master on the ice, readers may not remember another leafs prospect named Jim Benning a few years ago, that stayed with the big club at the age of 18 and was not ready. This effected him for the rest of his career and his confidence was never the same. Schenn is bigger and stronger than Benning was but I am surprised that Fletcher would risk the kid, there is still a long season left to play.

Fletcher and company must think he is completely ready both physically and mentally, but he could go back and play another year of junior, captain his team in Kelowna, captain team Canada at the world juniors, win a gold medal, then likely return for another memorial cup run with the rockets. I know he did this last year but hey why not do it twice. I think Fletcher is a little surprised at how well the whole leafs team is playing and is starting to realize that a play off spot may be within reach. If the leafs were as bad as people were saying they were going to be there is no doubt in my mind that Schenn would have been returned to junior. From an economic stand point now that Schenn is staying put, his entry level NHL contract will kick in after ten games and that will bring him one year closer to free agency. A team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, with very deep pockets, won’t concern themselves with that because they will not let Luke Schenn go anywhere as a free agent and will sign him to a long term deal when the time is right if he stays healthy. Schenn is one of those unique players that you can use the words, “corner stone” for and build a franchise around.

“No Guts No Glory”

Walt Webb

P.S. Looking at the outcome of the World Series game last night, I think the Tampa Rays dodged a big bullet when the game was called due to the brutal weather. 42 degrees F, 17 mph winds and then lets add some pouring rain into the mix. The Rays managed to tie it up before it was called and the bright side for them is they won’t have to face Cole Hamels tonight when the game resumes. Go here for a sports article on the web. I may have given the Rays the kiss of death by picking them to win but if they can get the series back to Tampa? stranger things have happened in sports.