Leafs: What now?

The Maple  Leafs had a very good game in Tampa.  True, they did not come away with the two points, but they did everything they could. Sometimes you have to give a goalie his due.

So how much do the Maple Leafs make a push for that dman? Are there hard feelings with the signing of Nylander? It took him right up to December 1st to sign, the date where if it was not signed, he could not play. So that being said, do the  Maple Leafs trade him for that defenceman? Or was there a gentlemen's agreement that he is there for the season?

It is common knowledge that the Leafs need improvement in their defensive zone coverage. Andersen is left to the wolves back there in his net too many times.  My question is, do we need to pick up another defenceman or can the Leafs just play better defence?  Outside Reilly, who on the Blueline can be responsible in their end?

Jake Gardiner is a concern, but in all fairness, he is getting better. Ron Hainsey and Travis Dermott are both okay, but still need to get better in their own zone. Igor Ozhiganov is young and learning on the fly. He has a ton of potential, but the payoff is still a long way off. Then there is the Russian, Nikita Zaitsev, who is a stay-home dman. Again, he is okay for a number four or five defenceman.

So I do feel the Leafs are looking for a number three responsible defenceman. What are some of the options? I would look no further than LA, but no not that one (Doughty). Jake Muzzin might be had for a price. It is only a matter of time before the Kings become a garage sale.

The other concern is Sparks. Is he a good enough backup goalie? His last start left something to be desired. There are some options between the pipes, including Isles' Lehner.  Another is that the Panthers has a serviceable goalie in Hutchinson. Unless you want one of the Flyers' three goalies.

FINAL WORD

Mr. Haymen exactly what were you thinking?   You are too good of a player to do nonsense like that. Hopefully, common sense comes to the forefront from now on.

Buckle up. It is going get bumpy from here.

Welcome back, Mr. Matthews and yeah, that other guy

Austin Matthews came back in style, didn't he? Wow. He didn't look like he has lost a step. He was terrific last night setting John Tavares up on the powerplay. He was fully engaged throughout the game.  He was outstanding on the powerplay; his skating was right up with the best of the team.

Talking about the powerplay, they clicked three times. They were highly effective, especially on Tavares' first goal. Everyone on the ice touched the puck before John scored. The powerplay was playing on all cylinders with  tic-tac-toe passing. There is no defence against that.  If they continue with their play on the powerplay, they will never be out of the game.

Still, the defence is scary at times, allowing too many 2-on-1's. Toronto still has to tighten up in their own defensive zone. The forwards have to come into the zone and eliminate the cherry-picking. I am sorry, but winning begins in their own zone. It is fun to watch, but can they score five goals every game?  What happens when they run into a hot goalie?

How much do Marner and Matthews get? Can the Leafs afford them both?  Obviously, the Maple Leafs don't want to lose either one. That is why it is vital for the team to try to start the negotiation as fast as they can. Everyone knows that sooner or later they have to decide who stays and who goes.

Don't forget Reilly. He is working on a career year. He can't keep up the pace, can he?  I believe he will probably get the highest point total for a Toronto Maple Leaf defencemen.  Right now, he has to be in the Norris trophy conversation. And if he is, this is going to be another headache for the Maple Leafs.

The Leafs have the final say on Nylander's contract.  How much is the offer? This is pure guesswork, but I suspect it will be around $6.9 million for a five-year contract. The three-year bridge deal is probably a little over five mil. They are taking all offers from those who are interested in the speedy forward. This does not mean they are trading him, they are just exploring all of their options.

Randy

Review of Stirring Up Murder

Erin has always felt something was missing when it comes to her family. Now, out of the blue, she has found out she has a half-sister. Does Erin dare look for her?  Or does she decide that she is happy and her life is complete?  Her life is progressing, her business is growing, and she has a wonderful man in her life in Terry Piper.  Why should she make an effort to look for this half-sister?

But Erin has always wanted a family to call her own. Call it whatever you want, but Terry calls it crazy. Much to Terry's disapproval, Erin goes ahead with a search of her half-sister.

Meet Charley, soon to become the bane of Erin's life. Charley is involved with the wrong crowd and begins to bring Erin down with her. Charley finds herself on the wrong side of the law and in trouble with the one family you don't want to be on the wrong side of. The Dyson family owns the town and controls everything. No one else seems to care whether Charley is guilty or not. Anyone who wrongs the Dysons ends up with a lot of enemies.

