Somebody tell Maple Loafs fans and writers. I saw a Sportsnet Headline last night something along the lines "Maple Leafs thinking Stanley Cup after Preseason Opener"
- EnzoD

Jeez lol. I do think the Leafs have a good shot to make waves but it's damn early to be celebrating.

The Leafs defense leaves a lot to be desired, too. A team can win with a poop defense (Pens) but the forward group and goalie(s) have to be elite. I'm not sure the Leafs forward group is elite, though they will be good.

Does it matter?

Do you want our children under the control of a left wing radiclib homosexual agenda?

Wake up, America,!!!


- StLBravesFan

If it also includes the Paris Climate Agreement,single payer health care and women's rights and overturning Citizen's United, then yes.

Lol after beating Ottawa, nonetheless.

I thought Boquist looked better last night than in the Junior Summer Showcase, which is counterintuitive. Both he and Jokiharju have poise with the puck and if paired with a big body defensive minded LD, look to have bright futures.

Gustafson has offensive skill but got lost in the neutral zone and is still a big liability without the puck on his stick.

I liked the look of Hayden-Kruger-Martinsen as a grinding line 4.

Not sure if it was simply bc there were a lot of non-NHL caliber players on the ice, but I don’t remember seeing Anisimov skate that well since he was in NY.
- EnzoD

Boqvist is looking better imo simply because he's getting more and more familiar with NHL ice size and speed. He's adapting faster than I thought he would honestly and I'm even more glad he's going to the OHL this season as that should help more.

Interesting note, Boqvist kind of modified what he said around the draft about being 2-3 out from the NHL while still being realistic on some of the areas he needs to work on: “I hope I can make it sooner. I know lots of people do it now. But I need to be bigger and stronger to prepare my body for 82 games or more. Hopefully, I can do that in London.”

Grinder 4th lines are pretty much extinct on successful NHL teams.

Anisimov did skate well, but I almost feel like it was because he was often on the ice with Edjsell who is the opposite of a good skater.

Jeez lol. I do think the Leafs have a good shot to make waves but it's damn early to be celebrating.

The Leafs defense leaves a lot to be desired, too. A team can win with a poop defense (Pens) but the forward group and goalie(s) have to be elite. I'm not sure the Leafs forward group is elite, though they will be good.
- L_B_R

Leafs have some elite offensive forwards ,and you can win with a so so D . I think what they need is a couple more Defensive forwards .And I believe they have a problem brewing with Matthews

Leafs have some elite offensive forwards ,and you can win with a so so D . I think what they need is a couple more Defensive forwards .And I believe they have a problem brewing with Matthews
- oldduffman

I think they have some decent defensive forwards. Kadri is really underrated defensively, he's stellar; Marleau and Tavares are both good two-way guys; and Par Lindholm is supposed to be a defense-first center. I don't think the Pens had many outstanding defensive guys - they rolled 3 offensive lines and one shutdown line.

Boqvist is looking better imo simply because he's getting more and more familiar with NHL ice size and speed. He's adapting faster than I thought he would honestly and I'm even more glad he's going to the OHL this season as that should help more.

Interesting note, Boqvist kind of modified what he said around the draft about being 2-3 out from the NHL while still being realistic on some of the areas he needs to work on: “I hope I can make it sooner. I know lots of people do it now. But I need to be bigger and stronger to prepare my body for 82 games or more. Hopefully, I can do that in London.”

Grinder 4th lines are pretty much extinct on successful NHL teams.

Anisimov did skate well, but I almost feel like it was because he was often on the ice with Edjsell who is the opposite of a good skater.
- L_B_R

15 did look extra smooth out there last night, i was wondering the same, was it because he was skating with Ejdsell...

Leafs have some elite offensive forwards ,and you can win with a so so D . I think what they need is a couple more Defensive forwards .And I believe they have a problem brewing with Matthews
- oldduffman

Interesting - Matthews - what kind of problem, what are you hearing?

15 did look extra smooth out there last night, i was wondering the same, was it because he was skating with Ejdsell...
- glennjpawlak22

By "extra" did you mean "real?"
Real smooth

Interesting - Matthews - what kind of problem, what are you hearing?
- glennjpawlak22

Trouble with Babcock ,not getting enough ice time . Now Tavares there could be a problem...Surrounded by Leaf fans up here ,they already planning the parade rout ....Pride before a fall

I think they have some decent defensive forwards. Kadri is really underrated defensively, he's stellar; Marleau and Tavares are both good two-way guys; and Par Lindholm is supposed to be a defense-first center. I don't think the Pens had many outstanding defensive guys - they rolled 3 offensive lines and one shutdown line.
- L_B_R

Kadri is a hot head as evident last year , and a little overrated in my books . Marleau is a solid defensive forward but ageing .Tavares never real new that .. As Lou said his playoff record speaks for itself

Kadri is a hot head as evident last year , and a little overrated in my books . Marleau is a solid defensive forward but ageing .Tavares never real new that .. As Lou said his playoff record speaks for itself
- oldduffman

Kadri was that dirty hit on Wingels, right?
Marleau isn't paid like an aging player.

By "extra" did you mean "real?"
Real smooth
- I Am The Breadman

Yes, Smooth, REAL Smooth

Trouble with Babcock ,not getting enough ice time . Now Tavares there could be a problem...Surrounded by Leaf fans up here ,they already planning the parade rout ....Pride before a fall
- oldduffman

Their real trouble is that Nylander wants $8mil, Matthews will want $12 mil and Marner will want $8mil...one of those guys will have to be traded unless the NHL bails out Toronto with a huge cap increase next summer....

