Calle Jarnkrok is making a staunch effort early to keep his roster spot
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok seemed like as sure a thing as ever to be a trade candidate in the weeks leading up to training camp. After the Leafs completely revamped their forward corps and brought in a bunch of new players to compete for roster spots, and specifically ones that are tailored to Craig Berube’s preferred style (big, physical, and defensively responsible), it seemed like Jarnkrok’s time in Toronto was winding down.
He didn’t play his first game last season until after the trade deadline, and finished the year with one goal and seven points in 19 games. He followed that up with one point in 12 playoff games. It was an unlucky season for Jarnkrok overall, and considering the magnitude of the injury he was coming back from, it’s not hard to believe that he was a step behind when he did suit up last season. Still, it seemed as though he was a victim of poor timing and would be a trade candidate when the Maple Leafs inevitably moved one of their forwards to clear cap space and/or a roster spot.
Even throughout training camp, Jarnkrok didn’t make a ton of noise. In fact, it looked like he was destined to be their 13th forward heading into opening night. An injury to Scott Laughton off a blocked shot completely changed the team’s plans, and Jarnkrok found himself on the fourth line with Nicolas Roy and Steven Lorentz. The result? Two goals in two games.
Jarnkrok is in the final year of a contract worth $2.1 million annually, which makes him a pretty easy trade candidate to dangle considering his responsibility on the defensive side of the puck and his ability to chip in 20 goals when healthy. He may not have the size and physicality that Berube typically looks for from his bottom-six players, but his status on the outside looking in doesn’t have to do with him playing himself out of a job or not being able to fit into Berube’s philosophy. He’s clearly seen that he’s had a last-minute opportunity emerge and wants to make the best of it.
“It’s nice to be back playing with the boys,” Jarnkrok said following the season-opener against Montreal. “It was a big win.”
Even though Jarnkrok initially saw himself on the outside looking in ahead of the season-opener before the Laughton injury, Berube was impressed with what he saw from him in camp.
“He missed most of the year, came back, and was still being bothered by the injury,” Berube said of Jarnkrok’s performance last season. “Never really felt that good throughout the playoffs, either. He has had a full summer of training, he feels really good, and it’s noticeable. He looks really good to me, got a lot of jump in his step. We all know that Calle is a good player, but it’s about feeling good too and he feels good.”
With Laughton set to be sidelined for a few weeks following his injury, Jarnkrok will be given every opportunity to reclaim his roster spot and force them to look elsewhere to clear space. The Leafs’ coaching staff doesn’t have any biases. They want players who can contribute every night, and the fact that he can be trusted in his own zone will give him an advantage in these discussions. But Jarnkrok insisted before the season got underway that he’s feeling at his best and looking forward to helping his team again.
“It was no fun,” Jarnkrok said in preseason. “Not being out there, just trying to get back, and you can’t. Try again, you can’t. And then had to get the surgery done. It took a while to feel good again, but now I’m feeling great.”
The Maple Leafs will have a busy month with lots of back-to-backs to open the season in October, but with lots of games against teams who seem like they might be on the outside looking in come playoff time, it will be important to bank as many points as possible. If Jarnkrok is available and healthy, there’s no better way to ensure he remains a Leaf than by contributing to these wins.
"Kerby Joseph Could Face NFL Fine After Criticizing Officials on Social Media"
“I get it, the rule is in place, but it’s hard to stay quiet when you see calls like that affecting the game. We work hard, and when we feel the game isn’t being called fairly, it’s frustrating. But we know we have to keep our heads down and focus on the next game.”
The Detroit Lions are facing not just the fallout from an emotionally charged game, but also the possibility of penalties for their players, including
Instead, Kerby Joseph is at risk of punishment for his
In response to the situation, Joseph shared his frustrations, acknowledging the difficulty in staying silent when he felt the game was being influenced by questionable calls. “I get it, the rule is in place, but it’s hard to stay quiet when you see calls like that affecting the game. We work hard, and when we feel the game isn’t being called fairly, it’s frustrating,”
The NFL's stance on this issue is clear. According to Article 12, Section 3
While Joseph’s comments reflect the frustration many players feel after games marked by controversial officiating, the NFL’s enforcement of this rule leaves little room for players to publicly vent their concerns. This silence, enforced through fines and potential suspensions, often only serves to build resentment among players and fans who feel that their voices should be heard, especially when the officiating impacts the outcome of the game.
As the Detroit Lions await the consequences for Brian Branch’s actions and Kerby Joseph’s social media outburst, one thing is certain—the league’s efforts to keep players quiet about officiating issues may only escalate the tension, leaving players with little recourse to voice their frustrations.