Enter Erin, Charley's good luck charm, or maybe we should say sucker. Erin has every reason to walk away and I can't think of any reason not to.  When this stranger half-sister asks, Erin jumps in with both feet. But Erin's urge to be accepted might be her downfall. As the police gather more and more evidence, Erin digs a bigger and bigger hole for herself.  Vic, Terry, and Willy try to dig Erin out of the mess, but she's in pretty deep.

This entertaining mystery has more turns than you can keep up with. Who can Erin trust? Even her friends think she has joined the wrong team. Has Erin's desire to be loved and accepted gone too far?

A terrific whodunnit that will keep you on your toes trying to figure out the guilty party.  This book will draw you in with the mystery and keep you with its intrigue.

You can find Stirring Up Murder and more at P.D. Workman's website.

Randy

Leafs keep moving on

Apparently, the Leafs have to pick some up after their BAD game in Boston.  But there are some positives, so let's concentrate on those.

1. Nazem Kadri

Kadri has picked up his game and is beginning to put the puck in the net. Kadri is stepping it up because he has to. Like it or not, he is second line centre.  He must continue to be the pest; other than him, there is no muscle in the Leafs line-up.

2. John Tavares

John is the leader at this time and is beginning to show his worth as he has upped his game with Marner.  It couldn't have come at a better time. The Leafs need John to be the guy who delivers the mail. So far, John has been the mailman. Scoring his tenth just recently, he is averaging more than a point a game. John is also improving in the defensive zone. He might very well be the most complete player in his career.

3. Morgan Rielly

Morgan is the best defencemen on the Leafs. He has refined his offensive game. With his seven goals and fourteen assists, he is working on a career year.  He has figured out one key ingredient: knowing when to pinch in. He is a great asset to the Leafs. He and Gardener have really improved on getting the puck up to the forwards.

4. Nylander Update

Unfortunately, there is no update on Nylander and they are running out of time to get the team together. There is no shortage of teams interested: Stars, Canes, Flyers, and especially keep an eye on the Kings. The Leafs want a young number two dman, and that limits the number of teams they can deal with. That leads me to think the Canes lead the way.  I have been told that the Leafs really want Jaccob Slavin. He is an excellent young dman who can be there for a long time. The only other team who might have a dman who interests the Leafs is the Flyers, who have quite a list of young dmen to entice the Leafs.

5. Auston Matthews

Matthews was apparently on the ice in LA. He might be back in six weeks. The Leafs have hung in there. It is vital that they get the second seed so they host the first round. I have pretty much conceded the division to the Bolts. The Leafs have to make sure they get the number two spot so they have a chance to win the first round and earn the right to go to Tampa Bay.

MR. MATTHEWS, SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Say what you want, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not the greatest defensive team, but they are fun to watch.  With a 6-1 record and a blistering  33 goals, they lead the NHL. That is nearly five goals per game. They put the fear of diety into opposition goalies. The Maple Leafs arguably have the best top six in the league.

John Tavares and Auston Matthews have started the season as superstars. The arrival of John Tavares (a villain or a hero, depending on whether you are coming from New York,) seems to have lit a fire under Auston Matthews, who has erupted as a team leader.  Matthews has 16 points in 7 games; he leads this team by example.

At the beginning of the season, Morgan Rielly was given a great honour, as he was given an A. (For those who don't know that means, he was made one of the assistant captains.) He has responded with three goals and ten assists, for thirteen points. He has shone thus far. Some players fade and cannot handle the pressure, but Morgan has done the exact opposite, responding with all-star calibre play.

It is Garret Sparks' time to shine as Frederik Andersen (Freddy) is injured.  Mr. Sparks has answered his critics clearly. He was solid against the Kings Monday night. He might not have been busy, but when called on, he was there. It might be only his first start, but so far, so good.  Andersen's injury is thought to be serious; the Leafs have called up Eamon McAdam, who came in the trade of Matt Martin.

Do not take a penalty while playing against the Leafs! The Maple Leafs have one of the best powerplays in the league with a 47.4 percentage. Matthews and Tavares are deadly together, resulting with Matthews at 16 points with a pace too high to count. The key point is Morgan Rielly. He has been consistently getting his shots from the point to the net.  The Leafs have been magical with the puck and have fans wondering what is next.

