Author: SFDI

Toronto Maple Leafs having a truly historic season

By Neil Becker

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By Neil Becker
 
This Toronto Maple Leafs team have shown all season long that they are a serious Stanley Cup contender.
 
 On Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs, who were playing without star Auston Matthews, made franchise history as they pulled off a 4-2 win against the New York Islanders for what was their 50th win of the season. 
 
The Leafs, who look more and more like they will finish second in the Atlantic Division, have never in their existence hit the 50-win barrier. They also set another franchise record on Sunday when they hit 106 points, which has never been reached. The previous records, which were set in the 2017/18 season were 49 wins and 105 points. 
 
Incredibly this season, the Leafs have posted a 5-1-0 record when Matthews wasn’t playing. 
 
Leading the way on Sunday night were William Nylander who had two points including equaling his career-high of 31 goals and Michael Bunting who followed up Saturday night’s two-point performance with another two-point game.
 
Toronto came into action on Sunday hoping to ride the wave of momentum from the night before when in Ottawa they defeated the Senators by a 5-4 overtime score. 
 
Things didn’t start off well for Toronto as the Islanders, who were playing for their playoff lives, took a 1-0 first period lead when Anthony Beauvillier scored from the right faceoff circle his 12th goal at the 14:17 mark. 
 
 Playing without Matthews didn’t seem to affect Leafs star Mitch Marner who less than three minutes after the Islanders goal, scored his 34th off a rebound to make it a brand new game heading to the second. 
 
It only took 31 seconds into the second before New York received a huge break when Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot accidentally scored on himself. Islanders forward  Josh Bailey had the puck on his stick right by the Leafs goal when Kerfoot in an attempt to knock it off his stick accidentally swatted at the puck into his own net. 
 
Kerfoot would make up for that mistake when with a little over nine minutes remaining in the second he found himself on a 2 on 1 break. Skating down the ice he set up line-mate Pierre Engvall for his 14th goal which once again made it a new game at 2-2.
 
It didn’t stay tied for long as Toronto capitalized on a power play when Nylander at the 13:20 mark received a perfect pass from John Tavares before shooting the puck between the Islanders goalie’s legs for his 31st goal and the eventual game-winner.
 
Toronto would add one more goal when forward David Kampf scored his 10th goal with nine seconds remaining into an open net to clinch what again was a franchise-high 50th win and 106 points.
 
The Leafs don’t see action until Tuesday when at Scotiabank Arena, they face off at 7 p.m. against the Philadelphia Flyers. 
 
    SCORING SUMMARY
    1st. Period                                                     NYI-  TOR
    14:17 PPG- Anthony Beauvillier (12)                1   –   0
             Kyle Palmieri (17), Ryan Pulock (14)
 
   17:31  Mitch Marner (34)                                  1  –    1
    Mark Giordano (24), Michael Bunting (39)
 
  2nd. Period                                                      NYI – TOR
  0:31 Josh Bailey (12)                                          2  –     1
  
 10:49 Pierre Engvall (14)                                     2 –      2
  Alex Kerfoot (37), Justin Holl (19)
 
13:20 PPG- William Nylander (31)                        2  –      3
John Tavares (48), Michael Bunting (40)
 
3rd. Period                                                          NYI- TOR
19:51 EN- David Kampf (10)                                 2   –     4

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Darryl Sittler

Darryl Sittler – A Career Collapsed by Management

By Jordan Laroche

St. Jacobs, Ontario native Darryl Sittler was drafted eighth overall in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. It would only take five seasons for Sittler to earn the captaincy role for the team and in his first season as captain he became the first Leaf to ever hit the 100-point mark with 41 goals and 59 assists that year.

In the 1976 season Sittler would score an NHL record 10 points in a single game. He had six goals and four assists in a game against the Boston Bruins en route to an 11-4 Leafs victory. And just a few seasons later he score 117 points in the 1977-78 season which was a team record until Doug Gilmour passed him in 1993.

Even with all the accolades, Sittler’s time with the Leafs came to a shaky end. Disagreements between Sittler and team Owner Harold Ballard and General Manager Punch Imlach would result in very public disputes within the organization. Imlach believed Sittler had too much influence in the room, so Imlach attempted to undermine his presence. After Imlach filed an injunction to stop Sittler and a teammate from appearing on a TV show he would announce that he was looking for trade destinations for Sittler.

After the team traded Lanny McDonald to the Colorado Rockies, Sittler ripped the ‘C’ off his jersey, stating that a captain had to be the go-between with players and management, and he no longer had any communication with management. After threatening to not play the following season, the team would waive his no-trade clause, but it would take close to seven weeks for Sittler to walk away from the team after doctors said he was “mentally depressed.”

