Leafs draft pick Durzi rises to the challenge in L.A.

If there’s anyone who knows what it’s like to be elevated to a bigger role on an NHL blue line — and thrive — before anyone might have thought you were ready, it’s Sean Durzi, the Maple Leafs prospect who got away.

Now Durzi knows exactly what his friend, Rasmus Sandin, is going through.

With injuries all through the Leafs lineup, particularly on defence, the offensively gifted Sandin finds himself killing penalties and playing late in close games. And earning praise.

“It’s lots of fun to try something else,” Sandin said. “With some of our key guys gone, it’s up to other guys to fill in. We’ve been doing a pretty good job on it.

“Playing against top players is a different game, more skilled. They make plays. You have to read the game different.”

Durzi did the same thing last year when the Los Angeles Kings blue line was gutted. He ended up with three goals and 24 assists in 64 games, second among Kings defencemen.

“A big part of making it is being ready for your opportunity,” said the 24-year-old Durzi. “I was fortunate enough to get a few good bounces early on. The injuries gave me an opportunity and I had to be ready for it. But I pushed hard, and I did everything I could — played my game, played with passion — and I think they were happy enough to keep me. So, I was thrilled.”

As the Kings prepare to face the Leafs on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena, Durzi leads the L.A. blue line in goals (four) and points (18).

“He’s been a great find for our hockey club, very competitive,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said after practice at the Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday. “First of all, we can talk about passing and playmaking and power play and all those types of things, but his competitiveness is the No. 1 thing that he has. Shows up every night and lays it on the line.

“He’s got a lot of courage on the ice. He tries things that sometimes other defencemen don’t, but that’s what makes (him) Sean Durzi. We’re quite fortunate to have him.”

The Leafs drafted Sandin and Durzi in 2018: Sandin in the first round from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, Durzi in the second from the Owen Sound Attack. The sixfoot, 194-pound Durzi spent one summer and camp working out with Leafs, Marlies and other prospects such as Sandin, dreaming of what might be some day.

“Sandin is my best buddy there (on the Leafs),” said Durzi. “We went through the draft process together and then camp. He was firstrounder; I was a second-rounder. Lefty, righty. It was pretty cool to kind of go through everything with him.”

On Jan. 28, 2019, the Leafs, in need of a veteran blueliner, and the Kings, starting a rebuild, made a deal. Jake Muzzin became a Leaf. Durzi, Carl Grundstrom and a firstround pick (who became forward Tobias Björnfot) went to the Kings.

“You’re just sitting at home one night and you get a call from your general manager, so that was a shock,” said Durzi. “When you get drafted, you’re so happy — your dream come true. But you realize pretty quick that it’s just a start.”

Muzzin was just what the Leafs needed: a physical defenceman and a leader. At 33, though, Muzzin’s best days are behind him, and he’s out indefinitely with a cervical spine injury. Given the Leafs’ lack of playoff success, they may come to rue losing Durzi.

“We lost a lot of defencemen last year, and Sean got put into a position to have the opportunity to play the No. 1 unit with Drew (Doughty) out,” said Kings general manager Rob Blake. “His all-around game has improved. He settled down more, and is not as much of a risk at five-on-five. Really deceptive. He gave us a really good attitude for a young player coming in. He’s excited about the game, excited to be around the rink every day.”