NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2021
Brad Marchand and Alex Wennberg each tally a hat trick, the Stars and Sharks keep their playoff hopes alive and more Canucks added to the COVID-19 protocol list. Details and more in the NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Brad Marchand tallied a hat trick and David Pastrnak scored twice to lead the Boston Bruins over the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-5. Pittsburgh forwards Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel each had a goal and two assists. With the win, the Bruins (43 points) opened a four-point lead over the Philadelphia Flyers for fourth place in the MassMutual East Division. The Penguins (50 points) are seven points ahead of the Bruins in third, sitting two behind the second-place New York Islanders. The Bruins also learned defenseman Brandon Carlo is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered on Thursday against the Penguins.
Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images)
Mathew Barzal scored the winner in a shootout as the Islanders nipped the Flyers 3-2. Anthony Beauvillier scored twice for the Isles but Claude Giroux countered with two to force extra time. The Islanders are tied with the Washington Capitals with 52 points but the latter holds first place in the East with a game in hand. Isles forward Ross Johnston left the game following a first-period fight with Flyers defenseman Samuel Morin and didn’t return.
The Buffalo Sabres picked up their second win in three games by edging the New York Rangers 3-2 in a shootout. Tage Thompson potted the winner for the Sabres. Artemi Panarin scored twice for the Rangers, who are tied with the Flyers with 39 points but the latter holds fifth place in the East Division with a game in hand.
The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their 17th straight home victory over the Detroit Red Wings by edging the latter 2-1. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves while Ross Colton and Brayden Point tallied for the Lightning (54 points), who are tied with the Florida Panthers but hold first place in the Discover Central Division with a game in hand.
A hat trick by Alex Wennberg and a 44-save effort by Sergei Bobrovsky gave the Panthers a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The struggling Jackets sit seventh in the Central with 36 points. Jackets forward Jack Roslovic was a healthy scratch in his contest with just two points in his last six outings.
A 41-save shutout by Juuse Saros carried the Nashville Predators to a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Eeli Tolvanen’s 10th goal of the season was also the winning goal as the Predators (41 points) have won seven of their last eight contests, opening a two-point lead over the Blackhawks for fourth in the Central Division.
The Dallas Stars kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Tanner Kero broke a 2-2 tie while Jake Oettinger kicked out 41 shots for the Stars (36 points), who sit five points behind the fourth-place Predators in the Central Division. The Hurricanes (51 points) remain three points behind the Lightning and Florida Panthers in the Central.
Cale Makar’s goal within the final minute of regulation lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Nathan MacKinnon also scored for the Avs (54 points), who won their fourth straight and sit four points up on the Vegas Golden Knights in the Honda West Division. The Blues (38 points) remain one behind the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes.
Third-period goals by Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek 55 seconds apart rallied the Minnesota Wild over the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. With 48 points, the Wild are just two back of the second-place Golden Knights in the West Division.
A third-period goal by Dylan Gambrell gave the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Evander Kane and Kevin Labanc each had a goal and an assist as the surging Sharks moved into a tie with the Blues, though the latter holds fifth in the West Division on the basis of regulation plus overtime wins.
The Ottawa Senators got two goals from Evgenii Dadonov and 35 saves from Anton Forsberg to beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3, snapping the latter’s three-game win streak. Artem Anisimov also collected three assists for the Senators while Josh Anderson tallied twice for the Canadiens, who remain in fourth place in the Scotia North Division with 41 points. Habs winger Tyler Toffoli also scored in his return to the lineup after missing three games with a lower-body injury. The Senators played without Colin White, who’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
THE PROVINCE: Seven more Vancouver Canucks players were added to the NHL COVID-19 protocol list on Saturday while two more coaches also tested positive. Travis Boyd, Thatcher Demko, Jayce Hawryluk, Bo Horvat, Tyler Myers and Brandon Sutter were the new additions to the list. Several of the cases affecting the club are the highly contagious Brazilian P.1 variant.
