The Barzal Decision: One Move That Could Shape the Isles’ Season

My friend Paul Kreischer and I had a conversation about where to put Matthew Barzal. Will the Islanders keep him on the wing with Bo Horvat or as a second-line centre?

The Case for Barzal as a Second-Line Centre

The main advantage of him as a second-line centre is that he provides more balanced scoring in the lineup. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” This option gives some secondary scoring a chance to bloom. Players like Maxim Tsyplakov could break out in the top six, or a player like Simon Holmstrom could take the next step and match 20 goals and maybe even stretch to 30 goals.

Some players’ performance improves exponentially, transforming them from a piece of coal into a diamond. This option gives the Isles a chance to add more to the scoring. Lee and Duclair now have a bona fide centre, either Barzal or Horvat, who opens the doors for the Isles to have a legit second line. The scoring may be a challenge. Paul also made a good point. (Do not tell him I said that.) This option opens the door to trading Pageau and adding another defenseman through a trade.

Keeping Bo & Barzal Together

So what is the advantage of keeping Bo and Barzal together?

There was some chemistry with the two highly gifted forwards, some may say even magical. The two were dynamic; losing that could be catastrophic for the Islanders. Simply put, if it’s not broken, why fix it?

Final word

In my opinion, the Islanders will keep Barzal as a second-line centre, with the caveat that they will bring them back together if needed. I prefer more balanced scoring; it hurts the team when there’s only one scoring line. I also think the Islanders want to make one more transaction before the season starts, whether it’s through the waiver wire or a trade.

Randy

No More Mr. Nice Leafs

Going into the season, the Leafs have defined their identity. The acquisitions of Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy tell me the Leafs want to be the big kid on the block. They have changed their role from being bullied to being the bully. There will be no farting around with this team. (The most polite word I could think of. The one that came to mind was much worse.) Craig Berube will make sure there are no passengers. Craig’s fingerprints are all over this team.

Chris Tanev

If the Leafs are going with this “no more nonsense” theme, let me give my solution: Give Tanev an A. He deserves the assistant captain role in the Leafs’ dressing room. He is a beast who will play through any injury. He leads by example; there is nothing he asks that he doesn’t do already. He speaks his mind and admits accountability. Giving Tanev the A says the average Joe is important too. By the way, who is the poster boy for the average Joe? Well, Craig Berube, of course.

Auston Matthews

In the last Blog, I mentioned Matthews as one of the Leafs’ cornerstones. Let me add a little more meat to the bone. Matthews has to make the Maple Leafs his team. We have a bunch of foot soldiers trying to figure out where this team is headed. The coaches cannot do everything, and this is where Matthews can make a statement this year.

Final Word

I am looking for the Leafs to try to move David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok before the season starts. My gut says the Leafs like Jack Roslovic. For the Leafs to acquire Jack Roslovic, someone has to go. There is not enough salary to fit Jack in, and there are too many forwards on the roster.

Where is the beef?

Randy

As I continue my hockey heritage series, I am remembering one of the best goalies of all time, a true Canadian. I am talking about Canadiens goalie Jacques Plante. Plante's first real season was 1952-53 with the Canadiens. He had a stellar career with the Habs from 1953 to 1963. 

The Canadiens won five straight Stanley Cups with 5 Vezina trophies (Best goalie in the NHL). He won his sixth in 1961-1962 and his seventh in 1968-1969. He was almost 40 when he won that seventh Vezina. In those days, goalies played every game. Plante usually played between 60 and 70 games. The regular season was 70 games. Here is a scary stat: at 41 years old, he had 1.89 goals against, which is incredible for a goalie in his prime, let alone a goalie who is 41 years old. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player) in the 1961-1962 season, along with his seventh Vezina. 

Plante was traded to the Rangers along with Phil Goyette and Don Marshall in exchange for Gump Worsley, Dave Balon, Leon Rochefort, and Len Ronson. I was only one year old, so I do not remember it. But it was a considerable trade. He also played for the Blues, Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He ended his career in the WHA with the Edmonton Oilers.

