My Leaf Christmas

Before I start, let me say Merry Christmas to all and all a good night. Santa Claus is coming around, putting gifts and toys in your stockings. So what is he putting in the Maple Leaf stocking?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been running on all cylinders this season and there has been little to complain about. They just need a little tinkering. I would love to add a little more stability to the defense by bringing in a number 5 defenseman. For that, I am wishing for Santa to bring a Brian Glennie. If you don't know who he is, please look him up! The addition would strengthen the Leafs' defense and provide Reilly with some much-needed support.

The Brian Glennie Player

Every team needs another stay-home steady defenseman, and the Maple Leafs are no different. The best player that fits that description is Justin Braun. Justin is great on his own and plays the body. He keeps players honest. The Maple Leafs could also use his help in the toughness department.

A Healthy Reilly

The other worry is making sure Morgan Reilly is healthy. Having Morgan back is like bringing in a new player at the deadline. The Maple Leafs have missed his presence. He is by far their best blue-liner and makes everyone around him better. 

I love the way the Leafs are playing right now. Who wouldn't? The greatest gift they can give their fans is remembering their defensive responsibilities. Sure, it would be awesome to bring another forward to help the third line, but I worry about ruining the chemistry. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! My fingers are crossed that they don't mess anything up.

Randy

My Isles Christmas

Before I start, let me say Merry Christmas to all and all a good night. Santa Claus is coming to town, putting gifts and toys in your stockings. So what is he putting in the Isles stockings? 

Let's not be greedy; the Isles have two pressing needs that need to be addressed immediately.

Isles need a power forward who can take advantage of Barzal's generosity. You know, someone who can fill the net with pucks. For the sake of nostalgia, let's call him a Mike Bossy player.

The Mike Bossy Player

The power forward must meet my list of specific characteristics. The first is that he must have the ability of a one-timer. He has to have an accurate and quick release. There is a misconception that wrist shots must be hard to be effective. Most of the time, the quick release gets it done. The second ability he needs is to understand Barzal. Knowing where he is supposed to be at all times is vital for his success as a sniper with Matt. My first gift to the Isles is Vladimir Tarasenko.

 

The second gift for the Isles roster is more complicated. It is dependent on the injury status of Adam Pelech. The concussion issue is frustrating; you never know how long it will last. Every player is different, and of course, there is the degree of the injury. If Pelech is out long-term, we need someone who is durable. Let's call him the Ken Morrow player. If Pelech's injury is less severe, a player like Dave Langevin, who is not quite as good will suffice to fill the gap. 

The Ken Morrow Player

Nathan Beaulieu is a big steady dman who is nothing fancy and may not be a sexy pickup, but someone who gets the job done. Great shock blocker who can play the man. He is decent with the puck and is a decent passer. He can fill nicely for Pelech while he is out and would make a decent number five when Pelech returns. 

The Dave Langevin Player

Now just the fill in a player, the shorter-term player. A number five-six type of dman who knows his abilities. 

Luke Schenn is a nasty stay-home defenseman who can clear a room. A no-nonsense dman you don't notice. This is good because he ensures everything is running well on the defensive end—a perfect fill-in short-term solution. 

Randy

Isles: Do they need to worry?

The Isles's losses to the Flyers and Preds were worrisome, but they rebounded with a 3-0 over the Blackhawks. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are getting tiresome. The Isles have to be consistent to be successful. 

This lands on Matthew Barzal. He is the man who stirs the pot. I love how he has been playing; he is skating like the wind. But the biggest improvement is shooting the puck. Another good sign is that Dobson is firing bombs from the point. He is getting involved with the offense, which is vital to the success of the Isles. What is making the Isles inconsistent is the defensive blunders. 

Brock Nelson has been on a mission this season. He is scoring at a pace of 40 goals. He has been a great support to Barzal. The Islanders' offense is fine; it is where it suppose to be. I love the first two lines, and I would love the bottom two lines to support it, but beggars can't be choosers. 