There is still concern with the defensive play in their own zone.  In fairness, they knew this was how they were going to win. But with the Andersen's injury, the Leafs played their best defensive game of the year in front of Sparks. That tells me that they are capable of shoring up the defensive play in their own zone.  As long as they can be average defensively, their offence will be more than enough to cover up the mistakes.

Randy

A little news

With the buyout of Brouwer, the Flames have no more excuses for not resigning Hanifin. What is the holdup?  How much do they want to sign him for? Checking around, nobody seems to know what the heck is going on. I mean, we can't go much over six for him. In fact, that is the max I would sign him for. It was everyone's understanding when we did the Hamilton deal that two players acquired in the Canes deal were eager to get this done. The only thing I was thinking was could it be the term? Everyone knows the more years, the more the price tag goes up. If the Flames want eight years, it will mean Hanifin giving up some years of free agency. That is really the only snag. The Flames still have plenty of time as it is early August; but the more time it takes, the bigger the distraction it will be.

The contract negotiation for Hanifin is a hornets' nest. There are four different offers on the table for different numbers of years, but they can't agree on a price.

Meanwhile, the Flames have a logjam on the defence. Nine able bodies for six spots, and one extra spot on the bench. The Flames are working out their options, which pretty much means a trade could be happening. The price depends on which dman is on the block. The Flames would prefer Stone, but they seem to feel it will be one of the kids. They're not getting much interest in Stone. They don't have much interest in trading Brodie anymore; the feeling is that Brodie will rebound playing with Gio fulltime this season.

So who will get the final spot? Kylington is a very solid young defence who is a great stay-home defenseman. He has some offence; he has nothing to prove in Stockton.

Brett Kulak the incumbent. He was here last year. He has experience. He is solid defensively, although he made a few silly mistakes. If he can clear up the mental issues, he can easily be the sixth man.

Rasmus Andersson is a Grade A prospect who is ready right now. He is solid offensively and even better defensively. He still needs improvement, but that will come with experience. Rasmus still needs improvement in his defensive game, but he can rely on Stone to give him the confidence to get by.

The last-but-not-least candidate is Juuso Valimaki, the most talented player of the bunch. The Kid is still young, and you never want to rush defencemen, so the better part of valour may be to keep him away for another year. The Way Juuso has been playing, that decision may be hard for the Flames to make.  Valimaki could make impossible for the Flames to send him down.

The other concern is how far the defence will step back with the loss of Hamilton. Will the improvement of the offence compensate for the loss of the defence? I don't think the decline in the defence is enough to worry about because the offence will be so much improved.

The Flames are very happy with their new top-six forwards. With Backlund, Tkachuk, and Lindholm, the feeling is that they might not have to rely on their front line as much. Lindholm is a huge upgrade, giving the Flames a complete second line for the first time in years. Talking about their front line, it sure got an upgrade, didn't it? James Neal finally gives the Flames a bona fide number one right winger. He is a pure sniper who can put the puck in the net and a very intelligent winger who can think many moves ahead. Basically, they found a sniper with the IQ to fit in with Johnny and Sean.

With the addition of James Neil and Derek Ryan, the days of divisions in the locker room will be over.  This team will be united instead of being a bunch of individuals. Neil will end the "me" attitude and replace it with a team attitude. And he will have company in Derek Ryan, who is a no-nonsense workhorse who will have the Flames outworking the opposition.

Review of June & Justin

June and Justin did everything to escape from their past but to face and fight their fears. They had no one but each other.

The story begins with their awful family life and traumas that will stick with them their whole life. Dealing with this dangerous home life, June and Justin try everything to escape, which leads to Justin being on trial for the murder of his father. This leads them into the foster care system, placed with parents who have no idea how to handle their issues. Combine that with an overworked, beaten-down social worker who has seen it all, and far too soon, June and Justin are out on their own, chock full of pre-teen attitude.

Justin is willing to do almost anything to keep June from being part of the real world. He influences her into making some choices which bring heavy consequences. They go through life with an us-against-the-world mentality. They both continue to use their relationship as a crutch. Justin crosses boundaries to protect June, all under the guise of protecting her.