Plante's most outstanding achievement was not necessarily stopping the puck. On November 1st, 1959, after getting his nose broken, Plante put his mask on, making him a pioneer of the goalie mask. Can you imagine the NHL without the goalie mask? We owe a lot to Plante. What was remarkable was that he came back in the same game with a broken nose. 

Sadly, we lost Plante too early, at the age of 57. He was a gentleman on and off the ice, a character of the game. Plante was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978. My biggest memory of Plante is when he was traded to Boston from the Leafs. I was just getting to like him as an ex-Hab player; getting used to him was hard. I was a Leafs fan who hated the Habs :). 

Randy 

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Jacques Plante goalie mask |Source=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/48913243@N00/4895303490/ Jacques Plante goalie mask] * Uploaded by Skeezix1000

The Islanders’ Solid Foundation: Three Players to Build Around

Every team has its cornerstones. Without them, its chances of success go down dramatically. Just as a building structure relies on its cornerstones, a hockey team also has its cornerstones to hold the team together. Imagine a building without a proper foundation. What will happen to it? Like a building or organization, every hockey franchise has to have a solid foundation. Ideally, a team's cornerstone is one goalie, one forward, and a defenceman.

The elite teams have four or five key players, but this is not fantasy; most hockey teams will be happy with three.

So, who are the cornerstones of players who can grow with this team? The best thing going on with the New York Islanders is their prospects. Many of them will be ready to play in the NHL in a couple of years.

Bo Horvat

Bo is a slick forward who can change the game in an instant. Horvat is on a long-term contract; he will be starting his third year of an 8.5-year contract. He is a versatile forward with a great shot. His ability to play wing and centre gives the Islanders plenty of options. He is a terrific skater who can make something out of nothing. Bo is an excellent cornerstone we can build on for years to come.

Alexander Romanov

Alexander has to take over the number one man right now. He has the tools to be better. With Dobson traded, Romanov can get out of his shadow. He has a terrific hard slapshot, perfect for the power-play. He needs to improve his passing, which he can accomplish with more ice time. Alexander is the type of player who thrives under pressure. It will be good for Schaefer to take him under his wing.

Ilya Sorokin

Ilya is still one of the best goalies in the league. He has the reflexes of a cat. His ability to rebound is mind-boggling. Ilya is adjusting to the NHL style more each year. He has it in him to rock this season for the Islanders. Let's give him a mulligan after the rumours of being traded that plagued him most of the season.

Author's Note

Matthew Schaefer will be a solid pairing of defencemen for years to come. There have been many comparisons made to stars of the past. I hope they do not rush him, but let him play in the juniors one more year. That is why I do not have him in the cornerstones for this season.

Randy

Cornerstones of the Calgary Flames: The Trio Holding the Team Together

Every team has its cornerstones. Without them, its chances of success go down dramatically. Just like a building structure relies on its cornerstones, a hockey team has its cornerstones to hold the team together. Imagine a building without any foundation. What would happen to it? Like a building or organization, every hockey franchise has to have a solid foundation. Ideally, a team’s cornerstone is one goalie, one forward, and a defenceman.

The elite teams have four or five key players, but this is not fantasy; most hockey teams will be happy with three.

I am moving on from the thought of the Calgary Flames trying to tank this season. There are a lot of bright spots to build on with this team. Here are the three players I think can solidify the Flames’ future for years to come.

Dustin Wolf

Dustin is the main reason the Calgary Flames were successful after last season. He was in the top 10 goalies in the NHL, if not in the top five. Some fans would say he was the best goalie in the league last year. That is a debate for another time, but there’s no debating that Dustin was the MVP player of the Calgary Flames. Wolf must be this good for the Flames to make it to the next level.

