NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 26, 2021
āMika Zibanejad lights up the Flyers again, Sidney Crosby reaches another career milestone, the Canadian government will reportedly loosen quarantine rules for players, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Anthony Beauvillier lifted the New York Islanders over the Boston Bruins 4-3. The Isles overcame a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead until Boston’s Anders Bjork tied it late in the third. Beauvillier finished with two points while teammate Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a goal and two assists. Bruins backup Jaroslav Halak made 17 saves in relief of Tuukka Rask, who left the game following the first period with an upper-body injury. With 48 points, the Islanders hold a two-point lead over the Washington Capitals for first place in the MassMutual East Division. The Bruins (37 points) hold a three-point lead over the New York Rangers for fourth place.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
Mika Zibanejad enjoyed a six-point game, including a natural hat trick, as the Rangers thumped the Philadelphia Flyers 8-3. Zibanejad set an NHL record with consecutive six-point performances against the same opponent. Adam Fox collected five assists, Ryan Strome had a goal and three assists and Pavel Buchnevich scored twice. The Rangers (34 points) surged past the Flyers into fifth place in the MassMutual East Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carter Hart was shelled for five goals before getting the hook from the Flyers net. The 22-year-old goaltender looks nothing like last season’s promising starter when he out-dueled Montreal’s Carey Price in the playoffs. His confidence is completely shot and he hasn’t received much help from his defense. The Rangers, meanwhile, have played their way into the playoff race in the East Division, though the Bruins have three games in hand.
The Washington Capitals picked up their eighth win in their last nine contests by edging the New Jersey Devils 4-3. Evgeny Kuznetsov tallied twice while Alex Ovechkin scored his 721st career goal. The Capitals (46 points) hold a two-point lead over the third-place Pittsburgh Penguins in the East Division.
Sebastian Aho’s overtime goal gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton extended his assist streak to 13 games while Blue Jackets rearguard Seth Jones collected three helpers. The Hurricanes (47 points) sit three points behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning in the Discover Central Division while the Blue Jackets (34 points) are three back of the fourth-place Chicago Blackhawks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on an overtime goal by Justin Holl. Senators netminder Anton Forsberg made 38 saves in his first start in a year. The Leafs (44 points) move into sole possession of first place in the Scotia North Division, two points up on the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers.
Sidney Crosby collected three assists to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Buffalo Sabres 4-0, handing the latter their 16th straight defeat. Crosby became the eighth-fastest player to reach 1,300 career points. Casey DeSmith kicked out 36 shots for the shutout while rookie Radim Zohorna’s first NHL goal proved to be the game-winner. Before the game, the Penguins announced winger Kasperi Kapanen is sidelined week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. With 44 points, the Penguins sit in third place in the East Division. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams took over his club’s coaching duties after interim head coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis went onto the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list two hours before game time.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: What happened to Granato and Ellis is just the latest blow in a season that represents the nadir of a decade of suck for the once-proud Sabres.
A 37-save shutout by Cam Talbot carried the Minnesota Wild to a 2-0 blanking of the St. Louis Blues. Marcus Johansson and Kirill Kaprizov were the goal scorers as the Wild (43 points) picked up their 11th straight home win and sit two points behind the second-place Colorado Avalanche in the Honda West Division. Wild defenseman Matt Dumba returned to action after missing three games with a lower-body injury. The fourth-place Blues (37 points) sits six points back of the Wild.
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Kevin Lankinen kicked out 41 shots in a 3-0 shutout of the Florida Panthers. Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks (37 points), who hold a three-point lead over the Blue Jackets for fourth in the Central Division. Panthers winger Patric Hornqvist left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury following a hard hit by Blackhawks defenseman Nikita Zadorov. He’s listed as day-to-day as the Panthers (44 points) sit three points behind the second-place Hurricanes in the Central.
The Colorado Avalanche scored five unanswered goals in a 5-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar each had a goal and an assist as the Avalanche moved into a tie with the first-place Golden Knights (45 points), though the latter holds a game in hand.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have won eight of their last 10 and picked up points in all but one of those games.
A late third-period goal by Roope Hintz lifted the Dallas Stars over the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3. Hintz and Joe Pavelski each had a goal and two assists. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy saw his winning streak end at 12 games. The Bolts remain atop the NHL’s overall standings with 50 points.