Hawryluk is a positive case, marking the second time in a year he’s tested positive for COVID-19. Research shows the P.1 variant is capable of reinfecting people who previously suffered from other strains of the coronavirus.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL is proceeding on the assumption the entire Canucks team will likely test positive. It’s built into the league’s planning going forward, similar to what happened at the start of the season with the Dallas Stars. This is a variant of the coronavirus the league hasn’t seen before.
The Canucks shutdown will last longer than anticipated. They will not be playing next week. The league has discussed future dates with the club but those won’t be announced for a while.
North Division games will likely be scheduled past May 11, using the week of May 10-14 as a buffer. The three US divisions could still start their playoffs on May 11. The league also remains confident it can complete the 56-game schedule.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports there are discussions about holding the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs in a bubble environment similar to last year, though it’s not something anyone wants at this point. Much will depend upon how things evolve between now and then.
Meanwhile, the NHL has issued a memo to its 31 teams reiterating the rules, regulations and best practices for mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Previous outbreaks among several clubs have put a strain on the schedule, with most teams facing a grueling timetable over the next six weeks making up games postponed earlier in the season. That’s going to take a physical toll on the players over the next month.
The league wants to avoid moving the regular season and playoff schedules forward because they don’t want to push the postseason any deeper into the summer than it already is. They also don’t to risk the Stanley Cup Final being staged at the same time as the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which are slated to begin on July 23.
Teams want to avoid a playoff bubble because it will adversely affect their already depleted revenue for this season. The players don’t want it because they’ll be separated for weeks from their families. Nevertheless, they could have little choice if the variants of the coronavirus lead to a significant increase in infections among the North American population.
12 goals in a game… that’s the type of game I like
Both goalies had a pair of goals they want back
Some great rushes
Great goals
Great passes
Great plays
Top guys came out and played…. perfection crew (weren’t a line for most of the game)…. 8 points
Sid & Guentz each got 3 points
Also some defensive breakdowns on both teams
Was hoping for at least a split of the two Bruins… so mission accomplished
So 👍👍👍 for entertainment
Knights v Wild…. tons of blocked shots …. 2-1 …. not even close to as entertaining for me
Agreed, Pengy, lacrosse is a great game.
😂. Good one
Ideal game to watch for me is 5-4 or 4-3 OT win with several lead changes….. no shoot-outs
Sometimes a 3-2 OT win with many 10 bell saves; 3 lead changes… max in a 3-2 game; and some great open ice hits…. are very exciting games
A 22 to 20 shot (most from afar) game that ends 1-0 on an odd bounce shot from centre ice ; or a 2-0 game including an EN; makes me want to get an anesthetic-free root canal
Islander games are tough to watch for me
Were it not for Marino’s fauxpas on Marchand’s EN hat-trick goal…. the last 60 seconds of that game could have been spectacular…. an actual possibility of 7-6 OT game
Loved the game despite the outcome
Ennh. “Last-goal wins” games remind me too much of All-Star games where hitting is purely accidental.
There was hitting in this game George
The entertainment value of a game bears minimal to no correlation to the number of goals. It is about flow, action including hitting and scoring chances not the actual goal. Power plays are boring. The only time they are momentarily exciting is when the short handed team gets a break and a chance.
I was hoping for an improved effort from the Senators … and got that. That Forsberg pick up off waivers is turning out OK to say the least. Anisimov had a good game – might make him attractive to someone at the trade deadline. Same with Coburn.
Formenton’s ability to go from a virtual stop to full speed is eye-opening.
It took a while but Dadinov seems to have found his groove again … expect to see Pinto and Bernard-Docker in some games once they clear quarantine.
Those signings (along with Guenette from the Q) are why that Amadio for Wolanin deal was made rather than simply pluck him off waivers earlier – had no one taken Wolanin the same way they could have been stuck with an extra body in the list of 50.