MacKenzie Weegar

MacKenzie is a strong arm in the Calgary defense. In reality, he is one of the team leaders and might very well be the team’s next captain. He is truly the glue that holds the Calgary defense together. This Defense was sometimes in shambles like a fish out of water. You can see Weegar throwing the fish back in the water. MacKenzie does everything right. He is a great penalty killer. MacKenzie was outstanding in his defensive play, and at times, he was the power-play quarterback.

Jonathan Huberdeau

Last year was the first time we had a glimpse of the real Huberdeau. He showed lots of heart in the previous season and was having fun. Jonathan Huberdeau’s hockey IQ is high, and he is one of the smartest players in the league. If the Calgary Flames use him wisely and do not put too much pressure on him, he has the potential to be their best player. He can be the leader of this team. By far, he is the best playmaker on the roster and has the best vision on the ice. His passing skills are among the best in the league this season.

Clarification by the author

I must admit I could’ve easily used Matthew Coronado as the forward. I use Jonathan because he has to be the leader to justify that contract for the Calgary Flames.

Randy 

Hockey Foundations: The Cornerstone Players Driving Maple Leafs' Success

Every team has its cornerstones. Without them, its chances of success go down dramatically. Just like a building structure relies on its cornerstones, a hockey team has its cornerstones to hold the team together. Imagine a building without any foundation. What would happen to it? Like a building or organization, every hockey franchise has to have a solid foundation. Ideally, a team's cornerstone is one goalie, one forward, and a defenceman.

The elite teams have four or five players, but this is not fantasy; most hockey teams will be happy with three.

This article will discuss the three most essential cornerstones I see in Toronto.

Auston Matthews

Matthews is the straw that stirs the coffee. He makes the world go around as far as the Toronto Maple Leafs are concerned. He is the man the Toronto Maple Leafs look to when the game is on the line. He will have to score at least 40 goals this season. Matthews makes everyone around him better. That is what a superstar does.

Morgan Reilly

Everyone wants to put a major hate on Morgan. At times, he did struggle last season, but like it or not, Riley is the leader on the defence of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will become better because the defence around him is becoming better. He is getting more support and will not be as worn out at the end of this season as in the past. Morgan will have to be the Morgan of the earlier years. He needs to get more involved offensively. The Maple Leafs need more goals from their defense. At the same time, he has to be defensively responsible, almost like Superman. Morgan needs at least 60 points this season to do this; the Toronto Maple Leafs must have a better power-play. Morgan will be the quarterback.

Anthony Stolarz

Anthony was clearly in the upper echelon of goalies last year. Anthony will be there for the Toronto Maple Leafs to succeed this season. His vision on the ice was fantastic from side to side. His reflexes would bail him out when he was out of position. Anthony will have to establish himself as a number one goalie to prove that he is the man when called upon

For the Toronto Maple Leafs to succeed, it will take hard work and dedication. Anthony, Austin, and Morgan will have to be the leaders, for every follower needs a leader to show them the way.

Randy 

Our Hockey Heritage: 1980s

In starting this new Hockey Heritage series, I want to pay tribute to some favourite hockey legends. During the quiet times of the off-season, I thought I would share some of my best memories of hockey years ago. We often forget the great players of yesteryear, which is why I would like to reintroduce them to you. 

Some of the greatest underdogs of yesterday. Hockey has some of the greatest gifts we should open up to, appreciate, and shine up. If possible, I might also bring in some of the great announcers I listened to growing up. Or I will watch some on YouTube. They were the greatest storytellers in the game. 

The greatest era of hockey has always been debated. I could give you a solid argument almost every decade. I loved the 1980s despite the Oilers and Islanders dominating. As a Leafs fan, I would call it the dark ages. There were some gosh-awful Maple Leafs teams (family site). I would have to laugh when watching them. If I didn’t, I would have to cry and take up knitting. Trust me, no one wants to see that, although my wife would take it over my colourful language while watching the Leafs and  Flames this coming season. 