A riveting, fast-moving novel that will keep you on your toes. The action-packed novel never stops.

About June & Justin Justin had made a mistake. A big, life-changing mistake. He already failed June once. He wasn’t there when she needed him, and because of him, their lives will never be the same. June is everything to Justin, and he must be everything to her. He must protect June at all costs. Justin is prepared spend the rest of his life keeping her from getting hurt again. But it seems they are always falling behind, barely keeping one step ahead of the nightmares. There is always one more hazard, just around the corner. Find out more

Maple Leafs Draft Edition

Well, it is that time of year for the Maple Leafs, along with the rest of the League. So it is time for me to put on my wizard hat. This draft, the Leafs' first goal should be a dman, centre. The Leafs might very well be looking for a deal to replace JVR, but the top priority is a centre and defence.

There are two centres and one dman, so which one? I suspect the Leafs will go with a big defenceman to add some size on that blue line.

Alexander Alexeyev 25

6'3" and a little less than 200 pounds, it's Alexander to the rescue. He is a nasty player who will use his size to impose his will on opposing forwards. Alexander is a big defender with speed who can get where he needs to. He is tough to get off his feet. He will be a solid defenceman in time if the Leafs are patient with him. He would fill a big void for the Leafs.

Jacke Mcbain  52

A big centre who works hard in the corner. Jack may not be the sniper, but he is a big body who will develop into a two or three centre. An all-around player who is good at all his aspects of the game.

Matej Blümel 86

Matej is a very fast, skillful forward. He uses his speed to create space in the offensive zone. HIghly skilled offensively, he needs time to develop in the defensive zone. He needs to add some weight to get sturdy on his feet, too often he gets hit and loses the puck.

Riley Sutter 118

He is a Sutter, need I say more? Yes, a full-grown Sutter.

Some other picks and random guesses:

Axel Andersson 151

Nicolas Guay 209

Logan Cash 211

NHL Mock Draft

Well, this is the year everyone and their dog will be doing a mock Draft blog. So  I thought I would take a stab at it. This year is harder because the only pick that is a sure thing is the first.

Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Dahlin 1

Rasmus is a can't-miss prospect. He is a terrific playmaking defenceman who can carry the puck out of the zone. A very smooth skater who makes up for his mistakes with his speed.   Dahlin is a terrific powerplay quarterback. The Sabres will benefit right away.  He is what they so badly need in a number one dman.

Carolina Hurricanes Andrei Svechnikov 2

Andrei is the best offensive forward in the draft.  Svechnikov has been described as a  young  OV.  He is a terrific young sniper with a great shot. When he sees his chance, he buries it. I truly believe he is the most gifted player in the draft.

Montreal Canadians Jesperi Kotkaniemi 3 

You get what you pay for in Jasperi. A rugged two power forward who can mess with the best of them. Or you get huge centermen who uses his size at the draw. Either way, he is a no-nonsense player who will do everything well, though nothing exceptional.  He is adequate at all angles of the game and could be big on the Habs powerplay because of his size. I can see Jasperi as a future number two centermen, with some offensive punch.

Ottawa Senators Adam Boqvist 4

Adam is an offensive-minded defenseman who distributes the puck with high accuracy. He has a great shot. He has the ability to get the puck out of the zone to the forwards. He will help the Rangers tremendously in the transition game. His passes will make it easier for the time counterattack. Defensively, he is average, but he will get better with time. He is a great asset to any team. The Rangers will have to be patient, but in time, he will make it worth their while.

Arizona Coyotes Brady Tkachuk 5

I will describe him as GI Joe on skates.  A phenomenal power forward who can score.  Like his brother, Matthew Brady can get into teams heads, his puck in the corner game will outwork his opponents. He will wear the opposing forward down, dominating him physically. When it comes to the big goal, Brady will get it.

Detroit Red  Wings  Filip Zadina  6

A little less talented than the Russian, Philip is a dynamic pistol on the forward line. He could stickhandle through a phone booth. Phillip is the typical offensive juggernaut who pounces on defensive mistakes.  He will add punch to the listless Wings  offence.

Vancouver Canucks Quinton Hughes 7

Quinton is a very explosive defenceman. He is a terrific two player, who can pass to the forwards with high accuracy.  Quinton is an all-around defenseman who will fit in with the Canucks. He is committed to his education. The Canucks are the perfect team to pick him. They will be patient with him, and there will be growing pains.  Quinton has the potential to be a solid number two or three dman who will fit in great in Vancouver.

