A change of scenery has transformed Toronto Marlies' center John Pohl from fading college phenom to potent prospect.
After seeing his fortunes diminish during each of his three years in the St. Louis organization, Pohl has found new life, and a heaping helping of respect, in the employ of the Maple Leafs.
Cut loose by the Blues last summer, Pohl’s career seemed destined for AA hockey after suffering through an injury plagued season with their former AHL affiliate in Worcester where gave the Blues the blues. After four stellar years at the University of Minnesota, Pohl got his professional career off with a bang, firing in 26 goals and setting up 32 others in his rookie year debut.
His production slipped in the next two years, including last year, when injuries limited him to just 13 games, and left him one frustrated young man.
"Things were going well and I thought they were going to work out. But they didn't. That's part of life and that's business."
Until someone looked at him with a different set of eyes.
In Pohl’s early days playing for the Gophers, the Rochester, Minnesota native made a big impression on John Ferguson, Jr., then the assistant GM in St. Louis.
Ferguson persuaded the Blues to spend a ninth round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft on Pohl.
John went on to take management reigns with the Maple Leafs. He kept Pohl on his radar screen.
When it became clear that Pohl wasn’t meeting his NHL career in St. Louis, Ferguson snapped him up for Toronto without missing a beat.
"I did (target him)," Ferguson said. "It seems like he had an off year last year, an injury riddled year. He's probably run his course with St. Louis as a prospect. But we've got a lot of time for him."
Not that Pohl needed much convincing to come to Toronto, but Ferguson assured him of a prominent role with the new Marlies, and an honest opportunity to skate with the big club.
The promise has been kept on both counts.
While centering the Marlies top line, Pohl has gone from zero to hero. He is among the top 10 scorers in the AHL all season.
When the Leafs' forward corps became depleted by injuries just before Christmas, Pohl made the $10 cab ride from the Ricoh Coliseum to the Air Canada Centre to suit up for a game with the big club. He's since made the journey a few more times.
"I wanted a fresh start," Pohl said. "I kind of liked the fact that I didn't know anyone here. There were no preconceived notions. I knew John Ferguson a little bit from St. Louis, and he said, 'you're here for a reason. You just play your game.' That made me feel really well. Hopefully they'll have a need for me, and hopefully my game will help the organization in some way. So far so good."
The favor of Ferguson has transformed a shipwrecked career. His second life makes us believers that he has a very good shot at an NHL career if he continues to develop well.
Pohl resurfaces in our MLN FAB50 Hockey poll as the No. 24 prospect, and one of the best comeback stories of the year.