The eighties also brought in the greatest rivalries in the NHL. The War of Alberta came into being with the birth of the Oilers and Flames. This was exasperating as a Flames fan after falling at the end of the score. The second rivalry that came from the WHA expansion at the birth of the Quebec Nordiques was the Quebec Civil War. The 1984 series was a classic that went the full seven games, with the Habs emerging victorious. Of course, the 1985 series ended with the famous goal—if memory serves me well—by Peter Stastny for the Nordiques.

Randy

Hunting for Scoring Depth: The Leafs' Next Move

The dog days of summer are upon us. The biggest comment about this roster is that we’re deeper. Do we have enough scoring in this lineup? In my honest opinion, the Maple Leafs are just one top-six forward away.

The problem is that players of this caliber are hard to come by. The free agent cupboard is dry. There is no magical superstar. So, it makes me wonder if we should target a third liner instead. Sometimes, a guy who can step up in a pinch could do the trick.

Then there’s the option of giving one of our prospects a shot at making the big league jump. But alas, the best candidate is Easton Cowan. I am not sure we want to rush a 20-year-old. Yes, I think Cowan is a can’t-miss prospect, but there is no need to push him too fast. After him, we have Braeden Kressler, who is still a couple of years away, at least. Let’s face it—Leafs management hasn’t exactly been great at holding onto our prospects lately.

To be honest, I think the Leafs will have to sign Jack Roslovic. He may not be that sexy forward, but he can be a 40-45 point guy. The scoring after the big four may have to come by committee. This is where Jack fits in. The major obstacle is trying to fit his cap in. The team will have to make a small deal, AKA: move money out. 

Are they a better team? People are telling me they are, but outside the  Toronto bubble, there is a strong belief that the Leafs will struggle. Frankly, they want us to struggle. I do not think the Leafs will win the division. That said, this team is more built for the playoffs. I do think making the playoffs will be an issue. 

Randy

Who Stays, Who Goes in the Islanders Rebuild

If you’re the New York Islanders and you’ve decided it’s time to rebuild, the big question becomes: who do you build around? Fortunately, there are some solid pieces already in place. You’ve got promising young talent like Matthew Schaefer, Cole Eiserman, Victor Eklund, and Kashawn Aitcheson. So yes, there’s a future taking shape. And yes, Islanders fans, I hear you shouting “Danny Nelson!” That’s fine—he’s part of the picture, and you can be happy with that.

So, who do you keep as part of the core? Who do you see with the team in the immediate future? Let’s start in net. Every team needs a reliable number-one goalie, and Ilya Sorokin is still in the upper echelon of the NHL. He stays. No question.

Next up—defense. You’ve got Schaefer, Kashawn Aitcheson, and don’t forget Isaiah George—some exciting young blueliners coming up. But you’ll still need a veteran presence to guide the kids. I’m keeping Romanov for sure. As for Pulock and Pelech? Maybe one, maybe both, depending on trade value and what direction management wants to take. Or maybe you flip them for fresh blood. Either way, you need stability on the back end.

As I discussed, you have plenty of firepower coming through the ranks. I could have added Alex Jefferies and Russian prospect Ruslan Iskhakov to the prospects. So what forwards do I keep? This is where I will get myself in trouble. Nothing like throwing some controversy into the mix. I am thinking of keeping Horvat or Barzal. Thinking of getting more assets to prospects and picks if I can.

I am going to surprise you with my next group of forwards: Drouin and Duclair to help with scoring. Heineman and Gatcomb are the makings of a solid fourth line. Adding the speed of Maxim Tsyplakov and Maxim Shabanov, two young forwards with a high motivation to succeed, gives me hope for the Islanders’ future.

It’s not going to be easy. Rebuilds never are. But with smart decisions and a clear direction, I see a lot of light at the end of the tunnel. This is just one of many possible paths the Islanders could take. We’ll have to wait and see what Lou and company have in store.

Randy