Yeah, I told you your guys would put in a better performance. I thought they were quicker to the puck all game, and were really good at taking away the Habs’ time and space on the PP.
George, will Formenton challenge McDavid in the fastest skater category at the next All-Star game?
LOL. Well, first let’s hope he becomes good enough to MAKE an All-Star game. He certainly has the tools – and if he to go head-to-head with McDavid on the speed factor it’ll be close.
Once again the officiating was disgusting. From an icing that lead to pens to a goal to the blown call resulting Pasta scoring his hat trick goal to Crosby flopping like he was shot leading to a ridiculous 4 minute PP with less than 2 mins in the 3rd period who clearly wasn’t injured or bleeding. No bias there. Regardless the Bruins showed the resilience they’ve had for yrs overcoming the Pens and the refs. Hopefully Bruce keeps the top 2 lines together as they clicked very well. If these lines can score on a consistent level we don’t need a top 6 forward but rather a top 9. Coyle has been a shade of himself and needs help.Definitely need Rask back ASAP Halak just isn’t a starter his over play of the puck outside the crease has been terrible all yr. continually moving the puck to our defense with guys baring down on them causing the puck to stay in the zone. Hopefully Donny puts him on the block and hands the backup role to Vladar. With Carlo out for the foreseeable future we definitely need a top 4 guy and bottom pairing guy to stabilize the D.
Brayden Coburn is probably available cheap. Going from a Stanley Cup winner to a re-building team was probably a non-starter from the get-go and could account for his poor performance early in the schedule … but lately he’s been very steady when inserted in the line-up … like last night in Montreal.
I actually like him that’s a great idea maybe a 4th or 4th could get it done.the kids aren’t bad they need someone to stabilize that 3rd paring. Great size too definitely hard to play against.
He’s a UFA at season’s end and his current cap hit is just $1.7 mil. Josh Brown is another who could go although in his case his $1.2 mil cap hit has another year to run.
After trade deadline day we’ll likely see Lassi Thompson up from Belleville and somewhere on the D, along with Bernard-Docker, just signed to an ELC out of College, so room has to be made there.
The Bruins could probably get Coburn for a 5th – the younger Brown would likely cost a 3rd.
Definitely something to think about I like the low costs leaves room to try and snag a solid top 4 D. That would be about all we’d need. But most definitely expensive
George O
As a Leafs fan I’d love to see them get Coburn. He’s not flashy by any means but he’s steady.
I’m not confident the Leafs will have enough depth on D should they suffer an injury.
What about Mike Reilly?
Daryl, I think Smith and Dorion like what Reilly’s contributed in the role he’s been assigned, and I’m sure they’ll re-sign him. As for Coburn, should Dubas come calling first Dorion would have no hesitation in sending him there. The beauty of that deal is that he could step into a role right away with the Leafs.
Hi BergyBoyz
The call per announcers was proper as he wasn’t hooked while on a breakaway… he was hooked as the two changed positions… and Pasta stripped him of the puck…and per explanation later “no clear separation of the two players”….so that is why it was 2 mins vs automatic goal. So, unfortunate for Pasta, but it is in the rule book
Re Berg’s high stick… it doesn’t have to be the blade… a butt-end to the face is a high-sticking penalty. Calling it late in the game in a tight match shouldn’t matter. It was a penalty.
The fact that Sid was cut… making it 4 minutes instead of 2 was made moot with Marino’s gaff leading to Marchand’s hat-trick goal
He was cut, so it is 4…. but the 4 would have only come into play with a tying goal by Pens ; after which they would have put DeSmith back in net and started OT with a 4 on 3… so 4 min PP advantage was an extreme long shot at best and was the correct call anyway
To me a great game
I’m confident that both DeSmith and Halak want at least two of those back but both had some great saves
Bruins should want Pens as a first round match-up… they’ve been better than them H2H
Pens this year have (so far) the upper hand on Caps and will finish better H-2H with Isles
Hi Penny
That makes sense on the Pasta play. So I’ll give you that one .I don’t disagree on the Bergy getting a penalty but I saw no blood. So I’ll stand by my comment on that. But yes both guys were left out to dry as well as a couple softies each. Was definitely an exciting game. My blood pressure was all over the place lol and yes I’ll take Bruins Pens first round for sure. Especially if we get a healthy Rask and Carlo back.
