Darcy Tucker turning a new leaf

The Toronto forward is a legitimate candidate to play alongside Mats
Sundin on the Leafs top line.

Sportsnet.ca -- Darcy Tucker says there's a whole new side to him that
fans haven't seen before, and it boils down to one main thing:
maturity.

"I think it's just the more seasons you play in the NHL and the older
you get, the more mature you become," explained the 30-year-old
Tucker.

Known as a "gritty" or "scrappy" player, the Maple Leafs forward said
that those have been good words to describe him in the past, but he
hopes that "much higher skill level than was thought" will soon go
along with it.

Tucker also expects his new approach to the game to translate into the
dressing room, where he'll need to take on more of a leadership role
on a team that has many new faces. "That's not necessarily my
personality," he admitted. "But if something needs to be said, I'm not
shy to do it."
The player who has never been shy on the ice has generated a lot of
fan support over the years by the passion in which he plays the game.
He emphasized that same passion will be complemented by his new
attitude, something others shouldn't have difficulty relating to.

"I grew up on a farm in the middle of Alberta," said Tucker. "I'm
nothing anybody else can't beat. I came a long way to the NHL."

He is now a legitimate candidate to play alongside Mats Sundin on the
Leafs top line, a consideration Tucker believes he deserves.

"I think I have more talent than people give me credit for, and I'm
willing to show that.

"Hopefully, moving forward I can continue to be a fan favourite, and
help the hockey club in different ways."

In Maple Leaf notes, the team cut four players on Friday. Defencemen
Pat Sutton and Drew Kivell were dropped from the roster, along with
forwards Derek Leblanc and Brent Aubin.

Meanwhile, a bruised heel kept Ken Klee out of the morning's
scrimmage. Klee said he's fine but wanted to stay off the ice just as
a precaution.