Game On Magazine 2017 May 2017 | Page 107

When asked about his chances going up against Toews and Co . in the first round , McLeod grinned from ear to ear before offering his thoughts on the series . “ Yeah , Toews is a heck of a player , and seems like a great person ,” McLeod said . “ I don ’ t really know them too well , but that ’ s just what everybody kind of says . Toews has won at every level , so I looked forward to playing against him .” During the 2016-17 season a number of other Manitobans found themselves playing on new teams . Jordin Tootoo earned a spot in Chicago and played 50 games for the Blackhawks . Defenseman Justin Falk of Snowflake , Man ., played 52 games for the Buffalo Sabres and produced eight assists . Ryan White began the year with Arizona before being dealt to the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline . White matched his 2015- 16 output for the best statistical season of his NHL career . Dale Weise made the slow transition over to the Philadelphia Flyers . Although struggling to produce points at the level he had in the previous two seasons , Weise made his presence felt in Philly , racking up 135 hits and 39 penalty minutes . Goaltenders James Reimer and Calvin Pickard were deemed backups as the season began , but were thrust into starting roles as injuries forced Roberto Luongo and Semyon Varlamov from their respective creases . Although playing on a team struggling to find offence , Pickard managed a 2.98 GAA and two shutouts , while Reimer collected three shutouts and maintained a . 920 save percentage . Finishing off the season , the St . Louis Blues led the way with three Manitobans on their squad . Steen and Ryan Reaves of Winnipeg on forward while playoff hero and Brandon native , Joel Edmundson collected point-after-point on the blueline in the post-season for the Blues . With an exciting off-season ahead , the number of Manitobans in the NHL is expected to grow once again for the start of training camp next season . And who knows , the Stanley Cup could even find its way back to Manitoba before the summer comes to a conclusion . n
THE STATS
DARREN HELM , DETROIT RED WINGS
Games
G
A
Pts
RYAN GARBUTT , Anaheim ( Winnipeg )
27
2
1
3
JUSTIN FALK , Buffalo ( Snowflake )
52
0
8
8
MICHAEL FERLAND , Calgary ( Swan River )
76
15
10
25
JONATHAN TOEWS , Chicago ( Winnipeg )
72
21
37
58
JORDIN TOOTOO , Chicago ( Churchill )
50
2
1
3
MATT CALVERT , Columbus ( Brandon )
65
10
5
15
CODY EAKIN , Dallas ( Winnipeg )
60
3
9
12
DYLAN MCILRATH , Fla / Det ( Winnipeg )
6
1
0
1
DARREN HELM , Detroit ( St . Andrews )
50
8
9
17
RYAN WHITE , Ariz / Minn ( Brandon )
65
9
7
16
BRETT LERNOUT , Montreal ( Winnipeg )
2
0
0
0
COLIN WILSON , Nashville ( Winnipeg )
70
12
23
35
CODY MCLEOD , Col / Nash ( Binscarth )
59
5
1
6
TRAVIS ZAJAC , New Jersey ( Winnipeg )
80
14
31
45
TRAVIS HAMONIC , NY Islanders ( St . Malo )
49
3
11
14
RYAN PULOCK , NY Islanders ( Grandview )
1
0
0
0
MARK STONE , Ottawa ( Winnipeg )
71
22
32
54
DALE WEISE , Philadelphia ( Winnipeg )
64
8
7
15
MICHAEL STONE , Ariz / Calgary ( Winnipeg )
64
3
12
15
ALEXANDER STEEN , St . Louis ( Winnipeg )
76
22
32
54
RYAN REAVES , St . Louis ( Winnipeg )
80
7
6
13
JOEL EDMUNDSON , St . Louis ( Brandon )
69
3
12
15
BYRON FROESE , Tor / Tampa ( Winkler )
6
0
0
0
ERIC FEHR , Pgh / Toronto ( Winkler )
53
6
5
11
QUINTON HOWDEN , Winnipeg ( Oakbank )
5
0
0
0
BINSCARTH ’ S CODY MCLEOD HELPED THE NASHVILLE
PREDATORS REACH THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL .
GOALIE STATS Games GAA Save Pct .
CALVIN PICKARD , Colorado ( Winnipeg )
50
2.98
. 904
JAMES REIMER , Florida ( Morweena )
42
2.53
. 920
CHRIS DRIEDGER , Ottawa ( Winnipeg )
1
6.00
. 733
2017 CHAMPIONS EDITION GAME ON 107