This only happens once in awhile

So I'm marking it here for posterity.

In other news, Brian Burke declared that the Maple Leafs have two top-six forwards heading into this season: Mikael Grabovski and Matt Stajan (!).

I am pleased, but at the same time a little bit puzzled.

Outside of this blog and probably his family members and his hometown of Mississauga, Matt Stajan does not receive much praise.

Last year, prior to the season's start, then-Interim General Manager Cliff Fletcher lowered fan expectations and singled out Nik Antropov as the only top-six forward on the team. He was promptly dealt to Atlanta at the trade deadline after racking up career numbers on a team in a tailspin.

Burke is a master at making deals, and a good portion of that mastery is a result of how well he can sell a player. Publicly declaring the viability of these two forwards serves more than one purpose. Higher expectations will likely produce better results in players who've been given the confidence of upper management. Better results mean those players will show up on the radars of other teams.

I believe the praise is deserved. Stajan's on-ice poise, hockey smarts and defensive play make him one of the most reliable forwards we have. He has shown improvement in each of his 4 seasons, though not quite reaching the initial expectations. He has spent the last 4 years honing his defense and centerman duties (face-offs, puck distribution). Now out of the shadow of Sundin, and backed by a larger, more physically imposing team, I think this will be another breakout year for Stajan.