Here's a piece ...

“It’s tough,” Hankinson told The Athletic. “He’s been there four years, won a couple Cups, been to finals three years in a row. All of a sudden, to be told, ‘You’re not coming back, it’s a business decision, we can’t have you back,’ it’s hard for him to accept that. There’s the emotional connection and the business side of it. It took what seemed like forever, only three or four days, but they wanted to move forward. He’s heard from every single member of the (Lightning team). Crushing.”

“I think it took a couple days to realize what to do,” Hankinson said.”Do you fight it and figure out a way to stay? Which he wanted to do. But, realistically, it didn’t happen. And it’s not always by the player’s choice. The good news is that Ryan is motivated and in a great spot right now. It wasn’t his choice. But given the circumstances, we found a good spot.”
- The Law

What's the point of signing a NTC if you don't use if even when you do not want to leave?

I think he'll want more but for the Leafs budget I'm not sure there's a good fit. I think they need an improvement for JT's line (so someone better) ..he's too much money for the 4th line ...and he's defensively poopty (I'm told) so a poor fit on the Kampf line.
- The Law

Mason Marchment

I don't hope it's true...but that would be funny.
- AdamFrench

At least the Hawks know how to deal with those issues

i have found the solution to your D Depth issues:

At least the Hawks know how to deal with those issues
- Canada Cup

i have found the solution to your D Depth issues:


- BINGO!

What depth issue? We got too many. He’s all yours

i have found the solution to your D Depth issues:


- BINGO!

Truly unfortunate, but the Leafs are looking for a RD. Sorry.

What's the point of signing a NTC if you don't use if even when you do not want to leave?
- Santo_44

Not sure exactly but he did get to at least have a say in his landing spot.

Mason Marchment
- GreatGigInTheSky

I like the idea of him ...big, bangs, decent enough mitts. Not sure if he can replicate last year. Leafs have the 411 on him so I'll defer to them.

Definitely someone like him would be welcomed.

How does the guy MC'ing the Hotdog Eating Contest keep a straight face doing his monologue to kick it off?

I'd being dying saying the words he's spewing.

Not sure exactly but he did get to at least have a say in his landing spot.
- The Law

I don’t care how his agent puts it, he absolutely has a choice. In the end he looks at what his situation looks like if he stays (management pissed, team looks worse, maybe you’re playing with Bogo) vs what it looks like when they bring you their best offer.

I like the idea of him ...big, bangs, decent enough mitts. Not sure if he can replicate last year. Leafs have the 411 on him so I'll defer to them.

Definitely someone like him would be welcomed.
- The Law

I'd think he could at least replicate last season, since he'd be given top opportunity.

Plus, he was excellent shorthanded last season. Would replace Mikheyev perfectly.

What depth issue? We got too many. He’s all yours
- Canada Cup

Can't believe he got cleared to play.

Absolutely (frank)ed us.

How does the guy MC'ing the Hotdog Eating Contest keep a straight face doing his monologue to kick it off?

I'd being dying saying the words he's spewing.
- GreatGigInTheSky

How is this still even a thing?

I don’t care how his agent puts it, he absolutely has a choice. In the end he looks at what his situation looks like if he stays (management pissed, team looks worse, maybe you’re playing with Bogo) vs what it looks like when they bring you their best offer.
- Canada Cup

Of course he had a choice. The agent is making it sound like they made the choice to leave the only real choice that made sense. Likely a hard guilt trip about the teams chance of success with him vs. without him.

I have the choice when my wife asks me for help. But, she makes it clear that if I make the wrong choice there will be suffering ....long, beyond the grave, suffering.

I'm not following the Bogo part? McD played the second most minutes for TB. I doubt they threatened to drop him to 12 mins on the 3rd pairing.

This American hero will, in short time, eat 72 hotdogs in a minute, and surpass Nadal for the most W's at a single event.

How is this still even a thing?
- Fakepartofme

It's so gross. Just watched a human balloon drink a liter of pink lemonade in 30 seconds.

The guy interviewed him directly after and his victory speech was a huge ass burp. Right in the dudes face and he loved it.

EDIT: Apparently 35,000 people smushed together to watch it.

This American hero will, in short time, eat 72 hotdogs in a minute, and surpass Nadal for the most W's at a single event.


- GreatGigInTheSky

Mason Marchment
- GreatGigInTheSky

I don't get why so many people are so horny over this guy? Don't get me wrong I like the player but I wouldn't call him a power forward or anything. Where does he fit for the Leafs? 3rd line? I don't see him as talented enough to play on the 2nd line personally but what do I know.

He was a Leaf and got traded so he could get a chance and had a m'eh first years and a big year last year.

One big year exactly.

Sure he was excellent value for the contract and I'd take him at 1M or under but I personally think his one big year was an outlier and he is not going to be the player we saw last year for his career, history sure doesn't support that anyhow.

Last year was the first time he scored more than 15 goals in a single season since he played for the Coburg Cougars in 2013/2014 for god sakes!

He had a whopping 10 points (2 goals and 8 assists) in 33 games the prior year in Florida.

CJ said Sandin does not want to come at a discount like Lil took.

I kinda understand where he is coming from...Lil is a RD and knows he will get playing time plus there is known chemistry with GIO.

Sandin sucked on the RS and is behind 3 veteran LHD.

Its either make it so I go into the year knowing I am not behind the 8 ball or give me the money.

- AdamFrench

I'd think he could at least replicate last season, since he'd be given top opportunity.

Plus, he was excellent shorthanded last season. Would replace Mikheyev perfectly.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Ya, tough call. I mean this guy was basically a huge long shot until age 23/24 ...then he was 13th forward kind of guy until age 26. One very good year and he walks into free agency.

He'd be a gamble fo sho.

Ya, tough call. I mean this guy was basically a huge long shot until age 23/24 ...then he was 13th forward kind of guy until age 26. One very good year and he walks into free agency.

He'd be a gamble fo sho.
- The Law

I'd love to say he will come 'home' on the cheap but I feel more like he (or his agent will be in his ear telling him to) will want to cash in on last year's success as much as he can based on his age etc. Someone is bound to take a big swing on him - I could see Kenny Holland doing so - he's bat poop crazy enough.

Hagel might be an overpayment and a rare miss by Briesbois. Time will tell. I will say this though - what you saw with Katchouk and Raddysh is what you get. Their ceiling is not any higher than what they showed in Tampa. Katchouk is a 4th liner and Raddysh is checker with a slight scoring touch. Neither one is going to suddenly blossom outside the Tampa system.

Tampa was deep then and it's hard for prospects to crack the roster, but douchebag Cooper was good about giving them chances and a fair evaluation. Both were deemed expendable. Hagel is the wild card and so far I am not terribly impressed, although he did have a broken foot for half of the playoffs, to be fair. I'll withhold judgement for now.

Losing McD sucks bigtime. Tampa has nobody internally who can fill those skates. Sergachev will likely get bumped up to second pair with Cernak. The third pair is going to suck no matter what they do. Foote has improved somewhat, but he's still a 6/7 dman at this point. I like Bogo, but he's one step ahead of being a pylon. After them, it starts getting really bad with Claesson and rookies.

I hope Briesbois isn't hitting the pipe and thinking about keeping Myers. I mean, let him come to camp and evaluate where he's at in relation to what role Tampa might expect from him. But I expect his stay will be short.

Kyle’s too loyal for the job. Unless you are not one of his boyz, like Kadri. The one guy who was arguably too competitive - see ya!
- fifty__missions

Bang on