So here we go...The Leafs are moving Nylander to Matthews line...Last year, I flat out loved Nylander with Matthews and I wrote a lot about the fact that Matthews found great chemistry with Nylander was something special. Something the Leafs should ask the Penguins about...Finding a guy to play with a superstar is not a given..So I felt Matthews needed them to bring back Nylander. That was until I saw Matthews ability to make players around him better...See: Kapanen.
Turns out Nylander needs Matthews way more than Matthews needs Nylander.. And Nylander's struggles this year have brought the two players back together on a line...Many people, including our own Mike Augello will cover this better than I can, but what interests me is what ELSE I am hearing in the rumor mill.
One source texted this an hour ago..."This move to AM's line is a last shot...If Nylander doesn't work out soon look for Minnesota, Philly, and Detroit to go hard after him...The Leafs are looking for D help in a big way."
The Giordano Snub is Ridiculous?
It's a fun question to debate, but as much as I love this 3 v 3 tournament it really does suck that this tournament really limits some of the most deserving players there are...It is unreal that Marner and Point (both in the top ten in scoring) are not going. How does Mark Giordano, my pick for the Norris right now, not make this team? And Erik Karlsson, who has played incredible in the last ten games, is in this game...
All that being said, Who has the best team this year?
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— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) August 2, 2017
Atlantic All Stars
Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators Keith Yandle, Florida Panthers Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Metropolitan All-Stars
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils John Carlson, Washington Capitals Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Central All-Stars
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars Roman Josi, Nashville Predators Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Pacific All-Stars
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks