Opportunity knocked, Pohl responded

It seemed an inconsequential move at the time, the Leafs picking up a 26-year-old with just a single game of NHL experience buried in the St. Louis organization and barely playing in the minors there.

It warranted barely a paragraph of coverage. After all, the Leafs announced the signing of Marlies assistant coaches Dallas Eakins and Joe Paterson that same summer day in 2005 and Nathan Perrott was in the midst of negotiating a new contract with the club.

A nation -- the Leafs one in this case -- shrugged. But in the midst of that indifference was John Pohl's emancipation. He was on hockey's freedom train to Toronto in exchange for future considerations.

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