Author: SFDI

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By Jordan Laroche

Nick Paul started his professional career with the Brampton Battalion in the OHL during the 2012-2013 season, the same year he was drafted in the 4^th round (101^st overall) by the Dallas Stars. Paul would stay in Brampton for two more seasons scoring 46 and 66 points, respectively, before making his Team Canada debut at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Paul would score three goals in seven games for the Canadians as they took home the Gold Medal at the tournament.

Paul’s first taste of the NHL came in the 2015-2016 season where he had five points in 24 games as he split time between the Ottawa Senators and their AHL affiliate at the time, the Binghamton Senators Paul’s highest NHL point totals have come from his last two seasons where he tallied 20 points in 56 games both seasons.

In 2019 Paul participated in the Ice Hockey Classic in Australia and New Zealand. He put on the Team Canada jersey with pride and was an incredible ambassador as well as a star in the series. He gave an allstar performance both on and off the ice.

“Nick Paul is a true sportsman. Not only did he have chat with my 10-year old nephew during pre-game warm-up at the 2019 Ice Hockey Classic but he found him after the game and gave him a signed puck and his hockey stick” – Michelle Bond, Australia

What will most likely be Paul’s highest accomplishment would be scoring the OT winner against Finland at the 2021 IIHF World Championship Final, securing another Gold Medal for Canada. The Canadian team had a tough start to the tournament going 0-3, so chances for them to even qualify for the elimination games were slim. But the group came together quickly after losing their first three games, beating the Russian Olympic Committee and Team USA on route to a 3-2 Overtime win against the Finns.

Brent Burns has emerged as one of the biggest personalities in the NHL, while also being one of the better puck-moving defensemen in the NHL. He played one year in the OHL with the Brampton Battalion where he had 40 points in 68 games which led him to be drafted 20^th overall to the Minnesota Wild. Burns would play six full seasons for the Wild scoring 183 points in 453 games in his time there.

But during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Burns was traded with a second round pick in 2012 to the San Jose Sharks for Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle and a first round pick in 2011. Burns became an instant star in San Jose as he had 46 points and 98 penalty minutes his first year with the Sharks. But during his second year in San Jose, the Sharks would move Burns to the right-wing, where he had instant success scoring 20 points in 30 games that season.

Burns’ 2016-2017 would be one for the books as he not only put up 75 points and had a 19 +/- that year, but also won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman. While being the only Sharks defenceman to win the award, Burns is also the Sharks all-time leader for points, goals and assists by a defenceman.

Burns has also been recognized by the NHL for his work in the community, winning the NHL Player Foundation Award in 2015. Over the years Burns and his family have supported numerous military organizations, and stated “Burnzie’s Buzzcut” which is a fundraiser in which he and his teammates shave their heads to raise money and awareness for charities like the San Francisco Zoo and the Katie Moore Foundation. 

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By Neil Becker

 According to Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, gritty heart and soul forward Zach Hyman won’t be wearing the blue and white next year.

Hyman, who is an unrestricted free agent, has been negotiating with the Edmonton Oilers, and is days away from signing.  

“So at that point, I think it was fairly clear to us internally based on the discussions and where they had been or even the feeling on it, that he was going to be on the move,” Dubas told NHL.com.  “You know, we had done what we could to try to make it work, and unfortunately we couldn’t.  “Everybody knows how we feel about Zach Hyman here, and even though it won’t be here, we are happy for him.”

It’s expected that on Wednesday, July 28^th, when NHL free agency opens up, Zach Hyman will be signing a lucrative long-term deal with the Oilers worth between 5.1 to 5.8 million a year.

Classified as a late bloomer, Hyman was originally drafted 123^rd overall in the 2010 NHL Entry by the Florida Panthers but never played for them as he was traded on June 19, 2015, to his hometown Leafs.

During his time with Toronto, Hyman played in 345 games where he totaled 86 goals along with 185 points.

Without question, Zach Hyman’s best year as a Maple Leaf came in the 2017/18 campaign when playing on the number one line with superstar Austin Matthews, he scored what was then a career-high 15 goals along with 40 points. The following season this left-winger improved on those stats as he scored 21 goals and 41 points.

Last year in what was the shortened 56 games season, Hyman continued to show that relentless work ethic and great penalty killing as he played in 43 games and totaled 15 goals along with 33 points.

Zach Hyman, who last year was an alternative captain completed what was a four-year 9 million contract extension that he signed back on July 5, 2017.

Prior to making the NHL, Zach Hyman played three years for the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Hamilton Red Wings before playing three seasons for the University of Michigan.  

No doubt Zach Hyman’s high energy, timely scoring a relentless work ethic will be missed by Leaf fans.

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By Jordan Laroche

In what was one of the more surprising moves this offseason, the Vegas Golden Knights sent Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks. Initial reports from the trade stated that Fleury had no interest in playing for the Blackhawks, until this morning where he has come out and said that he will play this year.

Fleury was selected in the Vegas expansion draft in 2017 and was part of their inaugural team that went to the Stanley Cup Final. What seemed like a great relationship between Fleury and the Knights started to crumble last year in the playoffs when Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, tweeted out a picture of Fleury with a sword stabbed in his back with Vegas’ Head Coach, Pete Deboer’s name on it.

After that, it was no secret that the relationship was fractured, and that appeared to fuel Fleury as this was his best year statistically. In 36 starts this year Fleury had a 1.98GAA, .928 SV% with a 26-10 record, and continued that success through most of the playoffs.

Fleury’s last game in the playoffs was in game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens after a turnover while trying to play the puck. While Fleury played well to that point, Deboer decided to start Robin Lehner in game 4.

Fleury has been one of the biggest personalities in the NHL over the last decade and is well liked around the league. So it was disheartening to see that he found out about the trade to Chicago through social media.

But Fleury is joining a Chicago team that is on the rise, that will be seeing the return of Jonathan Toews and with new pieces in Seth Jones and Tyler Johnson. Fleury can also be a valuable mentor for young goaltender Kevin Lankinen who looks to be a promising prospect.