Chicago Blackhawks Oliver Wahlstrom 8

A talented, big left winger, with offensive skill. A typical power forward who can add to the offence and ensure there is no monkey business on the ice. Oliver has a terrific shot and will score in bunches. He can take one-timers and put them in the net before the goalie even has a chance to move.

New York Ranger Noah Dobson 9

Noah is probably the second best defencemen in this draft. He is a mobile defender who has a solid two-way game. A top playmaking defenceman who is just as dependable in his own end. He has the potential to be a future star. The Wings are getting offensive talent. He will help the Wings in all aspects of the game. He will especially help in the Wings' powerplay with a laser shot from the blue line.

Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard 10

Evan is a dynamic offensive defenseman who will do well on the powerplay. An explosive shot is a key. If he uses his howitzer, he will be a powerhouse. Evan is a highly skilled offensive defenceman. He will help with the transition game.

New York Islanders Joe Veleno 11

Joe is a playmaking center who will excel if he continues to develop his skills. He is an excellent passer and will blend in with the odd goal.  He will be an asset to the Islander's powerplay. He sees the ice, thinks well on his feet, and is always two plays ahead. My only concern is that he needs to get stronger. He has tons of potential to become a  good offensive player.

New York Islanders Bode Wilde 12

A big, rugged blueliner who is very smart with the puck. Bodie is very capable of being a bona fide number two dman. He uses his size to his advantage.  Bode is capable of being all-around dman who is adequate in all aspects. He is capable of carrying the puck from end to end. He is going to be a steady number three and maybe even a number two dman.

Dallas Stars  Barrett Hayton 13

A rugged centerman who is hard-working in all aspects of the game. He is an excellent penalty killer who is very good in his own zone. A brilliant centre who understands the game and gets the job done. He is a future number two centerman.

Philadephia Flyers Joel Farabee 14

A solid left winger who knows his role. Hard worker who is a little undersized, but does not let that stop him. He never gives up on a play and is capable of finishing his chances. The offensive opportunities are due to his hard work. A third line winger with a potential of scoring 2-30 goals a season.

Florida Panthers Ty Smith 15

Fast on his feet, Ty defends surprisingly well. He will help the Panthers in the powerplay. He is a smart passer with quick hands. A very fast skater, he can make up mistakes with his speed. Ty could very well be a powerplay quarterback.

Colorado Avalanche  Ryan Merkley 16

Gifted offensive defenceman with speed to burn. Ryan is brilliant and carries the puck with confidence. He will be a factor in the powerplay because of his hockey IQ. He has good vision and the ability to get the puck to the upcoming forwards in the transition game.  He has a ton of potential.

New Jersey Devils Vitali Kravtsov 17

The Devils are in dire need of a big, rugged winger. Hall was run over too many times. Vitall is a huge winger with some offensive upside. He is a fast winger who can get into the corners and uses his strength to his advantage. It is tough to get the puck off of him.

Columbus Blue Jackets Grigori Denisenko 18

A skillful Russsian with speed, high hockey IQ, Grigori thinks two steps ahead at all times. He needs to grow out a bit and get stronger. An extremely intelligent playmaker.

Philadelphia Flyers Rasmus Kupari 19

Rasmus is solid winger-center. He is a versatile player who skates very well, makes transitional plays by either carrying the puck over the blue line or is a good passer, and who knows how to distribute the puck.

Los Angeles Kings Mattias Samuelsson 20

A big mean, nasty dman who does his job well. He knows his ability and does not do more than he should. He does the little things well, a potentially solid stay-home dman.

San Jose Sharks Jett Woo 21

A fast-skating dman who came out of nowhere. Jett seems to be able to handle more each year. He is capable of playing all aspects of his game. Could be very handy on the powerplay.

Ottawa Senators Isac Lundestrom 22

A hardworking centreman. Very good on faceoffs. A very versatile forward, he can play all three forward positions. He will be used on the powerplay and the penalty killing unit. If the Senators are patient with him, he could be a solid second/third line centreman his entire career. A project a little ways away.

Anaheim Ducks  Serron Noel 23

A giant winger who is uses his size to his advantage. Serron has some offensive help, could develop into a power forward.  Perfect for a Duck.

