Saw a post where someone noted that Adam Gaudette, Victor Matte and Matt Murray will likely be starting with the Leafs on opening night.

Smashmouth makes sense to me. You need skill and speed but down the stretch and in the playoffs you need to win in the corners.
- spatso

Leafs have 3 injuries on D. Mike Johnson from TSN said on TSN1050 that Jordie Benn is their no. 8 and Mete their no. 9....but because of injuries they will be their pairing on opening night playing 5/6.

Gaudette is injured right now but with injuries up front and now Tavares out, they say if he get back in the line up next week that he could start the year in Toronto, otherwise if not for the injuries both Gaudette and Mete were bound for the Marlies this year.

I hope to see Thomson with Branns tonight. JBD not sure his ready, He have trouble clearing the puck of the zone, but he seem stronger. Would like to see Kelly - Kastelic- Boucher line tonight
- Crosside

Good line. Just want Boucher to play up in the line up - I want him to do down and develop. I still don't like that pick because I've seen this story too many times (Curtis Lazar, Colin White, Logan Brown, even if he was less physical but the size)..... but the more pressing issue without question (imo) is the defense and lack of depth behind Thomas Chabot. What happens if Chabot gets hurt for 10 games? This is unacceptable:

These are first round picks 3, 4, 5 years ago! -- Erik Brannstrom (2017) Jacob Bernard Docker (2018) Lassi Thomson (2019)

They need to turn up!

I was really disappointed when they announce the news. I drive two hours to see players in action, not for autograph. I listen the press conference and leave after. I hope the ticket are in the 100 or 200
- Crosside

Has the team not sent out info on the tickets yet? That is awful that you drove that far only to find out there was no ice!!

Elliott Friedman reporting:

YEAR - POSSIBLE SALARY CAP

2022-23 $82.5 million

2023-24 $83.5 million

2024-25 $87.5 million - $88 million

2025-26 Approximately $92 million

Friedman advises teams have been given this guidance. But, Daly has indicated that the numbers may move up even more quickly, with a large increase as early as next year.

The purpose of this lineup mismatch against a strong Jets team is so Smith can say that they're obviously not ready for the NHL.

Zaitsev it is.
- Whatisavailable

Well if DJ goes against what he just said 10 days ago that the best players will play and that if a guy plays his offside on the blueline to make sure they have the best 6 D out there, he wont last 20 games and maybe that's the best thing that could happen. Then once and for all he's gone and this team can reach its potential with an NHL coach who has defensive structure, because the first 2 games showed that absolutely nothing has changed when it comes to defensive structure!

Elliott Friedman reporting:

YEAR - POSSIBLE SALARY CAP

2022-23 $82.5 million

2023-24 $83.5 million

2024-25 $87.5 million - $88 million

2025-26 Approximately $92 million

Friedman advises teams have been given this guidance. But, Daly has indicated that the numbers may move up even more quickly, with a large increase as early as next year.
- spatso

Well in 2 years, the Sens also gain over 5M in cap space thankfully with buyouts or salary retained, to go with an increase of 6M in cap space...that's a minimum of 11M in dollars they can allocate to extensions!

Morning practice lines for the group going to Winnipeg.

Motte-Pinto-Joseph
Kelly-Brassard-Sokolov
Dal Colle-Gambrell-Haweryluk
Reinhardt-Kastelic-Boucher
Xxxxx Daoust xxxxx

Brannstrom-Guenette
Heatherington-Thomson
Larsson-JBD
Roger-Bernard

Sogaard
Mandolese
Bibeau
- Crosside

Brannstrom still not playing the right side even though he has told DJ over and over, he's more comfortable over there. This coach refuses to put players in a position to succeed!

Would be nice to address the defense on way or another to add a legitimate body back there. Right now, there is a lot riding on young players to make a big impact or veteran player to bounce back. I am not sure this team has legitimate success with the current d-group, but I’d love to be proven wrong. This team should become a team to get in playoff contention, but defense might hold them back to actually get in.

I fear the unwillingness to move young players with the slightest ounce of promise might come back to bite the franchise like we have seen before (Lazar, Cowen, White, Ceci, etc). I agree with khawk that I’m a little confused to why Pinto is deemed as so untouchable. If he is in fact as highly sought after as it’s reported, a deal for Chychrun might not be as steep as initially thought.

Would I push hard for a Chychrun deal now that training camp is under way? I am not sure. I wanted to see an established d-man brought in before camp so they could get reps well under their belt. I’m sure most teams do as well.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I wish Chychrun was a natural RD but regardless, I agree with you and khawk regarding Pinto. Plus his small frame might make him a little more frail therefore why he re-injured the shoulder so easily. All we need is a guy that cant stay in the lineup due to his physical stature. Like you said, those 4 players you named, too many fans think higher of their prospects than actual NHL personnel directors/GM's do!

DJ was sold on Zaitsev enough to endorse Dorion trading for him. He seems to look a lot to Keefe for crib notes, maybe the Chychrun smoke partly stems from the fact Smith has finally noticed the fact that Keefe runs two LD on his top defensive pairing.
- Bartacus

Look at how he deployed the defense in both games on Saturday? He's doing the same tonight, Brannstrom on his left side when he says he's better on the right side.

I wish Chychrun was a natural RD but regardless, I agree with you and khawk regarding Pinto. Plus his small frame might make him a little more frail therefore why he re-injured the shoulder so easily. All we need is a guy that cant stay in the lineup due to his physical stature. Like you said, those 4 players you named, too many fans think higher of their prospects than actual NHL personnel directors/GM's do!
- Kevin Francis

Pinto is listed at 6'2" 195 LBS, if that is small then i guess Cat is microscopic and Greig at 5'11" is puny...