The Nashville Predators moved to within four points of the fourth-place Blackhawks in the Central Division by crushing the Detroit Red Wings 7-1. Rocco Grimaldi scored four goals, including three in a span of 2:34 as the Predators have won five of their last six contests.
HEADLINES
TSN: The Canadian government is reportedly poised to approve reducing the 14-day quarantine on NHL players crossing the border from the United States into Canada to seven days.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This would allow the Canadian general managers who could be buyers more time to make moves in the days leading up to the April 12 trade deadline. Under the 14-day quarantine, a player acquired by a Canadian team acquired at the April 12 trade deadline would be unable to join the roster until April 27. A seven-day quarantine means they can join the roster more quickly.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said one of his two players on their COVID-19 protocol list tested positive for one of the coronavirus variants. He wouldn’t say who the player was but indicated he was feeling ok. No other Habs have tested positive. The Canadiens had four games postponed by the league but could return to action early next week. Bergevin also suggested his club’s season could last a little longer to make up those games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The regular season is slated to end on May 8 and the playoffs begin on May 11. The Habs could play on May 9 and 10, or the league could extend the start date of the playoffs by a couple of days to accommodate teams with postponed games to be played.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Four Anaheim Ducks players (Danton Heinen, Ben Hutton, Jacob Larsson and Anthony Stolarz) are off the COVID-19 protocol list due to false-positive tests. Alexander Volkov goes on the list for seven days as per league protocols for traded players.
SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom underwent successful shoulder surgery on Thursday and is on track to return to action next season.
CBS SPORTS: Arizona Coyotes forward Tyler Pitlick was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
Well, it wasn’t quite the 5-1/5-2 blowout I thought it might be – although much of that has to be credited to Anton Forsberg, the goalie the Senators plucked off waivers from Winnipeg. Even so, not to bad an effort for a 3rd game in 4 nights against a well-rested offensive powerhouse.
Nice to see Formenton get his first, too, of what I think will be many to come. This kid has speed to burn. Hyman continues to impress – Dubas had better find some way to clear enough cap space to re-sign him this coming off-season because, if he tests the market (and I don’t believe for a New York Minute that he will “leave $1 mil on the table” for the privilege of re-signing there, teams will be elbowing each other to entice him to their locale.
George O
Iāve got to admit that the future looks pretty bright for the Sens.
The outcome may have been different if the Sens had been fresh…
100% agree on Hyman. It will be interesting to see who goes to make room for him but it needs to be done.
Sigh. If ONLY Dorion hadn’t been enticed by the prospect of acquiring a home-boy Francophone in Brassard and giving up Zibanejad to do so …. so much for his early season funk and, if he was, indeed, dealing with the after-effects of Covid he’s certainly shaken them off.
Hi Daryl and George re Hyman…
Again I go back to the fact that the Leafs are stuck in Cap Hell for the next few years
Dubas must get off his track of having half the cap spent on 4 forwards
as it stands right now the leafs have but $14 million for next year to hire 7 forwards, 3 defence and 1 goalie…. and that is to include Hyman and a starter
Hyman is āworthā $5M, so letās say he somehow miraculously takes a $1.5 M haircut (I dream) ; AND Dubas pulls a Unicorn out of his butt and gets a starter for $5 M… thatās $8.5 M for those 2
Leaving….
$5.5 M ….
… for…. 6 Fwds, 3 D… 9 players making $600 K….. ooooops… League min is $700 K… Dubas you forgot your abacus š©š¤¬š”
So in reality… to keep Hyman and afford a starter…. Leafs will have but a 21 man roster for the entire season; AND be at the ceiling; with 3 Fwds and 3 D EACH making League min
….. OR
Dubas does the right thing and moves 1 of the top 4 , to balance the roster…. canāt be JT (his full control) and wonāt be AM
So…MM or WW for at least 2 players; AND the trade needs to save Cap; AND improve D and/or G
I weep in my Timās this morningššššš
Zib is asking for a 15 Div format next year , with only one other team in your Div…. 82 games against the same team
He is fully open to any team being his single Div opponent , as long as that Franchise is in a city that has the Liberty š and Independence Hall
Another Pen bites the dust… Kappy week to week šš©š¤¬š”
It was great to see the win, Sid get his 1,300thpoint; and Penās newest long pants score on his very first NHL shot, and the WBS crew doing well in supporting cast rolls to get Vās in …..but the continuing injury bug is not good. Hextall needs to get a 3C!!!