Minnesota Wild Calen Addison 24

An offensive dman who carries the puck to end to end. An undersized dman who nevertheless plays big. He won't let people Push him around. Generally, a good skater. He may need to develop defensively.

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexander Alexeyev 25

A rugged dman with some nastiness. Exactly what the Maple Leafs ordered. He will be polished dman in years to come. He has some offensive potential. The Leafs would be lucky to have him.

New York Rangers Akil Thomas 26

A small centre who plays bigger than his size. Akil will step up when needed. He has some offensive punch and will help in all aspects of the game. A well-rounded centerman. He will take some time to develop. I am sure the Rangers will be patient with him.

Chicago Blackhawks Ryan McLeod 27

The Blackhawks need a big centerman who can add some size to their forwards. Just like his brother, he can handle himself. It is hard to get him off his feet. He will help the Blackhawks get stronger up the middle.

New York Rangers Rasmus Sandin 28

The Rangers' defence is in need of an all-around defence who can help in the offensive zone coverage. Rasmus can certainly help with that. A smart dman who knows how to transition the puck out of the zone.

St. Louis Blues Martin Kaut 29

A highly-skilled right winger with excellent puck skills. He sees the whole ice; he generally makes good decisions with the puck.  He has a strong show, is capable of finishing, and makes plays you don't think are there.

Montreal Canadiens Damien Giroux 30

Damien will put the puck in when called upon. A solid third line right winger with some scoring punch.

Detroit Red Wings Ty Dellandrea 31

Ty is a spark plug who shifts the momentum. He generally lifts his team with hard work. Has a ton of offensive skill.

Decision Time for Maple Leafs

I am pondering about the off-season. There are a lot of changes that need to be discussed in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup. For instance, what are we going to do about Mathews, Nylander, and Marner?

We really can’t sign all of them, can we? Then there is the reality that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to rebuild the defence. They had too many defence errors in their own zone.

Other than Henezi and O’Reilly, there are no other defencemen that the Maple Leafs can rely on defensively. Which begs the question, who calls Marner or Nylander? There are arguments to be made for either one staying.

First of all, let’s talk about the advantages of keeping William Nylander. Nylander is a fast-moving skater with a fantastic wrist shot. He is probably the smoothest skater on the team. He is fast and dangerous every time he has the puck. He and Matthews seem to know where each other are at all times.

Now on to Marner. Mitch is probably one of the best second-line centres in the League. Mitch is a perfect second-line centre.  Mitch will excel at the second line because he is not facing the number one line every night. He can do whatever you want without the limelight. Every other team will be focussed on stopping Matthews. That would give Mitch the freedom to do whatever he wants. I feel Mitch will excel as a second-line centre. He won’t have too much pressure, and he’s not the man, he's the secondary man. If Mitch were an actor, he probably could win best supporting actor in the series.

There you have it. As you can see, both players have their merits. When it comes down to it, it is simple mathematics. Or economics, I should say. William Nylander will fetch around $9 million. Mitch Marner, on the other hand, fetches about $10-11 million. Dare I say, some people seem to think that he will fetch as much as Mathews. The only reason I would pick William over Mitch is pure mathematics. Williams would the cheaper signing. I also think Mitch will get us a better defenceman in the trade market.

Talking about a new defenceman; who do the Maple Leafs go after? The most obvious one will be going through the free-agent market and getting Carlsson from Washington. He is a smooth skater and could be the perfect powerplay quarterback for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

My biggest fantasy would be acquiring a defenceman from the Nashville Predators. Of course, I am referring to PK Subban. The price tag for Shabbat would be very expensive. Although PK is one of the best defencemen in the League, a Maple Leaf simply cannot pay the price to acquire him.

Another player could be had from the St. Louis Blues. Of course, the defenceman I am thinking about is Colton Parayko. The defenceman would help Toronto immensely.

This offseason should be an interesting one, to say the least. The critical point the Toronto Maple Leafs have to fix is the defensive zone coverage. It will be interesting to see how they go about doing that. Only time will tell.

Life of a Blogger

There are times I really wonder when to mention a rumour. More to the point, it is so difficult to figure out when a rumour is true. I have not been able to find a reliable source until recently.