I wish Chychrun was a natural RD but regardless, I agree with you and khawk regarding Pinto. Plus his small frame might make him a little more frail therefore why he re-injured the shoulder so easily. All we need is a guy that cant stay in the lineup due to his physical stature. Like you said, those 4 players you named, too many fans think higher of their prospects than actual NHL personnel directors/GM's do!
- Kevin Francis

Right on regarding Pinto. The potential is there but sometimes you have to use some potential in a trade to get a potentially stronger lineup.

The reservation on Chychrun is his handleless as well. It would be nice if he was a natural RD for sure. I still think it could work if he was brought in. He doesn't necessarily have to play on the right side. Would certainly make it easier if he did.

Pinto is listed at 6'2" 195 LBS, if that is small then i guess Cat is microscopic and Greig at 5'11" is puny...
- Mithos

He plays small.....and yes he plays a great 200 foot game....but just like Norris, they lack the upper body strength big time, to battle and win the one v one battles.

Right on regarding Pinto. The potential is there but sometimes you have to use some potential in a trade to get a potentially stronger lineup.

The reservation on Chychrun is his handleless as well. It would be nice if he was a natural RD for sure. I still think it could work if he was brought in. He doesn't necessarily have to play on the right side. Would certainly make it easier if he did.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Chychrun is NHL ready and we have no idea what Pinto can do long term. People are quick to say Chychrun is injury prone. Well lets look at Chabot 63/70/71/49/59 and the fact that he missed 22 games last year was large in part because Zaitsev put him in bad positions leading to injury, like the Tom Wilson one! That's why Chabot was so ANGRY in his exit interview with PD about WANTING a top 4 D!

Like I said on the podcast last week, both players are stuck playing with defense partners most nights that put them in vulnerable positions because they arent capable of playing in the top 4 against other teams top forwards.

Injuries are a concern for sure and I really hope Pinto hasn't done something to his shoulder that will plague him forever.

On the other hand Chychrun is apparently injured right now and has quite an injury history himself which goes way back to junior. I took a quick google search and found the most recent ones.

DATE INJURY
3/12/22 Ankle
12/11/21 Upper Body
3/27/21 Undisclosed
2/21/20 Lower Body
2/8/19 Lower Body
2/2/19 Lower body
4/4/18 Lower-body injury
1/18/18 Illness
10/3/17 Knee

Following is a record of games played per season. I know we saw a couple of Covid seasons but the ones before that show a pattern.

2014-15 Sarnia Sting OHL 42
2015-16 Sarnia Sting OHL 62
2016-17 Arizona Coyotes NHL 68
2017-18 Arizona Coyotes NHL 50
2018-19 Arizona Coyotes NHL 53
2019-20 Arizona Coyotes NHL 63
2020-21 Arizona Coyotes NHL 56
2021-22 Arizona Coyotes NHL 47

I'm not giving up what promises to be by pretty much everyone's account an excellent number 3 C at the very least with potential to move up the lineup if and when needed for a left shot LD with a long injury history.

ps: Oh yeah! I forgot that they want a 2023 first +. Give me a break. That's just ridiculous.
- Whatisavailable

Top 2 dman on a Yotes team in which he had nobody to play with on defense. Take a look at Chabot's games missed due to injuries, it's mounting up. The last 2 season, he's been missing a lot of games to end the season, part of it due to injury, part of due to his body breaking down due to the TOI that DJ Smith seems to never stop!!

1st period - Pinto and Motte on the PK, nice duo! Thomson and JBD solid on defense. Brannstrom is just soooo underwhelming....I really think PD needs to move him before he has zero value! Nice hands by Reinhardt on the Sens goal.

Good first by our AHL line up

Good first by our AHL line up
- Crosside

I like Brassard on the PP too.....Boucher has looked solid. You always notice Crookshank!

The Motte/Pinto/Joseph sure looks fine out there.....like it's game number 20!

That Motte goal was a nice set up and finish.

Like lots of the kids tonight.

But if I had to pick one guy out of the first half of the game it would be JBD.

He does not stand out in a flashy way. But seems to project a rock steady presence.

Pinto/Motte seem to have some chemistry brewing. Very nice pass by Pinto on the goal.

Wish Thomson (60) and Guenette (50) had different numbers. I'm mixing them up from time to time. Both look ok.

Overall pace of the game is underwhelming but can't fret too much at that with the lineups in preseason.

I like Brassard on the PP too.....Boucher has looked solid. You always notice Crookshank!
- Kevin Francis

I like every one tonight except Kelly

Kevin Crookshank not here tonight 🤪

Like lots of the kids tonight.

But if I had to pick one guy out of the first half of the game it would be JBD.

He does not stand out in a flashy way. But seems to project a rock steady presence.
- spatso

It's ok to look solid in this kind of game but it will be interesting to see what they can do with legit NHL talent. Ehlers and Connor are basically just going through the motions and still being effective. However, lots of things to overthink and overvalue in preseason. Warm up games after all.

Mandolese has been caught far too deep in his net ugh....Ottawa has outplayed Winnipeg and find themselves down 3-2.

Pinto/Motte seem to have some chemistry brewing. Very nice pass by Pinto on the goal.

Wish Thomson (60) and Guenette (50) had different numbers. I'm mixing them up from time to time. Both look ok.

Overall pace of the game is underwhelming but can't fret too much at that with the lineups in preseason.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

No doubt the pace is rather pedestrian. But I like Thomson's shot from the point, on the PP he has a rocket and his skating is probably the fastest out there next to Brannstrom on the blueline. He mixes it up on the boards too, isn't afraid to get involved. JBD has been solid but Thomson is far more NHL ready.

I like every one tonight except Kelly

Kevin Crookshank not here tonight 🤪
- Crosside

I haven't noticed Kelly tonight....