Leo Komarov

History

Leo Komarov was born in Estonia but moved to Finland at a young age. He was still in the relative obscurity of a lower line role in Finnish Jr A in 2004-05 and therefore surprised when he broke into the pros in 2005-06. The success also carried him to the World Junior Championships that year, where he won bronze and made himself known to the international audience.

2006-07: Totaled three goals and six assists in 49 games in Finland this past season, and compiled 108 penalty minutes.

2007-08: Komarov started the season with Pelicans Lahti’s (FIN) junior club, but after three assists in two games, saw himself moved up to the senior league. In 53 games he recorded 14 points (4g+10a) and 76 PIM. Six playoff games didn’t add much to his stat sheet, as he netted one goal and one assist.

2008-09: Komarov returned to the SM-liiga, again playing for the Pelicans. A 24 point season would await the winger, this time adding 144 penalty minutes.

2009-10: The decision was made to sign a deal with Moscow Dynamo this season, registering 16 points with the KHL Team.

2010-11: Komarov was one of the top forwards for Bobrov Division champion OHK Dynamo Moscow in his second season in Russia's KHL. Komarov scored 14 goals with 12 assists and was +11 with a team-leading 70 PMs in 52 games and was the club's leading point-getter in the KHL playoffs with 4 goals and 2 assists in six games. Komarov skated for gold medal-winning Finland at the 2011 IIHF World Championship and was +2 with 2 assists and 2 PMs in eight games. Komarov signed a two-year contract extension with Dynamo in May, 2011.

2011-12: Komarov continued to provide both offense and grit for Moscow Dynamo in his third KHL season. He was the team's fourth leading scorer, scoring 11 goals with 13 assists in 46 games, and was second on Dynamo with 58 penalty minutes. Dynamo won the KHL playoff title after finishing second in the Bobrov Division. Komarov scored 5 goals with 2 assists in 20 playoff games and was plus-five with 49 penalty minutes.Playing for Finland in the IIHF World Championship for the fourth time, he scored 1 goal and was minus-one with 4 penalty minutes in 10 games.

Talent Analysis

Komarov is above all an infuriating opponent. The small and speedy forward gets under the skin, plays dirty and hits with force. He also likes to work with the puck, make plays and push to the crease whenever his skill level is up for the task. A player like Komarov likes to get near the net and he is useful there, thanks to his good shot. Although he has played all forward positions, he can't read the play well enough to lead the offense from the center position; the wing is where he should build his career. As an agitator Komarov is neither cold-blooded nor calculating, and unfortunately he takes more than his fair share of penalties. The young and brash checking player must learn to control his emotion.

Future

Komarov was the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but has moved to Russia to play in the KHL for Dynamo Moskva.