Even with a source, the next step is trying to figure out what to report. Over 80 percent of the info I get on discussions does not end up happening. There is an art to determining what has the best chance of happening. That does not mean the information was not true; but just because a team is talking, it doesn't mean they will agree on a package and announce deal.

The Flames have talked to many teams about receiving a number one pick in a trade. Trust me on this; in trying to figure out which ones are going to happen, I am bound to be fooled from time to time.

It is already going full tilt. Canes, Habs, Rangers Oilers, Islanders, Sens, Canucks, all with rumours of their picks in play. Then there is the John Rivers saga. Rumours of Habs, Sharks, and Knights leading the pack. Up to 15 teams want his services. Then there are the Flames trying to make a major trade to dump one of the top four dmen. It is common knowledge that the Flames have three young dmen who could be ready now. The Leafs, meanwhile are desperately looking for a top right dman. They need to shore up their defensive core. Meanwhile, in Long Island—my kingdom for a goalie. The Isles are in dire need of a starter.

Then there is the Lou sweet Lou. Say it isn't so. Are you leaving or are you staying? Oh, the dilemma. Again, I have been assured by every hockey insider in North America that he is leaving.

So please forgive me if I have a mental breakdown as we enter the most active offseason in years. I expect it to get even crazier as we get closer to draft day.

So sit back and share some of the popcorn.

And the MVP Is? Drum roll please...

So who is the Leaf's MVP this season?

Where would the team be without Matthews? Matthews' injury was devastating, but because the Leafs had such a lead, they still hung onto second place.

Could it be Reilly? The dman has 43 assists and has been the best dman all season. Reilly has carried the defensive core on his back. It is a rare quality for a young man. I would hate to see where this team would be on the defence without him.

The most obvious pick for the MVP vote has to be for the goalie. He has been fantastic all season. He is fundamentally as strong as any goalie in the NHL.  He has outstanding rebound control and always knows where the puck is. It does not matter how much offence we have had this season; there are no playoffs without our goalie.  Andersen has been our most consistent player day in and day out. 

Who do you want to play in the first in the round?  Bruins or Bolts? I may be one of the few who would rather play the Bolts. But unfortunately, it is not my choice. We play the Bruins.

The problem we have with playing the Bruins is their physical play. They will try to overrun the Leafs. Can the Maple Leafs stand up for themselves? They are going to have to play the Bruins tough. They cannot let themselves be intimidated. Reilly has to become the leader and set the example.

The Bruins have too much offence if the Leafs make all those turnovers. I am worried about our suspect defence against the Bruins forwards. They are too big and too talented for the Maple Leafs to be the Keystone Cops. Matthews, Marner, and JVR have to come back and help the defence. The forwards have to help in the offensive end.  They have to play defence first; if they don't, there is no series.

Leafs Buyers? Yeah, maybe a small one.

LEAFS  CONTINUE TO CLIMB, QUESTIONS CONTINUE TO BE ASKED

The Leafs continue to win and have one of the best offences in the NHL. But they have a young defence who continue to show weakness in their zone. To be fair, the forwards have had to start doing their fair share too.

I am the first to admit that watching the Leafs is fun. They are one of the most exciting teams in the league. Their games are full of action, up and down like a yo-yo. No lead is safe, which can be negative or positive.

I have witnessed many games where leads have become an adventure because a forward is trying to add to their stats. I am there right with all the Leafs loving all the offence, but most fans know it is defence that wins cups. The 1980s style of "run and gun" belongs in the past. Yes, the offence has to be part of the game, but total abandonment of the goalies cannot be tolerated.  The Leafs have to play with common sense.

The question is how to fix it? It is common knowledge that the Leafs are desperately looking for defencemen. The big name is Erik Gudbranson from the Canucks, but the price is a problem.  The Canucks will probably want a high pick with a prospect. I am not sure the Leafs are close enough this season to make that trade.

The Leafs have other options of trade bait beside picks and prospects. Tyler Bozak may be on the market. JVR is another name. The Leafs still have not made up their minds what to do.  Are they close enough to keep him and risk getting nothing for him in the offseason? Or there is another option? Perhaps making a "hockey trade" with a team in the West. (Meaning a trade to fulfil both teams' needs.) The third option would be to trade for some prospects and picks and use the assets for a future deal.  Kadri continues to be untouchable for the Leafs, as they are not interested in trading Marner.

