Every team could use a Kyle Clifford

Before I get on with the blog, I was sorry to hear about Maple Leafs losing Bob Niven. My sympathy to the Niven family and friends. Bob was part of the great sixties Maple Leafs team. He won two Stanley Cup rings. His best years in the NHL were with the New York Rangers. He had two thirty-goal seasons, one with the Rangers and one with the Kings. Bob was known as a hard-working forward who never gave up. He will be missed. I found a podcast on Bob I thought people would find interesting.

The Maple Leafs have some decisions to make, mostly on defence. But today, I would like to talk about one forward the Leafs brought in at the deadline, Kyle Clifford. I know there is very little chance of Toronto bringing him back; but I will say every team could use a Kyle Clifford!   

Toughness

Clifford is a tough buzzard. He is a nasty player who uses his size to his advantage. He is not afraid to get dirty in the corners. He will defend his teammates at a moment's notice. He is a man's man. 

Role Player 

Kyle is a typical fourth-line player. Penalty-killing is his best trait. He would clear the front of the net, keeping players honest. He is a great shot blocker who always stepped up to do what he was called to do. You can always rely on Kyle to do his job.

Last Word

The Maple Leafs will not re-sign Clifford, but they need a Clifford player. They need his heart and his style of play. The Maple Leafs need to be tougher this year. The Leafs were run over. Somehow, the Maples Leafs will have to find a replacement for him. They were outmuscled too many times this year. We could all use a Kyle Clifford in our lives.

Randy  

 

NY Islanders: Sweet Lou

The Islanders GM of the Year is coming off a pretty good year, isn't he?  I am the first to admit that I questioned the trade of bringing in Pageau. I thought the price was enormously high. This year's draft was one of the best in years. But looking back, it has worked quite well for the Islanders. 

There was a lot of head-scratching when the Islanders signed Semyon Varlamov. Again, people questioning what Lou was thinking?  Four years for Varlamov, no way would I bring a sub-par goalie. 

Well, Lou did it for two reasons. First, because Lou needed a number one goalie. The second and more vital reason was to entice Ilya Sorokin to sign. Semyon was one of Ilya's mentors. So how did it work? Sorokin signed, and the so-called sub-par goalie Semyon was all-world. 

Not all decisions that a GM makes are going to work out. Sometimes, they backfire. What made Lou the GM of the year was that his decision turned out. So why did it not work in New York or Toronto? I believe the difference was that Lou surrounded himself with the right group of people. He was given more control here. Lou was not given full authority in Toronto. The Maple Leafs were an offensively talented hockey team that did not fit Lou's team style. When he was allowed to run his system in New Jersey, look at what happened. Sometimes it comes down to fit, and it seems like Lou and the Islanders are a perfect fit for now. 

Last Word

Look for Lou to get some picks and shed some cap. This draft is one of the best in years and Lou would love to be part of it. Every spring, Lou tries to bring in a star. He'll need to shed some cap to achieve it. The most obvious picks would be Leddy or Bailey. A buy out is not feasible as the Ladd contract is pretty much buyout-proof.  

Randy

New York Islanders: This is Not a Eulogy

 

First of all, let me say this is not a eulogy. There is no death of this team, only growth. As a New York Islander fan, there is so much to be proud of. So many players hung it out there for the fans. Sure, I could concentrate on the loss. If only Nelson had scored on that breakaway. Sometimes, you have to give credit to the opposition goalie. Andrei Vasilevskiy made a tremendous save. I would rather concentrate on my inaugural year-end awards. So here we go.

The Coming of Age Award

Anthony Beauvillier

Anthony became a man in this playoff run. I saw glimpses of what Anthony will become. Beauvillier was, at times, the best of the New York Islanders, showing his speed, his shot, and his skills around the net. What excited me the most were the signs of him becoming a sniper. 

The Warrior Award

Adam Pelech

This one was a no-brainer. Seriously, he is the clearcut winner. Adam showed the Islanders' heart when he played in game five with a broken wrist. He is probably the best stay-home defenseman on the team. In the last two minutes left in a game, there is no one I would want more on the ice than Adam. His contract is a steal. What heart this player has. 

MVP

Seymon Varlamov

Semyon made a statement about these playoffs. I have something to say before heir apparent Iylia Sorokin takes the throne. I am goalie hear me roar! Semyon was outstanding. He did everything he could to take this series into game six. There is no one I felt put more into it than Seymon. He was the last man standing—what a statement he made before going into next season.  

Last word

Yes, the loss sucks. But the Islanders have a lot of exciting times coming down the pipe. The new arena. The best coach in the NHL. Matthew Barzal, one of the most exciting players. Ilya Sorokin, one of the best prospects in the NHL. And last but not least, GM of the year, Lou Lamoriello. I admit I questioned some of the moves he made, but I can't question the success he has had this season. Every year the so-called experts tell us why this team has no chance. Every year, they get one step closer to the big prize. (The big prize is the Stanley Cup, in case you fell on your head.) Hold your heads up, Islander fans; it is only going to get better from here. 