They need to improve in staying out of the penalty box. Although the penalty killing is good, it takes away momentum or flow in the Islander's game. 

Is there a concern about Pulock's health? He has been really struggling this season. He has not had the energy that he has shown in the past. He needs to be up to the task in the defensive zone coverage. He has been off during the beginning of the season.

Varly is picking up his game during his last start against the Blackhawks. He was lights out. He felt it with the Hawks; he was in a significant role. I loved his attention to the play. His puck vision was dead on. He rarely was caught out of position and controlled the rebounds to a minimum. 

The ups and downs of a season. As an Islanders fan, there is plenty to be excited about. But there are still concerns. The Islanders have to get more consistent and can't afford to take time off. They need to play a full sixty minutes to cut down the defensive lapses. 

Randy 

The Midas Touch

The Maple Leafs have been running on all cylinders of late. It seems like everything they do turns into gold. Seriously what is happening in Toronto? I have gotten all sorts of answers. The most popular one is the Maple Leafs are buying into the defensive game in front of the goalies. This is very accurate. I have especially noticed how well the forwards have been coming back into the zone and coming out as a unit. The defense, knowing their limitations, is doing only what is needed. It is vital that they not get caught out of position. 

Another answer is less obvious. I asked my source his thoughts on why the Maple Leafs continue to win. He promptly answered: Mitch Marner. Mitch is on an 18-game point streak, but he does much more than just score goals. Mitch has led the Forwards. Since the Reilly injury, Mitch has put a lot of work into his defensive game. 

The third answer is goaltending. Whether it was Murray, Samsonov, or Kallgren, bad goals have been nonexistent. It is much easier to play defense when your goalie has your back. I wanted to comment on the job Erik Kallgren did in the absence of Samsonov. Kallgren was nothing short of outstanding. He gave the Leafs every chance to win. The Maple Leafs don't need goaltending to be perfect. What they need is to be steady. For the most part, he was there doing his job and bailing them out. 

Final word

There has been a suggestion that the Leafs might return to their old style when Brodie and Reilly come back. Hear me out. They should not because they're playing playoff hockey; their style will win defense and championships. 

Randy

Utopia? Or maybe we should slow down

The Islanders are playing the best they have in a long time. Scoring depth has been at an all-time high. I see Palmari connecting again; he has taken his game to a new level. I have to mention the man General Lee. The general is the hardest working member of the team right now. His garbage mentality makes him a dangerous power forward. Lee has an uncanny ability to grab a lost puck and put it in the net.  

Brock Nelson has been excellent this season. He has one of the most underrated wristers in the league. If he continues, he will easily be a 30-goal scorer. Nelson has done everything he has been asked to do. 

Is JT taking over this team?

John Tavares may be playing the best season of his career. He is bringing it every game. My source says, "JT has been the leader since the captain joined the team. What makes him the leader is he is willing to do what it takes to win."

The Maple Leafs have been struggling of late, until the victory over the Flyers on Wednesday night. Defense has been a sore spot, whether it is missing assignments or making huge mistakes, adding up to many scoring chances and abandoning goalies to their own devices. 

The forwards are too lazy. Instead of resorting to hooking or tripping minors, the forwards have to start hustling and helping out the defense. Their primary infraction is leaving the zone too quickly and not giving the defense options to pass the puck, which leads to blind passes and icings. 

Offense has also been struggling; the pressure is on the big two. Matthews and Marner have to pick it up, as JT and Nylander have been doing their part. I never thought the offense would be a problem. Hopefully, the Philly game is a sign of good things to come. 

Update

The Maple Leafs might be fixing their problems of late with wins over the Canes and Bruins. There were even some positive notes in the Vegas game. Marner might have played his best game of the year. 

Randy

Murray Concerns?

The season has just started and there are concerns about the man Matt Murray. The main concern is about his glove hand. I will say he had no chance on the Habs' fourth goal. 

