Sean Maloughney: G47: Leafs @ Kraken - Prepping for Deadline Moves

Well, I agree about Francis not stocking the cupboards enough yet.

I hope he uses his available cap space to get depth picks and trades some players for higher picks/prospects.

I know Gio has his name out there. Maybe he is a fit somewhere for a 1st and a prospect.

It was a rough game and just continues the trend of shaky play and bad mistakes. The clear lack of talent and scoring was evident. There also seems to be a lack of speed out there. Toronto really owned the ice for most of the game. Everything is just constantly off with the team. I really think Francis and Hakstol didn't set it up at all well for this year.

Hope Francis doesn't get overly greedy with deals like he did before with demanding too much and ending up with nothing. I think there is a chance Eberle could go. I really think Gio stays as does Tanev. I think too Haydn Fleury likely goes on the back end over Soucy too, since Soucy seems to be Haks favorite.

Going to be interesting to see what Francis can pull off.

It was a rough game and just continues the trend of shaky play and bad mistakes. The clear lack of talent and scoring was evident. There also seems to be a lack of speed out there. Toronto really owned the ice for most of the game. Everything is just constantly off with the team. I really think Francis and Hakstol didn't set it up at all well for this year.

Hope Francis doesn't get overly greedy with deals like he did before with demanding too much and ending up with nothing. I think there is a chance Eberle could go. I really think Gio stays as does Tanev. I think too Haydn Fleury likely goes on the back end over Soucy too, since Soucy seems to be Haks favorite.

Going to be interesting to see what Francis can pull off.
- Roadrunner75

Yeah Francis was greedy during expansion draft and it bit him in the ass.

I think they overthought their own team and the players they were drafting. I know they thought they drafted better goaltending and it's been inconsistent.

I also think they should have just drafted Price even with his injuries. You have a face of the franchise once he's back and this year isn't going so well anyway so who cares about his contract.

So getting toward deadline day and have to wonder with the team underperforming really just who is going to be moved out and gone here.

Taking a look best guesses;

Defence

Borgen - Odds are he stays. Don't see him drawing much attention.

Fleury - I think could be moved. Hakstol has not seemed like a real fan of his BUT could be kept and a spot opens up especially IF they move Gio and or others.

Giordano - Given Francis has had the talk and there is interest, he may well move though I still am not totally sold he will. Hard to move one of the very visible and recognizable faces of the franchise.

Larsson - Going nowhere.

Oleksiak - Going nowhere

Lauzon - I think they could move him if they can get the right deal and incentive here. I think others draw more interest over him though.

Soucy - Hakstol loves him, and he has gotten a whole lot better since start of the season. Big heavy point shot and moving his feet well. Also younger. I could see him drawing attention from other teams and could be moved.

GOALTENDING

Dreidger and Grubauer are not going anywhere. Not unless one of them wants out and or some team literally blows Francis away with a rediculous offer.

FORWARD

Appleton - Bottom six might draw some attention. Doubt he is moved.

Blackwell - Expendable bottom six guy could be moved for depth but odds are he isnt drawing much attention.

Czarnik - Just picked up. 2pts in 6 games. Likely here and not going anywhere.

Donato - Could see him moved and teams having some interest. Hasn't looked bad and moved up and down lineup some.

Donskoi - Another player with some experience that could draw some attention as a depth player for a contender. Could be moved.

Eberle - As many points as his age but a dozy of a -27 there too. Could be moved though.

Geekie - Likely not going anywhere.

Gourde - Also be surprised if he goes anywhere

Jarnkrok - Likely moved and a contender likely will have some interest.

Johansson - Older rental type who should get moved at the deadline.

Khulman - sticking about.

McCann - Could see him sticking about but also could see teams with interest that might make Francis move him.

Schwartz - Not goin anywhere clearly

Tanev - Ditto on not going anywhere clearly

Sheahan - Could see a move for depth but don't think its out of the realm he runs the season out.

Wennberg - Likely moved out as well if there is any interest.

Expecting Beniers, and Lind to get in the lineup post deadline and whatever Francis picks up and can add in deals.

Former Greyhound Francis goes and signs Tye Kartye, an unrestricted free agent with the Soo in the OHL. 33 goals and 58 points in 45 games, 20 years old. Had 25 goals and 53 points in 64 games last season. Another kid in the pipeline, low risk venture.