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the following roster moves today:

The following players were re-assigned to their respective junior teams: G Alexis Gravel (al-EHK- see gra-VEHL) - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL), F Philipp Kurashev (FIHL-ihp, KUHR-uh-shehv) - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) and D Jake Ryczek (RIGH-zehk) - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL).

The following player has been released from his ATO: F Shaw Boomhower.

With these moves, the Blackhawks training camp roster currently stands at 53: 28 forwards, 19 defensemen and six goaltenders.

Trouble with Babcock ,not getting enough ice time . Now Tavares there could be a problem...Surrounded by Leaf fans up here ,they already planning the parade rout ....Pride before a fall
- oldduffman

Be careful what you wish for Toronto fans....

Their real trouble is that Nylander wants $8mil, Matthews will want $12 mil and Marner will want $8mil...one of those guys will have to be traded unless the NHL bails out Toronto with a huge cap increase next summer....
- EnzoD

Well if the cap increases those figures go to 9/ 13 / 9 or more.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/bert-and-ernie-a-loving-couple-says-sesame-street-writer-before-backtracking-1.4100053
- DarthKane

I don't think anyone - including Sesame Street writers past or present - should be projecting their labels onto the relationship of Bert and Ernie. When they want to give us a label for their relationship, they will. In the meantime, I just want to respect their privacy and avoid putting my projections on to them. They seem very happy and their relationship seems relatively happy, from what I remember.

Their real trouble is that Nylander wants $8mil, Matthews will want $12 mil and Marner will want $8mil...one of those guys will have to be traded unless the NHL bails out Toronto with a huge cap increase next summer....
- EnzoD

Yes the Cap will come into play with them very soon . They want Nylander at 6.5 long term ,don't see that happening .Marner may give them a hometown discount ,but I don't believe Matthews will ..

First games of the preseason don't mean much (and the first game of last year's regular season was a huge anomaly) but there is some hope in what happened last night. Some of the young guys have some talent. The vets that played - returning and new - seemed ready. Expectations are low, but I'm feeling a little optimistic. It's cool.

I'm surprised Foley didn't say his name last night on the broadcast. Man, he was out to lunch.
- Justin Lowe

Agreed JL. Foley and Edzo were awful.

Ya know.....instead of storytime continually, and reminiscing about the past, how about zeroing in on each youngster that's playing the darn game and also identifying who's who ? Most of us don't know these NEW kids by name and number and it would sure help if they called them out properly when they're on the ice.
Heck Foley totally screwed up the first goal of the game and admitted his mistake.

Call the game guys and give us some insight on what the expectations are from each. Thank You.

Agreed JL. Foley and Edzo were awful.

Ya know.....instead of storytime continually, and reminiscing about the past, how about zeroing in on each youngster that's playing the darn game and also identifying who's who ? Most of us don't know these NEW kids by name and number and it would sure help if they called them out properly when they're on the ice.
Heck Foley totally screwed up the first goal of the game and admitted his mistake.

Call the game guys and give us some insight on what the expectations are from each. Thank You.
- Hawkytalk

Thank you!!!! Last night was awful from a broadcasting perspective. Mid season schtick form!!!

Thank you!!!! Last night was awful from a broadcasting perspective. Mid season schtick form!!!
- glennjpawlak22

I lasted until 15 minutes were left in the first period when I turned off the sound. They are horrible. And is Foley ever going to do a broadcast with Eddie again without mentioning him being a cancer survivor?

Agreed JL. Foley and Edzo were awful.

Ya know.....instead of storytime continually, and reminiscing about the past, how about zeroing in on each youngster that's playing the darn game and also identifying who's who ? Most of us don't know these NEW kids by name and number and it would sure help if they called them out properly when they're on the ice.
Heck Foley totally screwed up the first goal of the game and admitted his mistake.

Call the game guys and give us some insight on what the expectations are from each. Thank You.
- Hawkytalk

I had the same thoughts last night. I kept trying to figure out who was who, and wondering why Foley and Edzo weren't pointing out the players more. Plus the feed, at least for me, seemed not too crisp and clear, so I couldn't even make the names on the jerseys out most of the time.

I lasted until 15 minutes were left in the first period when I turned off the sound. They are horrible. And is Foley ever going to do a broadcast with Eddie again without mentioning him being a cancer survivor?
- BMWChiFan

A lot of us know Eddie personally to a degree, so as far as I am concerned they can mention it 1 million times and I will not be tired of it. Happy for him. But I understand what others are saying and don’t think for one minute at those two guys don’t know the Hawks are going to be just terrible this year with a bunch of no-name forwards That they are Rolling the dice on. Like someone said before I guess it’s just embrace the tank and look forward to massive organizational changes. One period Was enough for me last night.

First games of the preseason don't mean much (and the first game of last year's regular season was a huge anomaly) but there is some hope in what happened last night. Some of the young guys have some talent. The vets that played - returning and new - seemed ready. Expectations are low, but I'm feeling a little optimistic. It's cool.
- matt_ahrens

Here’s the problem. If we do good this season all we’re doing is wasting a year when we should be tanking to get a higher draft pick. We gain absolutely nothing by overachieving and making the playoffs. We aren’t nearly good enough to be in the conversation for Stanley Cup. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. The only proactive course of action is to suck it up, rid ourselves of as many large contracts as possible(like Crawford, AA, or Seabrook), develope the young guys giving them as much ice time as possible, and attempt to get the best quality piece in the upcoming draft as we can.

I know it sounds lame....but where we are right now our best bet as an organization is to lose as many games as possible.