Leafs…. just came out with a V…. Sens coming on now… showing off their young talent… will be very strong in 2 years
Re Quarantine reduction… excellent for the 7 Canadian franchises if they wish to make a deal with any US club; but all Iām hearing on the radio today is questions about what this means for travel between our countries for everybody else… can we now travel to/fro less restrictively?
Re: quarantine restrictions and border travel: No, this only applies to NHL players right now. There is talk the two countries are still trying to determine if restrictions will ease for the general public.
Hi Lyle
Sorry for my miss-communication on this. Yes I knew that
my diatribe on Radio callers āwonderingā….. was facetious
They (as a whole) seemed peeved at āspecialā treatment for NHLers; knowing the average citizen still will remain under current Q protocols
I (and famille Pengy) wonāt be travelling Stateside now until likely next Spring; but Iām certainly empathetic to those callersā āconcernsā / ācomplaintsā… their point has merit
Every time a government makes a decision to grant some kind of leniency to a specific group that is NOT also extended to the general public, it’s another nail in their political coffin.
They can’t keep preaching about the need to “stay home” in the face of a Third Wave – and then turn around and say, well, except for pro athletes – they’re special.” Horse balls.
I need healthy pharmacy/grocery store staff a LOT more than I do a game played in an empty stadium. Those workers, unlike those in restaurants/boutiques/theatres, etc. have been on the front lines constantly since the pandemic arrived – and they STILL haven’t been made eligible for vaccinations.
Essential workers are out there working every day so exceptions are built in from the get go.
NHL players and staff are not dealing with covid the same way as the rest of us.
They are tested every day, families twice a week. Players following the covid protocols whether they are North or South of the border are under much closer scrutiny and there’s nothing wrong with it being reflected in quarantine protocols.
It isn’t preferential treatment, its recognition of intense scrutiny.
B.S.
George, big difference between NHL players and the general public – the daily protocols that NHL teams enforce set the bar for infection way higher than for you and me and our families.
A shorter quarantine can certainly be justified if, and it’s a big if, the NHL explains the rationale properly.
Yes there are differences between players and general public. However, there are so many restrictions now, more than earlier (I know i made hoping to get back to see family) because now, besides having proof of being covid free by showing your test which you have to take before you get on the plane, show it off the plane and now have to stay at a government approved hotel for at least 3 days, at your expense, then you are permitted to leave and then still need to quarantine for 2 weeks alone. I wouldnāt even be able to see my folks until all that. Brutal.
PS I could even missed some stuff too.
BCLeafFan/Habfan30 – the point I was trying to make – perhaps clumsily – is, it doesn’t really matter to the millions in North America for whom sports is sacred what precautions and protocols the NHL – or any other major sport – employ.
It’s the perception that will be the catalyst for voter animosity – especially among the families and friends and co-workers of the 568,802 who have died so far in North America. They can drag out all the stats they like about comparisons to flu deaths and other causes – it won’t matter to those who feel there was favoritism directed towards a select few.
I get what what you two are saying – I really do – but I know how swiftly public opinion can pivot 180 degrees without much thought given to actual facts.
“… for whom sports is NOT sacred …” (makes all the difference in the world that one word)
Iām still very interested to see how such things actually effect the votes… n the us there is no evidence that this has affected politicians negatively. Iād wager with certain sports it hurts politicians more to not try to keep them fully operational
Check out this 2020 study
https://www.statista.com/statistics/300148/interest-nfl-football-age-canada/
Well George… right or wrong… you sited the 500000 deaths and associated loved ones as a voter block needing to be minded. Another voter block thatās also got to be considered by politicians is those that a donāt believe in COVID at all, b believe in it but are not concerned, c are concerned but think the response is draconian. At least in the us that is a huge voter block as well.
George, don’t think it’s a real thing at all. I think people in Canada and the States who say they base their vote on NHL players will be people voting against the incumbent anyway. In Canada those who vote liberal aren’t voting conservative because of a hockey player, same as those who vote conservative provincially won’t vote liberal next year because of it. People will complain about it more because most can’t give credit to a party they don’t like but will criticize everything the otehr side does like it’s the end of the world, and every party is guilty of that.