Randy

Is Frederik Andersen on the Market?

 

Everyone except the kitchen sink (and the kitchen sink too if it could talk.) says Freddy is on the market. I, for one, would really hate to see it happen. I am a huge fan of the Freddie and Campbell combination. With a decent defence, they would give us a chance to win every night.  

So why is he on the market?

There could be a couple of reasons—one obvious and one a stretch. Of course, the first reason is that the Leafs do not have the cap to re-sign Freddy. Freddy has one more year left at $5 million. Freddy gots to get paid after next season. The Maple Leafs simply don't have the cap room to give him a raise. Basic math tells me the Leafs have to make room or move him out. I'm not too sure the Maple Leafs will be willing to part with other talent in order to keep him. I would hate to lose him, but the casualties of the cap world sometimes do suck.

The second possibility is that he has asked to be traded, but I doubt that he has. I have not heard any such claims. 

What are the options?

Matt Murray RFA $3,750,000

The pens will have Murray on the market. A good quality, proven goalie. The reason he will be and Jarry won't be is the cap. And Casey DeSmith is an NHL-calibre backup goalie. Murray would give most teams an excellent chance to win every night. He covers the angles but may not be quite as good as Andersen.

Darcy Kuemper 2 more years $4,500,000

Darcy is one of the best netminders in the league. He covers the angles and has a great glove hand. Two more years on a contract is a plus. The problem is, will we be able to re-sign him in two years? He is on par with Andersen, if not better. I love this kid; if it were my choice, he would be my selection.  

 

Last word

In my next blog, I will go over the free-agent market for goalies. The Leafs have some major choices ahead of them, the most significant being goal, the second being defence, which I have discussed in another blog. 

Nostalgia: The Leafs and the Big M Trade

I have been a Maple Leafs fan for years. I enjoy reminiscing about the good old days. I remember watching a game on Youtube, and my son came in and noticing it was not in colour, wanted to know if there was something wrong with the TV. I know, right? LOL. Those were the good old days.

I especially remember a trade that rocked the hockey world in the 1968 season. The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Doug Barrie, Paul Henderson, Floyd Smith, and Norm Ulman from the Red Wings. The big news was who was going the other way. The Toronto Maples Leafs shipped FRANK MAHOVLICH, with the rights to Carl Brewer (contracts problems with Leafs), Pete Stempkowski, and Gary Unger to the Detroit Red Wings. Do you notice that I put Frank Mahovlich's name in capital letters? Heck, I even bolded it for more emphasis. I put his name in bold letters.

Frank, who was known his nickname of the big M (not that his name was hard to pronounce) because he also had a younger brother. Frank was Toronto's favourite son and the Leafs took him away from us. Well, in a six-year-old brain anyway. We just traded the greatest player in the history of the Maple Leafs. The big M was, by far, the Maple Leafs' best player; if there were an untouchable player, it would be him. The Leafs fans were outraged. Everyone was expecting a shake-up, but not the man you don't mess with the man. 

Neither the Maple Leafs nor the Red Wings turned things around. Both teams missed the playoffs. To this day, I say the Maple Leafs have the Big M Curse. They have not won the Stanley Cup since. That is my story, and I am sticking to it. 

Randy

Jean-Gabriel Pageau: The Goring of 2020?

 

We are turning the clock back to the 1980-81 trade deadline in the NHL. The  New York Islanders' trade deadline, that is. The Islanders were looking for that one player to make a push in the playoffs. They were looking for a centre who could ease the pressure on Trottier. Enter Butch Goring of the LA Kings, a trade that cost Billy Harris and Dave Lewis several Stanley Cup rings. They have been sending Goring hate letters ever since. (joke) 

It was not Butch Goring's stats that made him so valuable. It was his versatility. He could be used in all aspects of the game: in the powerplay, short-handed, or 5-on-5. He could be put in for a vital faceoff.  He could be thrown in the third line, the fourth line, or even the first line. He could adjust to every situation. He was that vital piece to make a sports car run even faster. 

Fast forward back to 2020. Enter Mr.  Pageau, another centre the Isles so desperately needed at the deadline.  Everyone knew the Islanders needed one more scorer to ensure they made the playoffs. They just did not have enough scoring support on the bottom six. Their special teams were struggling. They needed that spark to light a fire under their butts. Pageau, like Goring, can fill in any lines, whether the first or second or third line. What makes Jean-Gabriel so valuable is his hard work and desire to get things done. 

Sound familiar? It is interesting when you think about the timing of both trades. I am not saying Pageau will bring the Isles the cup. But he might be that player that lift the Islanders to new heights. 

Randy

Islanders' Powerplay, Where are thou?