Bergy you have to understand Pengy only see thru one lense.
He still thinks the Wilson hit was legal and clean.
Yes Crosby absolutely embleshied the high stick. That isn’t even a debate.
Hi Caper
When did I ever say that Wilson’s hit was legal and clean
I’ve been pushing for longer suspensions for him
Re Sid… I never claimed he didn’t mock up the high stick… no challenge from me on that
BergyBoyz and Caper
The high stick was what it was… and when the trainer put a cloth to sids mouth there was quite a bit of blood on it
Again… the 4 minute was only relevant if Pens tied and it went to OT
The right and deserving team got 2 points last night
I liked the game
Isn’t it a shame the players have to embellish what is already a penalty just to get the refs to call it?
And sometimes there is over-embellishment – a lesson learned from soccer where they look like they’ve been pole-axed one minute and up and ready to go the next
Peny my apologizes you are 100% correct about Wilson and asking for more punishment.
I should’ve reference the Tanev hit on Tinordi, that you claim was clean.
No worries Caper
Wilson is a goon
Yes I was (and still am) on the side of posters here and around the web that say the game ejection on Tanev was a blown call citing timing (well below threshold) and distance (basically 11’ ) from boards.
I’m with all those that post that he wasn’t vulnerable as he was the puck carrier (in fact Tanev’s stick touched Tinordi’s blade and puck in the same motion as the hit) and that far from the boards… basically an open ice hit
The injury to Tinordi was tragic and I hurt watching him impact the boards
DOPS saw nothing in the hit either
We agree to disagree on the Tanev hit, that’s OK… opinions are all what this site is for
We do agree on the Wilson hit👍👍👍
Cheers
Pengy, lets state facts not assumption, the Dops thought the 5 minute major and game misconduct was sufficient; as so did I.
Geez. Are applying monikers a clear indication of someone’s age or lack of maturity?
Kris Leturnover? Conner McElbows? Or any number of the other stupid ones which you regularly regurgitate on these boards.
Glass houses, fanboy. Glass houses.
Well BC Leaf fan , I answered your question 4 times, 4 different versions yesterday and No reply , in regards to your admiration for Freddie Anderson ..
you said , who is better , I gave 7 examples
Scroll back a day
Maybe , U were into the Kool- Aid , retired early
People who pump Anderson’s tires on here is an Absolute JOKE !
Thanks, Ken, it’s a shame I don’t schedule my life around your comments but there you are.
Hope you wrote something useful – that’d be a nice change.
Read your proposals, Ken, well done. I like Reimer back to Toronto if Freddie’s injury is long term.
It’s like golf, Ken, Leaf fans need short term memory loss.
Long term too maybe.
My comments are Accurate and to the Point ..
I don’t make judgements with my heart ..
They are factual and informative ..
people can’t accept the Truth !
You can’t handle the truth!
Not pumping his tires Ken, just stating that the options available aren’t much better, and those who simply include Anderson as part of the return for said tender are a bit optimistic, unless you can explain why Arizona would do that for Kuemper.
Or Calgary for Rittich.
Or BOS for Rask.
Or BUF for Ullmark.
Ulmark is attainable but they won’t be taking Anderson back, so best find some space elsewhere. Is he better than Anderson?
Not so sure about that.
Neither is Rittich IMO.
I would roll with Anderson before either of those 2.
My point is Anderson is not a playoff performer ..