Well, ok, fcl. But I have been involved in aspects of politics including a study of what cause “swing” voters to … well … swing and believe me when I say you’d be surprised at the variances. But one thing stood out from all the rest … the PERCEPTION that a government was favouring one group over the majority.
We also have to keep in mind that the vast majority of the population has been in one form or another of lockdowns/restrictions for over a year now – many losing their livelihood as a result – AND that the human race – as a whole -hasn’t seen a worldwide-affecting virus such as this since the so-called Spanish Flu over 100 years ago.
Yes, there are those who will pass it off as inconsequential, continue to regard the whole thing as a conspiracy, and choose to show how “tough” they are by flaunting the protocols – but then those clowns playing ostrich likely don’t vote anyway – never mind respond truthfully to surveys if contacted.
We haven’t seen the worst of this yet.
George O,
I totally get what you’re saying and despite disagreeing with you I’ll admit your points are valid and you may very well be correct.
We tend to have opinions that are clouded by our own projections and the people we are surrounded by.
All this to say your “clumsy” explanation was totally clear to me and I stayed out of your lane
cheers
Pengy
There is no rule that the Leafs have to have a 23 man roster…itās just the limit. So if they keep the rusted pared down they may squeak by?
Agreed that theyāre in trouble but not sure about Hyman taking home less than his worth. Teams are going to be throwing cash at him. Only way I can see him taking a discount Isidro itās a massively front loaded deal and stretch it out over 8 years.
Youāre right though…the Tavares contract seriously handcuffed them.
Dubas could save money now by trading Reilly for Ekholm. Thatās $1.25M in saving there. Ekholm is superior defensively.
WW is the most likely to be traded though. If they could get a decent RW and # 4-6 Dman in return making the same combined salary that would be ideal.
Are there any decent starters making $3M? Could they sign Halak as a UFA with a promise that he gets a shot at #1 duty?
Alex Kerfoot better have his bags packed as heās one of the second tier forwards regarding salary.
Dubas will continue to hope he can find vets willing to play for league minimum or close to it.
How does this sound for a bit of savings?
To NSH Reilly
To TOR : Ekholm
This saves the Leafs $1.25M this year and next.
To ARZ: Andersen, Kerfoot, Malgin, 2021 1st round pick
To TOR: Kuemper, Garland, Crouse
I know people dump on Kerfoot as having no value but heās a serviceable player with speed…good for about 35-40 points a year. Itās rumoured that ARZ would let Garland go because theyāre not sure about his next contract. Crouse adds size and his cap hit isnāt bad for a 3rd line player. The Leafs development staff may be able to revive his career?
Yesterday’s 7 – 1 loss to Nashville yesterday was a total embarrassment for the Red Wings. Coach Blashill said that too many players didn’t bring their A, B, or C game to the ice. That has to include the coaching staff. We have heard this type of comment from Blashill too may times this year and last, and it’s time that he and Bylsma and Houda take responsibility for this. If a team often doesn’t show up prepared to play, maybe the problem stands behind the bench.
Iago, I have always thought it was the players responsibility to be ready when the puck drops.
Win one for the gipper ain’t gonna change much.
Coaches build the systems and line combo’s etc. And of course hold players accountable with ice time. If some aren’t ready, play the ones who are.
On Tim Peel and potential fallout or lack of, how much of it falls on Colin Campbell?
He’s had his own “scandals” in the past, accusations of nepotism, some of which probably conjured up but the timbre of officiating starts at the top doesn’t it?
Fans have complained about game management by officials to the point it’s accepted as normal.
Do refs put their whistles away?
Is playoff hockey called differently?
Do we expect a makeup call on a power play?
Do we expect ticky tack calls “if a stick is horizontal”?
Do we expect head shots to be ignored ?
Do we expect boarding call if a player turns into a hit?
These calls aren’t made or missed across the board by incapable officials, they can’t all be bad.
The man on top, Colin Campbell is responsible for either pushing these calls or not stopping them. He deserves at minimum the penalty issued to Tim Peel.