On January 20th, 1982, Sittler would be traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Rich Costello and the Hartford Whalers’ second round pick that year. Before the 1984-85 season Sittler was told he would be named captain of the Flyers, and on the day of the announcement newly appointed General Manager, Bobby Clarke, broke the news that Sittler had been traded again to the Detroit Red Wings. Sittler described this as the biggest disappointment in his life in his autobiography “Clarke can’t come close to realizing how much he hurt me, and my family, that day.” After an unproductive year, the Red Wings bought out his contract at the end of the 1984-85 season and retired.

Sittler was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 1991 he would rejoin the Leafs organization as a consultant under General Manager Cliff Fletcher and works in Public Relations for the team. Sittler’s number 27 was retired by the Maple Leafs in 2016 during the team’s 100th season celebrations, it was also worn by Frank Mahovlich.

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Boston Bruins Team Report

By Neil Becker

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Boston Bruins fans had reason to rejoice when in late July management re-signed former MVP Taylor Hall to a lucrative four-year deal worth $24 million.

This 29 year old left-winger, who was drafted 1st. overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, was on the eve of last season’s trading deadline, dealt from the Buffalo Sabres to the Bruins. Showcasing his offensive flair, Hull finished the year by scoring eight goals along with 14 points in 16 regular-season games played with the Boston Bruins. In his career, Hull has played 680 games and scored 228 goals along with 596 career points.

Looking to add some more grit and character, the Bruins on July 28th, inked veteran free agent left-winger Nick Foligno to a two-year contract worth $7.6 million.  Foligno, who is 33 years old, is a former 2006 28th overall NHL draft pick of the Ottawa Senators. Last season, playing in what was the final year of his contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Foligno scored seven goals and 16 points in 42 games before getting traded on April 11, 2021, to the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Leafs, Foligno tallied four assists in only 7 regular-season games. In his career, Foligno has played 957 career games and has scored 203 goals and 486 points.

Showing more aggressiveness, Boston also went out and signed 30 year old free agent left winger Erik Haula to a two-year $4.75 million dollar contract.  Haula is coming off a season that saw him play 51 games with the Nashville Predators where he went on to score 9 goals and 21 points. His best season came during 2017-2018 when playing for the Vegas Golden Knights, he produced 29 goals and 55 points.

Another forward committing this off-season to the Boston Bruins is 29 year old left-winger Tomas Nosek. In late July, this veteran who for the past four seasons had been a fixture with the Golden Knights, has agreed to a two-year contract worth $3.5 million. Last year, Nosek produced 8 goals and 18 points in 38 games for Vegas.

Meanwhile, in late July the Bruins also signed young up-and-coming prospect Samuel Asselin to a two-year entry-level contract. This 23 year old centerman who stands at 5’9” and 180 pounds, produced eight goals along with 16 points in only 16 games with the Providence Bruins.

Boston also went out and inked another centerman in 28 year old Steven Fogarty who played 16 games for the AHL’s Rochester Americans along with nine for the Buffalo Sabres. Fogarty signed what was a one-year two-way contract.   

Among the departing forwards included popular centerman David Krejci who was originally drafted 63rd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Krejci, who made his NHL debut on January 30, 2007, went on to play 962 career games while producing 215 goals along with 730 points. Following 15 seasons, the 35 year old has signed a one-year contract to play in the Czech Republic league.

Also leaving the Boston Bruins is gritty veteran forward Nick Ritchie who signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ritchie, who is 25 years old, scored 15 goals and 26 points over 56 games played.

 In early July, Boston also gave forwards Cameron Hughes and Joona Koppanen both a one-year two-way contract extension.

Veteran backup goalie Jaroslav Halak, who played the past three seasons in Beantown was this off-season an unrestricted free agent who inked a one-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks for $1,500,000. The 36 year old is coming off a season that saw him go 9-6-4 with a 2.53 GAA.

Taking Halak’s place will be former Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark who in July signed a four-year deal worth $20 million. Last year, he finished with a 9-6-3 record and a 2.63 GAA.

A third goalie to sign was Troy Grosenick who inked a one-year two-way contract.

On defence, the reliable Kevan Miller decided to retire following a seven-year career.

Other in-house moves included management going ahead and giving star defenceman Brandon Carlo to a six-year contract extension for $24.6 million dollars. Carlo, who is only 24 years old, played only 27 games last year and scored three goals and four points.

The Boston Bruins also re-signed defenceman Nick Wolff to a one-year two-way contract. Also joining the Bruins blueline is Unrestricted Free Agents Derek Forbort and Mike Reiilly who both agreed to three-year contracts.

Boston, whose starting goalie, Tukka Rask is on the shelf until around Christmas due to hip surgery, should once again this spring be a playoff threat. Core players are getting older, but are still a Stanley Cup contender.  

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Washington Capitals Team Report

By Neil Becker

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The most important off-season move took place in late July when the Washington Capitals management signed captain Alex Ovechkin to a five-year $47.5 million dollar contract extension.

