After the WJCs

[der meister 3,346]

               Returning to Toronto with a pocket full of sand and trinkets, Ryuji Sakamoto's expression flips from disappointment to elation and back again. The World Juniors tournament was something of a confidence booster to an already confident young man, who served as captain for Team Asia.  He racked up a frankly absurd 23 hits over a two-game span to close out round robin play and proved once again to be a versatile offensive threat. His confidence took a hit in the Gold Medal game against the eventual winners, Team Europe. Sakamoto was a -2 in the game, and took a bad hooking penalty halfway through the third period, which led to a power play goal for Europe, and what proved to be the game winner.

              

               Now, the blond-headed blueliner is back from the competition, ready to prove himself to his new team, the Toronto Legion. The youngest player on the back end by two years, Sakamoto is already likely on par with his contemporaries, from an overall skillset perspective. Sakamoto has a growing reputation for neglecting to spend even a fraction of time working on his passing or shooting skills, and yet he has thus far found a way to consistently put up near point-per-game offensive totals, along with top 95^th percentile numbers in hits and blocked shots. Heading into his first VHL season, Sakamoto is probably the strongest blueliner in a number of categories, including physicality, quickness, and defensive coverage.

              

               As someone who has spent a great deal of time watching this young Japanese player develop from newcomer to a leader on and off the ice, and a reliable performer in any given analytical model, I find myself curious to see where he slots in at this, the highest level of simulation hockey. Will the Legion coaching staff ease Sakamoto in with second pair minutes and no special teams time, or will he be thrown to the VHL wolves, forced to raise his game even further to continue his pattern of defensive dominance?

              

               Sakamoto watches the buildings slip passed out the taxi window. He's been oddly quiet – I've been able to write most of this piece without any interruption or exclamation. Perhaps, after moves in multiple years, it's dawning on him that this city, Toronto, might end up being his home for the next half a dozen years, fully enough to bring out of adolescence and into adulthood.

 

               As if on cue, Sakamoto lets out a burp, then laughs uproariously. "Oh man," he says through his chuckle, "that one tasted like that weird fish tahini thing that I ate last night." Judging by the stench that's permeating the back of the taxicab – truly a remarkable feat in and of itself – Sakamoto has accurately described the source of his belch. I nod, trying to hold my breath. I hope we're almost at the hotel. We have an appointment to look at an apartment in a few hours, but first we'll have a chance to drop off our things in a room downtown. I make a mental note to offer Sakamoto a breath mint once we see the hotel shop.

 

Sakamoto hopes to one day get preferential treatment at the Marriott (reference to Mark Ronson's "Record Collection")