Hi Habfan30
Yes or most likely is my response to each of your Questions
Campbell yes partially to blame but it goes higher up the hierarchy than that
If GMs donāt collectively push back …little change will happen
As they mentioned on the broadcast…. GMs seem āokā with a different set of reffing style in the playoffs (less called in later rounds or in OT)
No push-back from them; then we can expect no change
Peel was the wake-up call
Some things will change… certainly more scrutiny and anything extraordinary that tilts a game; will find itās way threading through the media… but serious and across the board changes; IMHO; are not likely
The only general thing I would like to see; and I fully believe it to be true for all players not named Tom Wilson; is consistency…. first game of the season through to quintuple OT game 7 in the SC; all games; all reffing crews; all reviews… consistent
Time for me to wake from my dream ā¹ļø
Here is a paste of an article by Mark Spector that summed it up pretty good and put it in perspective. Link to the whole think below.
Weāve all had good, fair bosses who make the proper calls, and bad ones who donāt. The same way Wes McCauley works one game, while a far less experienced official works another.
Yet somehow we look at all the NHL officials and expect them to perform equally ā like robots from the same factory ā because they are both NHL referees.
But we donāt ask Wayne Simmonds to play the same as Connor McDavid, even though they are both NHL players.
Whatever the solution, hockey has become a sport that lives with game management the way a giraffe lives with those birds that stand on his head and clean his fur.
Theyāre old friends, even if they bug each other sometimes.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/tim-peel-incident-says-role-game-management/
Ray Bark,
“But we donāt ask Wayne Simmonds to play the same as Connor McDavid, even though they are both NHL players.”
Very true but an unfair analogy.
There’s a total of 42 referees , 2 per game, to handle all of the games for 30 teams so there is every reason to expect them to be the “Team Canada” of referees, each of them should be a star.
I would expect the equivalent of each team’s top player, Connor McD would be there, TML would send…..not Simmonds.
Habsfan30, you expect them all to be a star?
I think perhaps you should lower expectations to level of reality.
There are more and less experienced refs and only one NHL. Like every other human they learn and get better. Like every occupation.
Ray Bark,
I expect the refs to be the best of the best, as the NHL says, only 2% of referees get to the NHL. They are scouted, go through combines, have the same training.
Of course some will be better and if it were the exceptions that made the types of call
i listed above, we wouldn’t come to accept these calls and non-calls.
As I mentioned I don’t think the refs abilities are the problem, I think it’s the folks giving them direction.
Bruins better watch out the NYR are charging
Looks like Rask is having a hard time staying healthy…..time to move on
Bruins…..get healthy,get a LD who can play both ends and PP…get a 2nd line winger with size who can score and get dirty …….dont have to be stars
Hi Joe
Re ā get a 2nd line winger with size who can score and get dirtyā
How about ācould scoreā instead of ācanā; and re āwith size ā; I have a player in mind for you that has āaā size…. Medium. He does get dirty …..
…who will you swap for Zucker
Pengy…..that was Coyle’s BFF in Minn……I’d take a shot why not but who to trade for him I’m not good at that leave that to the GM’s
Thanks Joe
Didnāt know that
Oki Doki…. Iāll start the ask ….JDB & Studs
Thoughts?
DeBrusk is enough
Government catering to the rich again. Hoping some provincial premiers say “I don’t think so”.
What do you think other Bruin fans? Tear them down? Or try for one more kick at it? I say tear it down. Either of these, of course, depends on Sweeney waking up from his 3 month nap.
I think DK is resigned to a 1 yr 5 mill and Rask 2 yrs at 6 mill. IMO they need to start rebuilding after next yr. with all the contracts up the next 3 yrs thereās a lot they need to look at. Bergy Mcavoy Pasta.what direction the team wants to go in. I believe they need a big tough winger and Carlo to get healthy and theyād be fine this yr and next.
I’m a believer in you have strength up the middle and on D, and obviously without good goaltending you can’t win.
#1 tender – 34 – UFA this off season
#2 C – 34 – UFA – UFA this off season
#1 C – 35 – 1 year left.
#1 D – 23
We have 2 top line wingers, one prime, one getting up there. Lots of missing or questionable/old pieces.
This is there last chance IMO, and that seems like a stretch. More me being a fan than how they are actually playing. But they are banged up.