Ovechkin, who was drafted first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Capitals, has played 16 seasons with Washington Capitals and has scored 730 goals along with 1,320 points in 1,197 career games. This 35 year old future hockey hall of famer, who is sixth on the all-time goal-scoring list, trails Wayne Gretzky, the all-time leader by only 164 goals. Last season, this skilled Russian and Washington’s most popular player was still productive with 24 goals and 42 points.

Another major re-signing came in goal where 24 year old Ilya Samsonov agreed to a one-year deal worth $2 million dollars. Selected 22nd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Samsonov played in only 19 regular-season games last year where he posted a 13-4-1 record with a 2.69 G.A.A.

Meanwhile, leaving the Washington Capitals was Unrestricted Free Agent goalie Craig Anderson who signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres for $750,000. Anderson, who is 40 years-old, played last season only four games with the Washington Capitals where he ended up with a 2-1 record along with a 2.13 GAA.

In late August, veteran goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who played 15 seasons with the New York Rangers, made it official that he was calling it a career. Prior to last season, this 39 year old goalie agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals but due to a heart issue couldn’t play.

Back in late July, the expansion Seattle Kraken selected Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek. Not long afterward, the Washington Capitals re-acquired the 25 year old goalie for a 2023 second-round draft pick. Vanecek is coming off a season that saw him go 21-10-4 with a 2.69 G.A.A.

A big decision on the blueline is whether to bring back veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara who is 44 years old. This future hall of famer, who has played in the NHL since 1996 spent last season as a Washington Capitals. Providing leadership, muscle, and a heavy shot, Chara scored two goals along with 10 points in 55 games last year. As of late August, he has remained mute about his future.

Another decision is whether to sign 27 year old Unrestricted Free Agent Paul LaDue who played 18 games with the Caps AHL’s affiliate Hershey Bears and scored 3 goals along with 8 points.

The Washington Capitals must also make a decision on another unrestricted free-agent defenceman in 32 year old Cameron Schilling who last year played 31 games for Hershey where he scored 4 goals and 19 points.

The organization has also signed unrestricted free agent defenceman Lucas Johansen to a one-year two-way contract. This 6’2” 182 pounds 23 year old blueliner, had last season two assists in five games for Hershey.

Also signing with the Washington Capitals was 33 year old depth defenceman Matt Irwin who agreed to a one-year two-way contract. Last year with the last-place Buffalo Sabres, he played 24 games and registered two assists, and was a minus 10.

In adding some toughness, the Washington Capitals also went out and signed gritty defenceman Dylan Mcilrath to a two-year two-way contract. This 6’5” 231 pounder, who is 29 years old, played 29 games last year for the AHL’s Grand River Rapids where he scored two goals along with eight points.

Early August saw the Washington Capitals add some offensive depth as they went out and inked 28- year-old forward Mike Vecchione to a one-year two-way contract. This past season, he played 18 games for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles “A” where he scored seven goals and 10 points.

Meanwhile departing the Washington Capitals is depth forward Daniel Carr who will be returning this fall to HC Lugano in Switzerland who plays out of the National League.  

Last year the 29 year old played six games with the Washington Capitals where he picked up two assists. He also competed in eight games with Lugano where he scored four goals and eight points.

Agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract extension was left winger Beck Malenstyn who missed the entire 2021 season after tearing his Achilles tendon in December 2020.

The Washington Capitals should comfortably make the playoffs next spring and are capable of winning a couple of rounds but won’t compete for the Stanley Cup.

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Tampa Bay Lightning

By Neil Becker

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The Tampa Bay Lightning came into the playoffs as the defending champions but were still overlooked by many due to injuries to Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. But the pair were ready to come back and have been the pulse of this team.

The first round saw the first-ever all Florida playoff matchup in the NHL as the Tampa Bay Lightning took on the Florida Panthers. The Panthers won the season series between the two clubs, 4-2. The two teams have a lot of offensive firepower and the series showed that with high-scoring games on both sides. But the Tampa Bay Lightning were able to beat the Florida Panthers in 6 games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning would then have to face off against the first-place team in the Discover Central Division, the Carolina Hurricanes. But Tampa Bay Lightning made pretty quick work of the Hurricanes as they looked to be the better team in every game. The Hurricanes are still a young team and Tampa’s experience in the playoffs led them to a 4-1 series win.

In the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals, Tampa Bay Lightning ran into a hard-nosed New York Islanders team. The Islanders have come off back-to-back six-game series against the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders’ defensive style of play worked through most of the series, but they struggled to provide much offense with outstanding play by Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning defense only kept the Islanders to two wins in the series.

The Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning will make for an entertaining Stanley Cup Final, with two teams that are built very differently. Montreal will have their hands full, but many of us at The Gouche Live still believe they can pull it off.

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