The Islanders outplayed the Bolts all night. They were forcing Tampa to take stupid penalties and run all over the ice. The problem, though, was that the powerplay was firing blanks. Good for a show, but not so much on the scoreboard.  

The two significant powerplays were the five-on-three and the full five-minute major. The five-on-three was especially concerning. There was no urgency. One play, Victor Hedman intercepted a pass and was allowed to skate down to the Islanders' end. That cannot happen.  

I understand fans' frustration with certain players. I can even strongly see their point. What do I say to that? Trotz's words continue to go through my head: we lose as a team; we win as a team. Ebs did not have a strong game; I get that. But he was not the only player on the ice during the anemic powerplay. 

My first reaction to the powerplay was: "Shoot the ****** puck!" Looking back, I would tone it down to, "Shoot the puck."  In the 1989 Season, the Flames had one of the best powerplays in the NHL. The Calgary Flames had defencemen who could shoot the puck from the blueline. Sound familiar? They would feed Al MacInnis and shoot the crap out of the puck.  Well, the Islanders have Ryan Pulock, who can shoot the crap out of the puck. The Islanders are too busy making things too complicated. I like the KISSD theory (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) When Pulock is not on the ice, let Toews shoot the puck. Go back to the basics. If the Isles had a powerplay, that game is over. Stop trying to impress people and shoot the puck. 

This just in: When you are on a five-on-three powerplay, you should maybe shoot the puck. 

Randy

The Leafs and Dumba: Are They a Match Made in Heaven?

 

As soon as I heard the rumour that the Wild were shopping Dumba, I knew the Leafs needed to get in on this. It is common knowledge that the Maple Leafs need help on the blue line. Dumba is probably better than anyone in the free agency who is on contract. A solid stay-home defenceman who does not mess around in his own end. He is a rock-solid hitter who takes no prisoners. 

Now the problem: what is he going to cost? A number two defencemen won't be cheap. The next thing to consider is what is the Wild needs. The Wild are looking for a center/forward, and the Leafs have one player who fills that role. Enter William Nylander, a top-six forward who just might meet the Wild needs. The trade fits both teams and would improve both. That is a definition of a win-win. 

Not that I want to see Nylander go, but he is the most logical player. The Leafs are not trading Matthews and the Wild cannot afford Tavares. Marner is out of the question; the Maple Leafs would to much for him. So it comes down to Nylander fitting the role and the Wild being able to take on his cap.

Last word

The St. Louis Blues recently sent Jake Allen to the Montreal Canadiens. This gives the Blues additional funds to sign defencemen Alex Pietrangelo. Which makes Matt Dumba the perfect fit as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Shutout! Greiss is the Flyers' Kryptonite

The New York Islanders advanced with a perfect game plan, manhandling the Flyers 4-0. Talking about Islanders, how about Barzy showing up? Matthew Barzal proved he could play with the big boys. He proved he could take a licking and keep on getting back up.

Another unsung hero has to be Green, don't you think? What a stable influence he has been since coming in. You have to believe he has earned a contract extension.  Nothing fancy; he does his job and nothing more.  He scored an excellent goal in the first period. 

One of the Islanders fans told me something I firmly believe. "The Islanders play a lot better in front of Greiss. I don't know what it is; the team is so much calmer in front of Greiss." It was a great observation. It is like they have more confidence in him that they do in Varly. They played like a well-oiled machine. 

Trotz takes no prisoners with this team; he holds everyone responsible when they mess up. When they start listening, they are rewarded, and Trotz reminds them of what they are doing well. They might very well be the best team of the four. They might not have the best talent, but they have the most faith in their Coach. Barry Trotz is in charge; there is no doubt about that. 

Maple Leafs: Defining a Captain

A captain is a cog in your team engine and needs to fit correctly. He is the sugar in your coffee, the cream in the ice cream. I could go on, but I think you get my point.  

By definition, a captain is a leader—the first out on the ice and last to leave. He has to hold the room together. If there is a problem in the dressing room, he has to fix it. The captain is the man the team turns to in a crisis. 

So does John Tavaras fit that definition? I saw the Jackets vs Maple Leafs games, where at times he was the only one skating. He is a quiet leader. His actions speak louder than his words. He might not be there with the pom poms, but he is in the corners getting the puck.  

It does not matter how the captain is a leader, as long he leads in the right direction. As I run through the stats, I hear some arguments telling me Matthews should be the captain. But the best players don't always make the best captains. John is also the hardest worker on the team. He does not quit on a puck. He makes everyone around him better.  

Last word

Is Andersen on the Market? I cannot count the number of times this season I was chanting, "Freddy, Freddy!" So why are we putting him on the market? Basic economic reasons. His contract comes up next season. He is making $5 million this season and will want a raise his next contract. The Leafs can't afford the cap. That being said, we'd better get a goalie and hopefully a defenceman back. Good luck shopping, Maple Leafs.

Randy