He cannot steal a game , well known for the soft goal , which motivates the opposition , gets them back into the game .,
Now , Anderson ‘s confidence is totally “shot” , blame it on his groin , whatever , they are not going to promise land , with him between the pipes .
Ullmark – take Kerfoot
Reimer might be available , lots of people will be against me, on that proposal !
Kuemper, I tweaked the trade proposal , which is most ideal
Do you remember Ed Balfour
He is the last Leaf goalie of any significance – robbed Ottawa in their series with the Leafs ..
Columbus has a 1 and 1A goalie – they are going no where
Ullmark – Kerfoot
Reimer is even an upgrade , bad memories there
Anderson is not the guy
I would bet that BUF would take that actually. Seems like a bit of an overpay, but Leafs need to make space.
Ullmark is an interesting option. Kind of a long shot and I would feel safer with Anderson, but having all three isn’t the worst idea.
Kerfoot has value, may miss him as he is versatile which is nice come playoff time.
But a feasible idea.
We talk a lot about leadership I I’m bias but believe Bergeron is one of the best gets puck in face skates to bench tells trainer he will be fine as he puts his jaw back in place and blood running down his nose. Sid gets clipped flops like shot with bazooka don’t get me wrong Sid can play and would love him as a Bruin but it’s time to grow a pair already.
Which is the better leader, the smarter or the martyr?
Not a smarter player in league than Bergeron he’s proved that. Plus played with collapsed lunge I’d Bergie every time over Sid.
Actually he’s grown three.
Wears one in each Cup? That explains why his tailor went mad trying to determine whether Crosby dressed right or left.
Ha!
I don’t get the joke as I have a feeling it has something to do with being measured for a suit. As I’m proud to wear essentially pjs to work and will consider it a major win if I go to my grave never learning to tie a tie… I’m left to assume your joke was a good one.
So
Ha!
👍👍😂😂Francis
I hope, some day, to make Ed VanImpe laugh.
Fickle Bruin fans
1st you want a rebuild , Now U jump back on bandwagon , with Marchand back
That’s what injuries are all about
Cripple a team , especially a player of Marchand .
Why Marchand is that Good , that the Leafs would offer Nylander straight up for him !!’
Ken
No I don’t want a rebuild never once said that. May the shy is falling spoiled Boston sports fans say that crap. There’s plenty of life left on this team.no signs of Bergy or DK slowing down. And I certainly wouldn’t base much at all off this COVID protocol injury riddled season the Bruins are having.
Ken, your funny. You say your a realistic guy; then you would trade Nylander straight up for Marchand.
I guess you would, so would Dubas; but not Sweeney.
Hi Caper
I love getting under Shoreorrpark ‘s skin …
He takes everything so personal …
Marchand for Nylander is totally “funny”, I agree
Hell’s Bells, I’d trade Chabot even up for Marchand. Put him with his Halifax-area buddy, Batherson to mentor the kid (and then try and get one of the others from that group – couple of guys named MacKinnon and Crosby, I think)
You’d have to be relevant in order to get under my skin, Ken. The way I figure it is you’re more to be pitied than aggravated by. I’m just glad that hockey has some new fans. It looks like it might take you a little longer than others to catch on to what’s happening, but if you stick with it, you just might start understanding how and why things are done on and off the ice. FYI, it’s not at all like wrestling.
Tell me you are not serious George. Not with where Sens are as a rebuild team.
That would be something a team like the Leafs should consider if they had Chabot as Marchand is a playoff difference maker and Leafs have a shot. (Not that Bs would do the deal, thats not my point bbb so hold the hate, lol)
Sort of serious Wendel – Chabot’s defensive farts are starting to become repetitive to the point where they are not covered off by his offense. I have to wonder if that is being caused by Smith tossing him over the boards for upwards of 27-31 minutes a game. The other night against the Habs those were reduced substantially – and he did turn in a solid game.
