Eric Francis

But you put him on a team this deep, and that's the difference.

He doesn't have to be the hero every night.

Turns out he has been, but he doesn't have to be at all.

He doesn't have all the pressure in the world.

I tell you what, that second period the other night where he had three goals and an assist, he also had two other great chances, and he made two great plays that should have been buried that weren't.

I've never seen a player dominate a period in my life like I saw him do that in the second period.

I mean, so I don't know.

He's getting to the harder areas, too.

He's not scared.

I'm not saying he's a changed player, but I think playing with a big team, a deep team like this, and linemates like he has,

really has allowed him to be a little more emboldened and more assertive, and it's showing.

I'm so fascinated by that.

Me too, but it was a silly thing to say, I think.

I think that there's still...

Look, I still think he's so angry and he takes such a beating from Leafs fans while he was there.

Now that he's gone, he's still taking it.

And I don't think he's handling it as professionally as he probably should.

Easy for me to say because I don't have to live the hell that he's going through.

And that's what he's referring to.

No doubt.