Barrie

Nylander is gone, and Marner's going to ask for $13 million a year. The Leafs really only have 1 or 2 years left before the decline. They'll turn into Chicago, without any Cups. The Nylander situation is interesting. I'm sure a number of teams would trade for him, but with the Leafs over the cap, there's no rush for the other GM's. The longer this goes, Nylander's trade value goes down. The Leafs will be desperate to get under the cap. I find it funny Dubas took off this off season, before the implosion happens, that he created.

I agree, I'm expecting 30 goals from DeBrincat. One thing I really like, is the last two seasons he had 270 and 266 shots on goal. We need that. Again, social media comments, Sens fans are saying Kubalik isn't much of a downgrade than DeBrincat, and only scored 7 less goals. However, the difference in shots is about 100. Plus he's a UFA, and will he re-sign? I'm guessing if he has a decent season, he's gone. If Sens fans are happy, that's fine with me.

Reading social media comments, some Ottawa fans are happy with the DeBrincat trade, and think they won. I'm glad they're happy, but I'm still shocked Stevie didn't have to trade a big name, or a major prospect. Kubalik and Sebrango weren't in the Wings future plans, they were spare parts. I wasn't expecting Kubalik to be re-signed, and there's no spot for Sebrango As mentioned, I thought after the draft, Raymond or Kasper would have been in a trade for DeBrincat.

How did Yzerman pull off that trade, only having to give up Kubalik, Sebrango, and a couple picks? I thought maybe Raymond or Kasper would have to be included by now. That's why the Larkin contact is so important, only Mo can make more than Larkin.

Are you sure about Columbus having the 2nd largest metro area in the midwest?

More comments from the Wings fan living in the Toronto area. Dubas keeps getting taken advantage of in trades. He's giving up 1st round picks for average players in their late 20's, early 30's. Acciari, Lafferty, McCabe, and Schenn are meh players. O'Reilly and Gustafsson are decent pick ups, but Dubas gave up too much to get them. I remember what it was like in Detroit in 1993-1996. I'm really shocked Dubas still has a job, and the fans and media haven't run him out of town. The Leafs really only have one, maybe two years left. There's nothing left for the future. Tavares is gone soon, and they'll have to let Nylander walk to try and keep Matthews and Marner. I said all that, to say, I don't mind Stevie trading Bertuzzi and Hronek for picks. Think of the future, while Toronto and Boston go all in this year. Tampa will still be good for a while, but there will be a changing of the guard soon in the Atlantic.

Living in the Toronto market, I'm interesting in seeing what's going to happen here. If, and when, the Leafs lose in the 1st round again, Dubas is gone. When a new GM takes over, he may try and get what he can for Matthews, Nylander, and Marner, and start over. Dubas keeps trading prospects and picks, and there's really nothing left. The fans and media here don't see it. I understand defending your team, but even the media seems to be clueless, which I find shocking.

Ok, I'll post my Leafs comments here (I live in the Toronto market), because some of my friends are pissed at me for saying things like this on Facebook The Leafs organization is a mess, another 1st round exit, and another, "We believe in the group" press conference. Dubas and Keefe are coming back. I think the reason why Dubas and Keefe are back, is no one else is interested in coming to Toronto. What GM or coach would want to try and win when 50% of the cap is spent on 4 forwards? I think Dubas is an complete idiot, and way in over his head. Also, if Babcock couldn't teach these guys how to play defense, what other coach wants to try? Matthews and Marner are being babied too much by the organization. All they want to do is play all out offense, and get 100 pts a year. The Leafs are still 3 years away from being a serious Cup contender. They need to take at least one more season to get past the 1st round, then they'll need another couple seasons to learn how to win in the later rounds. They don't have that much time left. Matthews and Nylander are UFA's in two years, and Marner and Tavares are UFA's in three years. If they think they have cap problems now, just wait until they try and sign Matthews and Marner. They can both ask for $14 Million a year. The Wing will win a Cup before the Leafs do. Ok, rant over, Let's Go Red Wings

I still don't understand what was wrong with 3 divisions in each conference, the division winners having the top 3 seeds, and the 5 best teams after that making the playoffs. It makes for different match ups in the playoffs. I know sometimes the 3rd seed had less points than the 4th seed, but they won their division. With the 4 divisions, the Leafs for example, how many times do we have to see them play Boston in the playoffs? It's over kill.

