"I had obviously been in the building many times before but always as the opposition," Laich said Monday. "This time playing for the home team, I mean, I used to watch Hockey Night In Canada every Saturday like every kid in Canada. I wanted to play for the Leafs. I was a (Doug) Gilmour fan, a (Mats) Sundin fan. When we had the anthem and the Canadian flag was going down the one side in the crowd, the Maple Leafs flag was going down the other, and I was playing for the Leafs, people were rooting for me, that's when it really hit home. This was a dream come true. It really is. It's something very special.
"A lot of people might look at the situation that got me here and say, 'Oh he's disappointed, he must be upset.' No, I look at it like a tremendous opportunity, I'm very fortunate to be here."
[...]
Still, Leafs management has an open mind as far as Laich's future. After all, with the departures of Dion Phaneuf and Roman Polak, there's need for veteran leadership around this ever-younger Leafs roster.
But Laich will only have a future with the Leafs if his play on the ice warrants it. And he knows that.
"As of right now, the plan is day by day for myself. I'm trying to prove myself," Laich said.
"My job first and foremost is to rebuild my career, play the way I can. Be an effective, everyday consistent player. And then when doing so, the other intangibles come naturally. I love teammates, I love the team atmosphere of hockey, I love the enthusiasm of young kids, I remember being there 10 years ago, being one myself. But all those things come after me first playing well. I have to play well in order to have my voice carry any weight in the locker room."
