Leafs 4 v. Blues 3 (SO): The Future Is Now?

Obviously, the thought of hearing "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKE" ringing around the ACC as Schenn wallpapers another opposition forward or dekes his way to a shootout winner has all of us daydreaming about how many Norris Trophies he will win in his career (early over/under: 3.5) or when he gets to don the 'C'. Too soon?

Of course it is too soon. Not only because of the league's track record of eating up 18 year old defencemen but because of the current CBA. One of the keys to competing in the new NHL is getting the most production out of your young players before they become RFA and get paid for the first time. Using Schenn this year in a questionable season could not only damage his confidence (although one wonders how much damage it'll get when he'll just be awesome) but it'll eat up a year of his entry deal on a hopeless season. Even if my most rah-rah moments when I dream of all of the best case scenarios coming together the Leafs are not good enough to make the gamble.

The kid keeps teasing us with plays like his take out of Keith Tkachuk or his beautiful deke to the backhand to win the shootout but we have to hold strong. It's not a patient rebuild if we throw Schenn into the deep end. Not to mention that it would mean losing some players for nothing when they might still be turned into assets. Except for Ian White. He stinks.

• White brought the tally of Leafs own goals to three for the pre-season as he recovered on a two-on-one and intercepted a cross-ice pass. Unfortunately, he blocked it right into the net.
• Niklas Hagman potted a pair, albeit one went in off of his skate, before he was rocked late in the third. I wonder if he was confused by the blue jerseys after that hit.
• Grabovski can fly. Him and Kulemin are figuring it out and I am excited to see them this season.
• Ron Wilson keeps using the preseason to give people a chance to show what they can do in unfamiliar situations. How else do you explain Kubina and Mitchell in the shootout?/

Who stood out for you guys tonight? What are you thinking about Devereaux and Bell?

Thanks again to all who came out for the game thread:

How hard will it be to see Luke Schenn go down to Kelowna and have to win the Calder next year?