I really like Marchand – but I agree that he is not what a team in Ottawa’s position needs at this stage. That it was tongue-in-cheek I hoped got across by the mentioning of his other two buddies from the Halifax region – MacKinnon and Crosby (there may even be a 5th in that bunch that train together every off-season – can’t recall the name though).
But, yeah, a Marchand on the Leafs would turn them into an almost certain finalist.
And why would you even put his name in the same sentence as Marshy 🤣🤣🤣🤣 comical bud. Not even close I wouldn’t trade Jimmy Hayes for him. Waaaaaaaay overpaid zero heart. EA sports NHL video game would reject that trade
Bergyboyzz, yes, you would.
I expected the Habs to lose last night, coming back from a no skate layoff they were supposed to be rusty but somehow had two inspired games and reality hit.
I did make that call yesterday, lucky call.
On the other hand the twin pylons, Gudbranson and Coburn were at there best after the whistles, cross checks, slashing, elbows, whacking at guys who were down on the ice, it’s remarkable that not a single penalty was called on those plays.
I don’t mind the rough stuff or the “dirty” play to clear the front of the net but these two in particular did most of it after the whistle to unsuspecting players.
I know most people don’t like Gallagher but he did come back after being hurt and following a net front scrum in which he wasn’t involved he got knocked down on his ass, no problem with that but as rolls to his hands and knees he gets a crosscheck to his lower back and no call.
Gallagher shook his head and got up slowly and skated off the ice.
It’s as if Gudbranson and Coburn were getting free passes after getting blown by by various Habs through the night.
To repeat, my issue isn’t hitting, dirty play, it was the consistent after the whistle cheap shots on literally any Hab within stick or elbow distance.
Hold – the – phone there. I seldom get involved in using detailed (and home-team biased) analysis for any of the Sens games but in this case I’ll make an exception.
Coburn had 17:44 ice time with an assist (on a short-handed goal at that) and was a +2 on the night. Gudbranson, who played 19:30, was also a + 2. So if any Habs were “blowing by them” they certainly weren’t finishing the rushes with goals.
Petry, on the other hand, was a -5 – so talk about a pylon – while Kulak was a -2. And up front it seems Gallagher and Kotkeniemi were watching a few white jerseys blow by them as both were -3 on the the night.
George: I think Habfan30’s point was the cross checking in front of the net. Smith said he wanted his team to be tougher there. They were. I too wondered about a few of the cross checks, and wondered if a few penalties were warranted.
Curiously though, when Chiarot and Weber were cross checking Matthews in front of the net I thought it was good hockey.
I can have it both ways, surely …
Habfan30,
I guess 5-6 dmen in your world are aren’t allowed to cross check or hack after the whistle. What about 1-2 dmen like Weber-Charot? Bit of bias here don’t ya think?
LJ.
The front of the net didn’t bother me, that’s hockey and the forwards expect it.
My problem was the after the whistle cheap shots next to the net, behind the net, on the boards near the net.
There was a two handed slash next to the net, after the whistle, a forearm to the face after the whistle. After every whistle one of these pylons gave a cheap shot all night.
Perry and Gallagher get crosschecked, elbowed, dumped all night in front of the net and rarely if ever complain, that’s hockey and happens to every guy with net front presence.
More hockey to come 🙂
Yawn !
The Canadians – Who R They ?
WTF is going on in Vancouver; wasn’t to long ago the North media was bragging they had no covid-19 issue and where declaring the Canadian Division was doing things right compare to to US.
We’re are them same media folks today, oh, now they say don’t blame the Canucks.
Blame the Canucks blame the league, find some answers and put in some corrective measures.
Came to far to lose the season do.
What media do you watch Caper?
You sure have a consistently different take on that than I do. May I suggest changing the channel?
Don’t get the hate when it is your choice what to watch and read. Try something else.