BIG comeback and win over Nashville. And winning on a SHG by Blackwell no less. Very good battle through game especially with Dutch having a pair, the first which put them in a 2-0 hole. Solid and bit rate win right there.

So the Gio move is coming. Still surprised by this given he is the inaugural captain and one of the two big faces of the team, but likely he gets the chance to at least take a shot and chase getting a cup and in the end that isn't a bad thing at all.

Interesting from Francis about yeah Jarnkrok and Johansson who are UFA are likely getting moved but maybe they come back in the offseason? That the door isn't closed? I don't really think they are needed and rather see the team keep and play Turbo, Appleton, and Blackwell, and with Donato and Donskoi (assuming one or both are not moved) do we really need them back at all?

Lind and Beniers likely will be on the roster next season, and Francis did state they would use more of their cap come Free Agency this offseason coming too. Can't fathom really bringing either of those two back with that being the case.

3 weeks from trade deadline, it should prove interesting.

1000 games for Gio

Sucks though with a 5-2 loss to washington.

Kraken VS Hurricanes tonight

First period 0-0. Kraken have been playing well and generating some great chances but couldn't beat Rantaa in net for the Canes. Hopefully won't run out of energy in the back to back here tonight.

Any luck can roll into Toronto Tuesday with a win under their belts for when I get to see them live.

Unbelievable effort in the 2nd period here. Jarnkrok with a great goal gives the Kraken a 2-1 lead then they just went shotblock crazy weathering the Canes offensive push. Dunn and Blackwell eapecially. Hopefully Dunn just banged up and not seriously hurt.
Pressure gets to em and Canes PP goal ties it up at 17:22. Tough break. Gru stopped it twice before it went in too.

Gut check time but thinking Canes clearly fresher and more energized.

Damn. Dunn goes down on another blocked shot opening the 3rd.

Just over 12 min and Kraken PP and its Aho off the ice at that too. Big chance here now for Seattle.

Canes kill it off and bouncing puck off the screen just goes right under Gru. The momentum came right off the PK. 3-2 Canes 9 and a half to go. Kraken look tired too.

Goalie out and big push but no go and its 0-2 on the road trip here. Solid effort put in just couldnt get it done.

Czarnik reclaimed by the Isles. Decent depth guy but not that surprising they took him back.

Its game day in Toronto. And McCann is all locked up as a Kraken today as well. Solid lock up signing keeping him in the fold.

The Seattle Kraken last night came in looking to win against a Leafs team on the second half of a back to back, and looking for their first win on their roadtrip. Despite the Leafs being leafy and letting the Kraken stick in the game, Seattle was once again undone by it's own shortcomings, falling 6-4.

Goaltending played a factor for the Kraken as once again Grubauer looked uncomfortable, out of position, and unable to make key saves. Auston Matthews exposed him on the first goal, with Gru overplaying the coming shot and leaving the far side exposed. Matthews made no mistake and just 3:18 in the Leafs were showing their speed and skill in taking the lead.

Soucy tied things up a few minutes later as the Kraken caught a break. The Blackwell line established a good forecheck, as they would do all night, and Soucy got a good bounce in time to hammer the puck in close home. Campbell played the initial shot but Soucy pounced on it. The Kraken started to establish a physical presence and win the board and puck battles.

Once more positioning and pressing cost the Kraken. T.J Brodie caught them with a stretch pass to Engvall who fed it to Leafs captain Tavares who walked in and threw a beauty of a deke on Gru and just like that the Leafs were back on top. It became 3-1 just over five minutes into the 2nd with a Leafs powerplay tally by William Nylander. Things looked good for the Leafs but the Kraken began to assert themselves and the board battles began to shift the ice more.

Alex Wennberg would tally and then Nylander decided to give one back on a Leafs powerplay, feeding a pass back to Morgan Reilly in double coverage. The Kraken would get down ice and Blackwell netted his 8th of the season finishing it off with a short handed marker. Suddenly the Kraken had energy and life and it was 3-3.

Just 5:57 into the 3rd and another 2 on 1 rush would result in the Kraken taking the lead as Jaden Schwartz notched his 7th as the Leafs continued to lose board and puck battles, and look like the keystone cops on the ice. Unfortunately, the biggest difference between the teams came back to haunt the Kraken. Simply put that was skill. The Kraken lack it and struggle, the Leafs have it and despite getting in their own way being sloppy, rely on it to bail them out as it did this night.