I think Sweeney respects Bergy, Krecji, Marchand, Rask etc enough that he gives it a go again this year because of that respect. If it doesn’t work out, take a couple weeks and take an unemotional look at it and will decide it’s time to rebuild/retool/ whatever you want to call it.
If they go on a run and win a couple rounds? I think he goes again next year.
Depends how they do I guess.
I expect him to add this TDL unless they lose a bunch in a row.
I hope it works more than I think it will work.
Excellent summary Ray.
I to believe they will add.
Team is built on defense first.
Dealing with players on and off covid list, injuries and inconsistent play.
If Rask is long term, we’ll unless one of the young guys can step in. The Bruins are done; sorry to say Halak cannot carry the load.
I watch the Bruins game last night and it seem like they almost forgot how to play hockey. They look pretty bad.
Another good team in a funk thatās magnified by the schedule or a team in decline?
Multiple things Ron.
Injuries on the blue line. 3 of their top 6 out. For a while they were rolling out their 8,9 & 10th Dman.
#1 tender hurt.
Covid.
They lack scoring depth up front.
They have key players on the back 9 of career, so while still good they can’t carry them.
Now they will have the most compacted schedule in the NHL leading up to playoffs.
Did I mention their best players are getting up there?
Doesn’t look like a set up for success.
Am I the only one who finds fault in Dermott’s play. For heaven sake, Dubas and the coaching staff have better vantage point than me sitting front of tele, they must see how brutal of a defenseman Dermott is. He is everything what hockey defenseman should NOT be. Size, speed, skill, and most importantly hockey IQ. He scores 1 out of 5 in every one of those category. In fact, he scores closer to zero than 1. Just one adjustment to the lineup can dramatically improve the flow of the game offensively. Substitute with Sandin if it can’t be done via trade. Another classic case of addition by subtraction.
As for TO’s cap woes, it’s blatantly obvious that Nylander, Freddie, Dermott, and Kerfoot needs to go…16.25 mill relieved for non impact players floating on the ice and taking up space in the lineup. Hyman will cost the leafs 4.5 – 5mill per. I’ll say more like 5 year $25mill contract is more likely. But, he is well worth it.
How Dubas missed out on a guy like Forsberg. Would have been a great tandem Campbell/Forsberg. Combined making well below Anderson. That resolves goaltending issue.
Make the deal with Buffalo for Taylor Hall and Ristolainen. Have Hall sign to a $25 mill for 5 years. Risto is in the books for 5.7mill already. Send Nylander, Anderson, Dermott moving out 12.7 mill which leave us with 2 mill that can be used toward Hyman’s new contract. Find a way to trade Kerfoot’s contract out as well. Further relieving 3.5 mill. This can be used to retain Campbell and another goalie likes of Forsberg calibre with budget contract.
Robertson/Mathews/Marner
Hall/Tavares/Barabanov
Mikheyev/Galchenyak/Hyman
Thornton/Spezza/Simmonds
Reilly/Brodie
Muzzin/Holl
Sandin/Ristolainen
Campbell/(Reimer or Forsberg?)
Go LEAFS GO
Leafs have one of the best cap situations in the league. No bad or immovable contracts.
They will resign Hyman no problem. His entire life is in Toronto and its the team he wants to play for.
Leafs can structure a deal with bonuses etc to maximize his pay that few teams can match.
Ya, no terrible contracts in TOR Wendel.
At least while JT continues to produce.
Will need a tender as well and the aging star from Ontario well must be drying up soon?
Need top replace those guys.
Will be interesting but Dubas has been able to pull it off so far.
Mike, I don’t know if Dubas missed out on Forsberg as much as Ottawa was among those, along with Buffalo and Detroit, who had first crack when he went on waivers. Winnipeg was likely hoping no one would bite, but Ottawa’s injury woes at the position dictated otherwise.
Hall…no thanks.
Ristoleinen also pass.
Under your proposed contract for Hall thatās $10.7M for a rapidly declining LW that has lost his scoring touch and a # 4 (at best) RHD which is already being filled by Holl at $2M.
Ekholm for Reilly saves the Leafs $1.25M in cap space and gets them a superior Dman. Ekholm and Brodie would be a nice combo.
Trade for Savard and try to re-sign him in the summer.