For now, it looks as though the Leafs will remain a small buyer, adding small pieces for a run.  The situation is not likely to change, as they seem to be entrenched in that third spot. No one is catching up, but neither are they able to catch up to the hot Bruins.

Worrying signs

There have been some disturbing trends with the Maple Leafs lately. Do we blame the offence for the lack of scoring of late, or is the defence just weak?

I personally think it is a little of both. Or is it the system?  It sure seems like the Leafs go into this defensive shell and take their foot off the gas pedal.  They seem to be afraid of making mistakes with the lead.  When you play like you are trying not to lose, that is what happens — you lose.   The Leafs have to play like they are tied or behind all the time.

The lack of being able to put a team away is very puzzling. Think of about the offence the Leafs have on the roster. There's this Matthews guy, and then there is JVR, Nylander, and many more.  The tightness on the sticks has to loosen up. What do I mean? The Leafs have to go back to the basics.  Go to the net, shoot more, and most important, want it more than the other team.

If this game were based on talent, the Maple Leafs would one of the best teams in the league.  But it isn't. It is based on heart and hard work. The Golden Knights are the proven example of that. There is no other team that outworks the Knights.  The Leafs have to get back to hard work. Defense first and the offence will take care of itself. They have to work as a unit and not as individuals. Lately, the Leafs have had too many me's and not enough we on the roster.

I am looking at  Kadry and Bozak here. They have to become the leaders of this team. They have to start working. Take out the garbage.  There can be no passengers on this team. The Leafs have to realize that they can't win on their looks; it will take hard work. There are no easy wins in this league. The time for playing is now.

Andersen was right in speaking out on this team.  The Leafs have taken to many periods off, especially in the third.  It is time to stand up and start working as a unit. Boy, I'd give anything for some muscle right now.

Randy

Book Review Gluten-Free Murder

Erin is looking to clean the slate and starts over.  When she comes to Bald Eagle Falls to open a specialised bakery in her Aunt Clementine's old shop, is she in over her head?

Erin has to come to grips with a suspicious death in her bakery. The most ornery woman in town is the victim. There is no shortage of suspects, including herself. In fact, some would say she is the most significant prospect. Erin will learn what everyone already knows — that there are many secrets in this small Amercian town.

Full-time baker and part-time detective, Erin often butts heads with Officer Terry Piper. Erin's top priorities are to clear her name and find out the truth, and she is willing to do almost anything to get it done. She soon hires new assistant Vicky, and together they make Officer Piper's life more interesting! Not only does Terry have to find the killer, but he spends almost as much time telling Erin and Vicky to stay out of the investigation. Then there is the fact that just maybe the killer might be a little testy about getting caught.  You will not be able to put this book down, with all the twists and turns this murder mystery takes.

Trying to open a business is hard enough without trying to figure out who she can trust, including her assistant Vicky. Life in this small town is more than Erin bargained for; what has she gotten herself into?

A terrific cozy whodunnit you won't be able to put down.

Leafs Update

You have to be quite happy with the Leafs' play of late. There is still the worrisome play in the defensive zone. We still need that fourth or fifth dman that I have been barking about for the last little while.

The game in Colorado had some positives.  The Leafs never quit. Every time the Avs scored, the Leafs scored. The secondary scoring came through for the Leafs with Martin and Polak each getting a goal. So we got a dose on Pickard's debut in Colorado.  Pickard was not bad, and the Leafs might very well put him on showcase for the teams who are shopping for a backup goalie. Or in the Islanders situation, any goalie.

The Leafs showed heart in the contest. They still have a problem with defensive zone coverage. On the bright side, the Leafs are searching long and hard for another veteran defencemen. We do have Bozak, Marner, and JVR for bait, all of whom have been rumoured to be available. They continue to tell teams that Kadri is not.

The price of defencemen is going right now is JVR plus. At this moment, the Leafs are not willing to go that high. Yes, Marner is there, but the Leafs really want a quality dman in return. They would prefer JVR or Bozak as part of the package.  Overall, things are going quite well, but the Leafs have to keep an eye on the surging Bruins, they cannot let up.  Curtis McElhinney continues to be on the sidelines with an upper-body injury, so the Leafs will get a look at Pickard.