After a sprawling stop, Grubauer is still locking for his jockstrap as Matthews threw the moves on the netminder and netted his second of the game at 9:03 of the 3rd to tie things back up. Just 40 seconds later the Kraken came unravelled giving the talented opposition powerplay a chance and Mitch Marner wasted absolutely no time in shooting one right through Grubauer to put the Leafs ahead once again.

Hakstol yanked Grubauer with roughly 3 minutes left but the Kraken were unable to beat Campbell or generate more offence, a longstanding struggle through this season. At 19:18 the celebration was on for Leaf Nation as Matthews got the hat trick empty net goal to seal it 6-4.

Once again it was a self inflicted loss on a fairly strong effort put forth by the Kraken. Watching live the systems in place defending seemed to just lead to the Kraken losing position and their players. For instance going man to man when 4 on 4, and following the puck carrier low, Soucy who had the Leafs boxed out away from the net down low had to shift and move up high. That left the forward playing the defensive position and losing his man resulting in a chance that had the Leafs been able to hit the net, had Grubauer beat. It seems Hakstol's tactics are not really working well at all, something many have noted from the start of the season. It is not about chemistry with the players, it is outright tactics. It is also baffling up against a fast skilled offence, why Hakstol would pair Lauzon and Dunn together on the bottom pairing for the night. While the top four were physical and effective, that pairing was a liability.

What was abundantly clear was the Kraken's need for more speed, and skill especially up front to go with that physical presence that they have. Add in the need for better goaltending and Ron Francis has his work cut out for him. The Kraken need to clear the decks and recent statements from the GM indicate he has been green lit to spend in the offseason to the cap and use all that cap space he accrued over more talent in the expansion draft. At the moment the Kraken only have one extra pick for the draft. Francis doesn't have too much really to deal with, and seems to want a 1st round pick for Giordano, a tall ask that likely in reality he is not worth that. Will he be willing to part with younger parts such as Soucy, Blackwell etc over the struggling veterans like Johansson, Jarnkrok, and Wennberg?

It's going to be a long road through the rest of the schedule, and there appears to be few chances for more wins coming. They just don't have the talent and goaltending. The Kraken look more like a proper regular expansion team and have from the start. In the words of Mike Babcock, expect a lot of pain.

Add Norm Maciver looking like he is departing Seattle, returning to his previous NHL home as part of the Blackhawks’ front-office. Another one moving out after being brought in. This shifting about and losing people this fast I don't think is a real great sign here.

Goal called back and Ottawa gets one past Dreidger. Utterly cursed trying to get a win in Canada.

And Ottawa gets a PP early in the 2nd here

Tkachuk and then Kelly. 3-0. This is embarassing

Kraken Pp as Kelly rolls over Dreidger.

McCann!!!! 3-1 with 10 min left. Chance to build and maybe make a game of it here now.

Oleksiak!!!!! Within 1 anf lots of time. Big Truck cones through. Might have actually been tipped and its Donato’s goal.

Tied up and BOOM!!! There’s overtime!!

Go Kraken Go!!!

Aaaaaaand way to go Gio. Brutal ot penalty and Ottawa buries it Norris with the winner.

Getting a point but brutal ending after coming all the way back.

Kraken win!!!!

And hell just froze over!! Blew a 3-1 lead but thankfully somehow managed to pull it off and finally not just win a game on the roadtrip but win their first in Canada at that too.

* Cricket ..Cricket.

* Cricket ..Cricket.
- Bragg18

Tell me about it. Nothing new since feb?!

Pre-game ceremony for Gio reaching 1000 games but he is out of the lineup as well

Hakstol confirming other players in a similar boat so definitely players in play here.

And Schwartz despite a longer term contract also absent from team this morning with no explanation!

First domino has fallen and Francis hit a homerun netting a 2nd, 3rd, and 7th for Jarnkrok.

Gio sitting out and talk of a few beng in the same boat. Francis hopefully can keep netting picks and or prospects to build things up here.

5 on 3 and 1-0 fast. Nice goal by Gourde but coughing up a 2 on 1 and all tied up by Kucherov.

This could be a long night here.

Gru makes a huge stop on Perry and Borgen jumps all over him.

This game has an edge to it real early

Not much more you can say on this one. Couple Hedman PPG and its a 4-1 final. Tampa too talented and deep. Bring on monday and see where we are at come that point. An eye on next season really.