I hope you're right, considering Lidstrom is one of the top 3 Defensemen off all-time.

This offseason is probably a good time to let Blashill go. We have players now that would attract a good coach. Prior to this year, no one would have been interested.

I know it's only 7 games, but I've been thinking about this, as I see the Maple Leafs continue to struggle. I think we can all agree Florida, Tampa, and Boston will take the top 3 spots, but I'm wondering if 4th is up for grabs? The Leafs are a mess, and the pressure is only going to get worse and worse for their top 4 forwards, coach, and GM.

Seriously, he built a team that could win the Cup, in EA Sports, not the NHL

What a difference 4 years makes. Dubas screwed things up signing Tavares. It created this domino effect that would ruin everything. I said it when Tavares signed. Nylander, Matthews, and Marner would base their contract demands on what Tavares was making, which they had every right to do... Then Reilly needed a contact a few years later. Their cap would be f-ed up by the time Reilly needed to resign! I was telling my friends, who are Maple Leafs fans this when Tavares signed, but they didn't believe me. The Toronto media seemed clueless about it too. I understand supporting your team, but what I don't understand is how I could see this coming, but Toronto fans, media, and Maple Leafs organization couldn't. There's another screw up by Dubas. Matthews would be the guy, out of the 4 forwards, you'd want to keep. He's the power forward. Now they'll be left with the softer play makers, Tavares, Marner, and Nylander.

The Division is getting more interesting by the day. I know it's early, but what's with Buffalo? Also, we've come back twice now, down 2-0, to get 3 pts against Washington and Florida

Serious question, who's the woman with the guys during the intermission?

Tampa making it a game

Love the punch by Larkin! The Unvaxed guy with the Hat Trick!

I guess I don't have a problem with Tampa being "over the cap". Each team uses LTIR to their advantage. Those pointing it out (Tampa was $18 Million over the cap), what was Tampa to do before the playoffs? Drop guys off the roster? How is that fair to players dropped? Players aren't paid in the playoffs, plus Kucherov is a roster player. Kucherov isn't the first player (and won't be the last) who took a season to heal, so he could be back in time for the playoffs. There wasn't a cap in 2001-02, but I remember Forsberg was off all year, then ready for the playoffs. Even Yzerman timed his surgery in 2002-03 to be back for the playoffs.

It's always good advice to go out, but there's no where to go right now.

Anyway, another great effort tonight. I guess it helps the Wings played some good games in a row, but tonight I thought I should post here again. I watch every game. It's a competitive team when everyone is healthy. Maybe we can continue with good defensive play, put a run together, and not finish last in the division?

As mentioned in the past, I live in the Toronto market. I think the Leafs broadcast team is awful. The guys take themselves to serious, and are full of it. Plus too, their "experts" are media people, and players who were either goons, or back up goalies. FSD doesn't take themselves too serious. Murph, Ozzie, and Mick are winners, and when they talk, I listen. Apologies to Trevor for not mentioning him, heh. He's only at the home games this year, and finishing up a 6 game road trip, we haven't seen him in 12 days. Hats off to Trevor too for a great job.

Hey all. This is my second season with nhl.tv, so I've seen all the games this year, only missed a couple last year, but just not posting. We've been playing well the last 5 games or so. It helped getting guy back from covid. Hopefully guys stay healthy, and we can continue to play like this going forward. Just want to say how great a job FSD does with the game coverage. I usually don't care what is said before the game, at intermissions, and after, but Mick, Ken, Murph, Ozzie, and John, always add a lot, and make things fun.

Sportsnet, here in Canada, is showing the 11-1 game at Montreal, when we scored 9 against Roy, which sent him to Colorado. Watching this game again, all these years later, Roy had no chance on almost all of those goals. The Russian 5 were all over the ice, there was really nothing he could do. I have nothing else to say other than that, ha! Man, the Russian 5 were good!

Maybe too, our last Cup was ONLY 12 years ago, and we won 4 between 1997-2008. For example, Babcock going to the Leafs, he wanted to be the guy who would bring Toronto their first Cup since 1967. It didn't happen, but still he wanted to be the guy. Again, I would like a new coach, but there's probably not guys lining up to coach the Wings, now.