Between now and the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, you are bound to hear many indicators that the Toronto Maple Leafs would consider trading the #1 overall pick or select big Finnish winger Patrik Laine with the top selection, but barring something completely unforeseen, it will be Auston Matthews adorning the club’s new uniform on June 24th at First Niagara Center.
Laine is expected to be chosen second overall by the Winnipeg Jets and made an impressive showing in Finland’s opening victory over Belarus on Friday, scoring twice and adding an assist, but Matthews matched that with his own three point performance against the same club on Saturday.
Matthews goal pic.twitter.com/BnfSoPlKjk
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 7, 2016
“(Matthews) is a horse out there,… teammate Dylan Larkin said to USA Today’s Kevin Allen. “You can’t get him off the puck. And he has unbelievable hands. It is pretty cool to see what Laine did and then Auston to respond.…
The 18-year-old Scottsdale, AZ native led Team USA at the World Junior in Helsinki last January with 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists) and performed well for a very young American squad in a 5-1 loss to Canada on Friday.
2nd Matthews goal pic.twitter.com/7Ht61Pwt9C
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 7, 2016
You can never say never about the possibility of a trade, but based on the fact that the Leafs have been looking for a big, playmaking center since Mats Sundin’s departure in 2008, it would take a deal as immense as the Eric Lindros deal in 1992 to make it happen.
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The Toronto Marlies take on the Albany Devils in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Semi-Final on Sunday with the series tied 1-1 after a 5-3 victory on Friday.
Through five playoff games, defensemen Connor Carrick and TJ Brennan are leading the club in scoring.
“Offense from anyone in this series is going to be huge, but obviously if it comes from the (defense), it’s a positive.… Brennan said following the game.
The former Capitals farmhand had two assists on Friday and leads the AHL with 10 points (mostly on the strength of a five point performance against Bridgeport last week), while Brennan is tied with Carrick with four goals, including the third period game-winner on Friday.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe held back at naming his starting goalie following the victory, but it is likely that Antoine Bibeau will get his second straight start after earning the second star with a 40 save effort.
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