Here is what the media I watch reported – the league had a behind the scenes meeting with the teams and read them the riot act because of exactly what you said. They have come this far, don’t piss it away. Teams haven’t been following protocols with regards to behavior outside the rink and inside the rink. This includes the coaches, many of whom take off their masks when speaking. The most important time you should wear it.
Bubble(s) are being considered for playoffs.
Variants are causing problems in Canada now and without the vaccine supply of the US expect more short term draconian measures again. Most of the cases with the Canucks is the “Brazilian” one. More young folks are getting sick from it as well and ending up in the hospital. I am sure young healthy guys like players will be OK, but might impact their performance more than the previous one did and for longer.
You can’t postpone games for 2 weeks come playoff time.
Ray i will clarify my statement I’m referencing sports media. Can’t turn the channel unless i don’t want to watch or listen to the game, or listen to music; which i seldom do.
I would like to personally thank Sports net for helping me with my addiction and the amount of wasted hours watching hockey. The constant feed of the Boston Bruins has done it. Who knew that this was even possible, that a die hard hockey fan would be able to give up a comfortable seat and find other things to do, other than listening to that terrible whiny Bruin announcer…so thanks again.
I am a die hard Bruins fan, and I can’t stand Jack.
Agree Ray
The guy is a Moron
For those of you here who celebrate in the same faith as I… Happy Easter
Anthony Mantha must be available considering his poor year and huge contract.
Does Detroit want to unload him and what’s he worth?
Mantha+Glendening to Montreal
Byron+Armia+Poehling+2021 1st
Cap is covered in and out.
Poehling is projected to become a 3C, 1st rounder projected as some kind of NHLer. Armia flashes skill but doesn’t score enough, good possession player a beast on the boards and corners. Byron a speedy winger/c, great on the PK, veteran player who earned the A on his jersey.
Mantha, a streaky power forward with a big contract that underperforms
Glendening, face off specialist, strong on the pk.
what do Detroit fans think
Well, they each had 2 assists this afternoon in a 5-1 thumping of the Cup champions so maybe Yzerman will hang onto both
Habsfan seriously, please stop. Byron was passed over 30 times twice this year for free. Armia is a 3rd or 4th line dime a dozen forward. Poeling is a failed prospect. You honestly would need to through in the 1st just to get glendwnning as this is a cap dump proposal. Unbelievable.
George
I wish Yzerman was in Totonto or Boston
Great Operator and well respected
Good stuff, Ken, you spelled his name correctly.
I think Dubais has done a good job. Signed the big guys with the very reasonable assumption that the cap would go up consistently and those contracts would look good over time. The new US TV deals will likely prove him right.
If the cap was projected to be $87M next season what would they look like?
Unless some out there predicted the pandemic. Teams like the B’s and MTL are in a better spot because they didn’t have the really good players come due over a short period just prior. The Tavares signing might come back to haunt, but not if they win.
I’d venture to guess that the Leafs can outscore every other team in the NHL. The only place I’d try to improve is on the backend. Not saying they can’t win with the group they’ve assembled, just that it’s a little suspect from my point of view. I quite like the combo of Andersen and Campbell. I get the disdain for the former, as I feel the same way about Rask, but once healthy, he’s a top tier tender. Hard to say a team is or isn’t built for playoff hockey until they’ve been battle tested. This could very well be the year the Leafs silence the pundits and make some noise. Given all the older, local talent, it would make for a good story to see Jumbo, Simmonds, Spezza and Brodie win one.
Wow. I just threw up in my mouth a little after typing that up, and reading it back. Full disclosure…..I prefer if they lose in the 1st round, again.
2422
TML aren’t the highest scoring team in the North, never mind the NHL, they just pay the most for their top scorers…..but you knew that of course 🙂
Yes, Habsfan30. I merely surmise that they can outscore every other team. I never mentioned that they have scored the most this year, because they in fact haven’t.
I’m still hoping for a Bos vs Mtl final, but I’ll watch whomever makes it that far…….if anyone does.