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Jared McIsaac is now 4th in points among QMJHL Dmen. 20 pts in 19 games. http://theqmjhl.ca/stats/players/190/1/ptspg/defencemen

Hronek is 21 and Zadina just turned 19. They are both making great progress. I'm excited that they will be Red Wings next year. I hope Veleno and McIsaac make the team next year too.

Yeah, there's not a doubt in my mind that Hronek will be a top 4 defenseman in Detroit by next season (or sooner). He's been great in Grand Rapids and showed glimpses in his short 6 game stint in Detroit this season as well. I hope he gets another extended look after the deadline (or sooner) this season. Hronek is currently 17th in the league in points, and 11th in point per game (0.87) amongst defensemen. I think he'll climb that list a little higher over the next couple months as well. Good to see Zadina starting to get acclimated to the pro game as well. I haven't been able to watch as many Griffins games as I'd like this season, but I trust @Wheelchairsuperhero 's scouting report. Zadina is currently 17th in the league in points amongst rookies, but everyone ahead of him is also older (some even 3 to 4 years older).

4th in points *per game* (1.05 PTS/G). 6th in points, but has played 5-10 games less than anyone else ahead of him. If he continues to progress at this rate, he could possibly make the jump right from junior, like Cholowski did this season, in the 2020-21 season. Veleno had another 3 point game (2 goals and an assist) last night, and has 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in his last 3 games. Like McIsaac, he now sits 6th in the Q with 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 24 games, and 4th in point per game (1.67). He's bound to have a few more 0 point / 1 point games, but if he continues having these 3+ point games as often as he has, he could be up to a 2 points per game pace very soon.

Of course there was. Holmgren fired Hextall purely cause he saw the opportunity to relive his old wild tradin' days.

And he has a history of playoff heroics.

Lil Bert is like one of those blue collar guys that become fan favorites in the minors, even tho they lack skill, because they work their butts off for their team. Except Tyler has an NHL skill set.

HYPE! LGRW!

It's that time of year again, and again I am inundated with messages asking me how to fend off a wild Canada goose [Latin name: Branta canadensis]. I will summarize here so that I do not have to respond to each PM individually. People think geese are azzholes, and they are. But they are predictable azzholes who understand certain body language. Here's some advice on how to dominate your next goose: If you're an American get your gun and shoot it. If you're Canadian... find an American (just kidding). Don't: Break eye contact: Eye contact is super important to geese and if you look away, they take it as a sign of weakness and an invitation to attack and dominate you. Sunglasses are bad. Take em off, nobody thinks you look cool anyway idiot. Run away: Don't turn away or try to run away for the same reasons as above, the goose will take it as a sign you are afraid and attack. Be silent: Geese talk to each other all the time to tell each other where they are and what's going on. They are freaked out by silence. Yell obscenities at the lil c-u-n-t. Personally I like to yeet at them. Back down: If they come at you, don't back down! Fight that azzhole goose, or it will be emboldened to keep attacking you or others. Do: Spread your arms out: You look bigger and it's a gesture of aggression. If you advance on them like that they may recognize your ALPHA status and back down. Hiss: This is aggressive and they might decide to back down. If they come at you, grab them by the neck: Geese totally hate being grabbed by the neck. Don't grab and squeeze, just grab lightly and they'll get freaked out and run away. If you're a real bas-tard like me, you can windmill them by the neck and hammer throw em for distance plus points. Grab their beak: If you're nimble enough you can grab them by the beak when they come into bite you, they also hate this. Bonus if you get them with their beak open, geese tongues are cool to touch. Also remember you're a 100+ lb Ape and it's just a stupid goose. The worst thing it can do is nip you with its beak or wing punch you, which doesn't even really hurt... Although this one time a Goose flew directly into my mom as she was trying to get into her car. She said it was like getting hit with a medicine ball. That goose was a real bas-tard. Once you start to notice the habits and body language of geese, you can actually end most conflicts peacefully without having to fight. Hope that helps

It would be a hockey trade (young D going back). Leafs wouldn't trade a young guy about to sign a 6 or 7 year deal for a pending UFA forward and a soon to be UFA 30 something defenseman.

HYPE-rbole! "If Holland does not step aside tonight, I'm done!"

On the fence to be honest. Which of these 2 has a larger upside to their respective position? How many 'quality' D prospects to we have when compared to our forward prospects? Willie might be the better player right now, but I could see Cholo improving his all around game, and be a legit top pairing Dman in 3, or 4 years from now. If I had to answer right this minute...I'd say NO - why?.. Cuz Willie comes across as a selfish little prick who wants the $$$ he hasn't earned just yet.

Mantha now at -6. Green at +9. Both driving play forward in recent run. Cholowski has work to do at -7. He's logging bigger minutes and carrying Kronwall though, so expected.

Notes: Athanasiou leads Wings in goals, is third in points [DetroitRedWings.com]

That's the dream

He definitely works for or knows someone who works for the Leafs. When he dropped the Nylander news people on r/Leafs believed him this go around and twitter started picking it up (unlike the last two times). I figure he either found out he was passing BS and deleted his account out of shame. Or he saw the attention he was getting and deleted his account before anyone could dig thru his history and figure out who he was. Anyway, consider it fake news at this point.

Watched the game today. Zadina looks muuuuuuuuuch improved. Doesn't look nervous to be on the ice anymore.

Check out this sweet-ass sweater action: I want one.

Griffins beat the San Antonio Rampage tonight. Hronek is on a tear, had a goal and an assist tonight. 4 goals and 13 points thru 15 games with the Griffins this season. Zadina had two assists. 7 goals and 14 points thru 21 games played.

It's not a an official source and I think it might be BS now: grapefruitspoons grapefruitspoons is a user who frequents r/Leafs over at reddit. He reported the Tavares signing before any of the major networks and reported the Ennis signing before anyone else. So he's developed some credibility... but he just deleted his account today after reporting this... so maybe he F'ed up

The prophecy has been foreseen

Canada's "nuclear option" is dropping off Brian McGrattan in crowded cities with a ball peen hammer and a gallon of vodka.

Brian McGrattan once date raped Karl Malone on a dare.

That's nice but it's too soon to be calling him a good pick quite yet, it's only [current date] after all