Murray was a little rusty in his first start. But it was just his first start. He wasn't the only one to blame. There was a team in front of him. 

I noticed the Habs were beating up consistently on his glove hand. They concentrated on shooting high on his glove hand, where he was vulnerable. His positioning could cause his vulnerability, as could his slow glove hand. Both problems could easily be addressed by proper coaching. So there is a need for improvement, but nothing that can't be fixed. 

I was disappointed by Nick Robertson being sent to the Marlies. I understand why it happened. Nick did not have to clear waivers to be sent down, but Denis Malgin, the forward he was fighting for a spot did. The Maple Leafs worried that Denis would not clear, hence the move to send down Nick to the minors. 

Nick has years ahead of him and will be a solid player. I love his hard work ethic and his skill. Robertson was the best forward in camp. He is a natural skater and sniper because of his excellent wrist shot. He will be the first call-up in the season.

So far, the season's story has to be defenceman Mark Giordano. Mark has been terrific in all aspects of the game. He is skating very well. I love his ability to distribute the puck. He is playing like the Gio in Calgary. 

Randy

Another Season, Another Dollar

The Islanders are about to enter another season. The biggest question going in has to be the Barzal question. Is he worth it?

If you talk to most Isles fans, they will inform you he is.  

I met with a person closer to the situation than I am, Paul Kreischer. You can find him @P_Kreischer on Twitter. He also has a YouTube show, Isles Talk. I highly recommend it. 

Do you like the contract?

Paul: "Yes, I like it as long as the money was under 10 Million."

My thoughts

Barzal said he wanted to be an Islander for a long time. The only thought I had was the number I was hoping for $8.5. Although I thought it was a little high, I am happy the Isles took care of it. 

 

Paul, why is it okay to pay a little extra for a long-term contract?

"With the salary cap rising to close to around $92 million, this will not hurt the team long-term, plus it gives any future the flexibility to manage the team. Any Future GM will do this."

Randy

I get why the Isles went for the long-term deal. The Calgary Flames did the same thing with Huberdeau and Weegar. The cap going up soon gives the Isles lots of wiggle room. 

Fans corner 

The other day, a fan voiced his concern about the Islanders. He went on to mention that Barzal needs a sniper. He believes the Islanders dropped the ball in the offseason by not addressing the issue of bringing in a sniper. There is no offense. Varly and Sorokin have no room for error. The goaltending has to be perfect for the Islanders to have a chance to win.

Leafs Camp Notes

Matt Murray has been a brick wall. He has been outstanding; goaltending will not be a problem if he can stay healthy. Samsonov has held his weight. It has been a great preseason. 

The main story in this camp is the Leafs might have found a second line. Robertson, Nylander, and Kerfoot seem to be clicking. Robertson had seven points this off-season when I wrote this blog. I love the way this line looks so far. I know it's preseason, but it is promising so far. Robertson the sniper, Keerfoot the grit, and Nylander, the playmaker. The perfect recipe for a top line. 

Gio is looking like the Calgary Flames Gio. He has been outstanding so far. I love how he has gotten involved in the offensive zone. Gio could be the leader in that blue line. He is a perfect mentor for the young defencemen. He knows his limitations and is a stable influence on the defensive end. 

JT is going more than likely going to miss at least a couple of weeks. Someone is going to have to pick up the pace. The big line is going to need support. Kerfoot will have to play the way he is right now to fill the void. If he does, that will go a long way in the success or failure this season.

It's Christmas time in the City

It's everyone's favourite time of year, when Islanders fans can start with a clean state. Last year was a year which we all would like to forget.

The defense was fine, but the Isles could not score a goal if their life depended on it. Sorokin is one of the best goalies in the league. That being said, we need to give him more support. We can't go on scoring one or two goals a game and expect him to be perfect. That is way too much pressure to put on a goalie. The big boys have to come out to play. They have to start putting more effort into the offensive side. On the bright side, Coach Lambert will open up a little more. I suspect he will add more life to the system. How do you do that by taking advantage of a team's mistakes? Well, being good defensively.

The Islanders can't trade offensive chances, so they have to counterpunch, taking advantage of the team's mistakes. When the Islanders were effective, they would stick to their opponents like glue. They never gave up on a play; they outworked their opponents to death. Too often last year, the Islanders were out-chanced every game. The Isles' new coaching staff will have to make some changes this year. 

There are a couple of positive vibes this season. Having Pulock and Pelech for the entire season is enormous. Often described as the best defensive pairing, Pulock will add to the scoring, while Pelech is one of the best defenders in the league. 

The Isles have the weapons to be successful. Is Lambert capable of using them to their full extent? Only time will tell. 

Leafs: Goaltending

I was looking for ideas on what to write this week when a friend contacted me and asked about the goaltending this season on the Maple Leafs. I have often defended Soup about his last season in the net. Although I don't think he is an elite goalie, I don't blame him for last season.

Did the Maple Leafs improve on the goaltending this year? Acquiring Murray is a considerable gamble. He has not been the same since his Pens years. I am not sold on Murray being able to return to form. I worry about him letting in weak goals. That said, the Leafs will be fine if he can be average to a little above average. 

The wild card here is the backup or 1b goalie. Samsonov is young and has a ton of potential. If Murray can mentor him—colour me intrigued. I'm interested in seeing the results. 

Overall, I think the Leafs will be a little worse than last year. But I also feel they can be better defensively than last year, which will make up for it. 

I asked around if the Maple Leafs would have been interested in Varly, but was told no because of his age. The Leafs also didn't like his cap hit, and the Isles were not offering any cap relief. Got said these were the two best options they could see; whether or not it's the right selection time will tell.

Randy

Isles House Cleaning

Lou went to town, knowing he had to clean up his house. After the dust is cleared, we can all breathe more freely. The house is all clear. There is no more yelling, screaming, and stress. It's time to relax.

But I digress. We all knew that these deals were done. Lou was in no hurry to announce the details. The timing of the contracts is classic Lou; right after the Kadri signing in Calgary. Lou was waiting to see what Kadri would do. Kadri said he was choosing the team that could make the room first. It wasn't that Kadri didn't want to go to Long Island; I am not sure he had any preference. Lou chose not to pay the price that it would take to bring Kadri in. 

Let's discuss what these three deals do to the Isles. 

Alexander Romanov

The Isles needed an offensive defencemen who could distribute the puck up to the forwards. Alexander is an offensive defenceman. He is a terrific, playmaking dman who can lead the rush. Romanov is exactly what the doctor ordered. The Islanders were slow in getting the puck moving in rushes out of their zone. Alexander gives them more speed in the lineup and more space in the offensive zone. The powerplay will benefit from his shot and passing abilities. 

Kieffer Bellows 

I have often complained about how the Isles use Kieffer in the lineup. Kieffer can add the odd goal and is capable of scoring 10-15 goals for the Isles. The Isles have to put Kieffer's talents to better use. He can add some offense to the third line.

Noah Dobson 

It does not take a genius to notice that Noah is the best dman on the team. Noah will be the leader of the defense. Dobson's greatest asset is his shot. He is a powerplay quarterback and his cannon from the blueline is his key to success. The Islanders should consider putting a letter on his jersey. 

Last word

The Isles vitally need a sniper with Barzal. Lou has to make this his number one priority. The Isles have some cap room to fill one last need. I am sure Lou will go shopping and try to find another forward in a top-six role. Hopefully, Lou will find a partner to dance with.

Randy

Mike Stelter, Our Hearts Go Out to You

Sometimes I am reminded that hockey is just a game. It is brutally accurate at this time of tragedy. I am confident that I can say we all loved Ben and were touched by his spirit. I loved what the Oilers did for this youngster. Whether we met him or not, we were all touched by his extraordinary spirit. I never had the privilege, but I admired his determination and his love for life. No words can make up for the Stelter family, but I hope they take comfort in the love and support of their extended hockey family. 

Börje Salming The Legend

When  I think of Salming, I think "true blue." If there has ever been a perfect Maple Leaf, I think Salming is it. What I most remember of Salming is his courage. He was not willing to back down from any challenges. He had a heart of a champion and was a true leader in the dressing room. 

April 15, 1976, Salming was mixing it up after a hit. Borje did not go out and ask for trouble, but if it came knocking, he wasn't shy about letting it in. It always shocked me the beating he would take and would get right back up again. He was like the Timex watch that takes a licking but keeps on ticking. 

Borje Salming was a no-nonsense, do what it takes to win player, especially in his own end. Yes, Borje had some offensive talent. He had his share of powerplay time in years of prime. Salming had four straight 70-point seasons: 1976-1977 season through to the 1979-80 season. The 79-80 season was his most goals. 19 was almost like 45 goals forward. He got the most points, 78, in the  76-77 season; he also had his most assists that same year, (66.) So you can see he was a gifted offensive defenceman. 

Don't get me wrong; I have memories of Salming mixing it up with Dave the Hammer Shoults.

But I prefer to remember him like this:

Borje loves his fans. The fans loved him. He will always be remembered as a hero. His heart will be with the Maple Leafs and will be honoured always. 

Borje Salming night.

Randy 

This and that and oh yeah, some guy name Kadri

I have heard nothing but complaints from Islanders fans wanting the Isles to do something. Everyone has been waiting for them to make a huge move. Ninety percent of the people I have talked to have told me it is only a matter of time before we sign Kadri.

I speculate that the Isles must clear the cap to fit in Kadri. I have seen suggestions the Isles are trying to move out Pageau, Bailey, and Beauvillier. Let me address the big elephant in the room: Is Kadri worth trading away these players? 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Pageau is a solid third-line centre. He adds a little to the offensive powerplay. He is good for 15-20 goals. I love his speed and play on the penalty kill. 

Josh Bailey

Josh is a great penalty killer with great speed. His strength is his playmaking abilities. He could be a top-six forward or a great third-line forward.

Anthony Beauvillier

In my opinion, Beauvillier is the best option for the Islanders to trade. He is the most offensively gifted of the three and will get back the most value. He has a terrific shot and his ability to get in the open spaces makes him a great asset for another team. 

As I write this blog, it sounds like the Isles are closing in on acquiring Kadri. Most people seem to think the defense is untouchable. But the defense is a strength that could get you more in a package and free up more cap quicker. Only time will tell. I am alone on an island with this. 

The other concern is Pageau's and Bailey's salaries are five million, meaning the Islanders might have to throw in a sweetener to make this happen. 

Randy 

2022 Draft: New York Islanders Priorities

The Islanders' top priority is defense at the draft. Although they really like Lambert, cooler heads will likely prevail and they will go with the defense. It was hard to determine which dman to pick, and it came down to which one I saw in the first round. The one I came up with is the one I think that might be there at number 13.

13 Pavel Mintyukov 

Defense 

Pavel is an offensively gifted defenseman. Pavel keeps the puck alive and battles with his size. Above average in the defensive zone defender. Pavel is a great puck distributor as well as rushing with the puck. He has the potential of being a top pairing dman. 

Come the second round; I feel the greatest need is a power forward if one is available.

65 Vinzenz Rohrer 

Right-Wing 

Vinzenz is a gifted offensive right-winger with a decent shot. He is willing to get his nose dirty and will fight for the puck. I especially like his willingness to fight in the corner for the puck. The Isles need a little more sandpaper with a scoring touch. He fits the bill. 

For the rest of the picks, I will just mention the names of the players. 

Round 3

78 Topias Leinonen 

Goaltender

NO Round 4

Round 5

142 Ludvig Jansson  

Defense

Round 6

174 Connor Hvidston 

Centre

See my full mock draft here.