Unsung Heroes: How Hildeby, Stecher and Laughton Are Quietly Winning Games

This is about the unsung heroes. These players do not need the limelight to perform. They do the little things that are necessary to win. They are players who are not afraid to get their hands dirty.

Dennis Hildeby

Is the Hildebeast the real deal? Hildeby has been playing the best in his career. He has taken every advantage of his chance to shine. He has been fundamentally sound all season. What makes Hildeby so good is his ability to use his size. He uses his size to his advantage to cover his net. I love his quickness when he moves side to side. Does Hildeby make Stolartz expendable? If Dennis keeps up his play, it allows the team to strengthen the forwards by maybe bringing in a top-six forward. It might be an issue as Stolartz recovers from his health.

Troy Stecher

Troy has played beyond anyone's expectations. He just does things right. Troy plays the man who rarely gets caught following the puck. What makes a good player is knowing his limits and not overdoing it. Troy will not cost you the game with his mistakes. He does not panic with the puck. That is because he is busy trying to do more than he is capable of. He is what he is: a solid defenceman who is defensively sound.

Scott Laughton

Scott is the ultimate team player, willing to do whatever it takes to win. Scott has been used in the penalty kill, and his penalty skills are second to none. He is a valuable asset to the team.

Final Word

The Maple Leafs are beginning to learn that they can win in different ways. They are probably playing their best defensive game of the season. They gave away nothing to Tampa Bay. And if they did, then they were stymied by Hildeby.

Three in a Row and Counting: Momentum, Mistakes, and the Next Move

What is next for the Leafs? Do they want a replacement on the blueline? What is Stolarz's current status—how badly is he injured? Was it a long-term or short-term injury? Are the Leafs still going to try to find that missing forward? Do they still believe in themselves?

With all of these uncertainties in mind, it's worth noting that as of the time of writing this blog, the Maple Leafs have defeated the Pens, the Panthers, and the Canes.

The Pittsburgh game was especially impressive, not only because they scored seven goals but also due to their defensive soundness in their own end. The Pittsburgh game might have been the best sixty-minute game of the season.

The Panthers' game was essentially the defeat of a beaten-up squad. Florida might have been short-handed, but you still have to perform. Good on the Maple Leafs for executing their game plan. The key point to their victory was that they beat the Panthers at their own game—playing physically and pushing the pace when they could.  The defence was getting the puck out of the defensive zone, and more importantly, the forwards were giving them targets to pass to. Nothing fancy, just working hard and executing on their chances. What was just as important was that they limited the Panthers' scoring chances. I am a firm believer that defence wins championships.

Carl Kneis was a beast. He played with hustle and refused to give up. Matthews scored his best goal of the season on a 2-on-1. Hildeby was outstanding in the net. He has really fit in nicely as a fill-in for Stolartz. Losing Woll in the game is concerning. Depending on the severity of the injury, we may need to go with goalie shipping.

The main problem for the Maple Leafs is consistency. They go through stages: winning two in a row, then losing two in a row. It is like they get too confident, thinking they're better than they really are, and forget all the basics.

What is next?

• Remember how to win.
• Keep up the hard work.
• Protect your own end.
• Keep track of your man in the defensive zone.
• Fulfil your responsibilities and work together as a team.

Final word

I think the Leafs will get another dman. And if they can, another forward.

It is exciting to see the Leafs getting it together for three wins in a row. Hildeby will earn his keep. It is his time to shine, or should I say, put up or shut up?

What defencemen should the Leafs attempt to acquire? The two best—Andersson and Hughes—are out of the question. Maybe the defenseman Pavel Mintyukov. He would be my pick.

Randy

It’s Time to Talk Turkey — Do the Isles Go All In?

The Isles are at a crossroads this season; they have to make a decision about the direction of this team. In the last blog, I wrote about a replacement for Romanov. Do I dare say the loss of Kyle Palmieri is worse? Where is the offense coming from? If they’re serious about making the playoffs, the Isles need to address the issue.

Unless another forward steps up to help Bo Horvat, the offensive production will be a problem. The Isles’ forwards are going to have to pick it up. I am looking at you, Jonathan Drouin, with three goals this season. He needs to improve. Anders Lee, with five goals, will have to pick up his game, too. The one player who has played well is the unsung hero, Emil Heinemann. He is the only other player in double digits.

The next quandary is what to do with Matt Barzal. Do the Islanders separate the two to add scoring depth? Could Barzal survive on his own? I think he has to for the Islanders’ success. Last but not least, the Isles need the bottom list to pinch in. The scoring as a committee will be full force.

The best solution is the trade route. Can the Isles find a suitable partner who is willing to talk turkey? Pardon the pun, can the Isles find the right dressing to bring the team to the table? It all comes down to whether the New York Islanders want to go all in or play it cool and try to pull off a hockey trade.

Final Word

There is one player I would put high on my list if I were the New York Islanders. Let’s qualify this before I go ahead—I am in no way suggesting that the New York Islanders are talking to the Calgary Flames. This is only a suggestion, not inside info. That being said, the play I would highly recommend is the New York Islanders, with Blake Coleman from the Calgary Flames.

Do you think the Islanders are a playoff team? It’s material at this moment because the fact is, they are within shouting distance of making the playoffs. Like it or not, those are the facts. Whether you feel they are a playoff team or not doesn’t change their position. The New York Islanders will have a choice to make by the deadline. Do they go for it, or will they sell and get ready for the draft next year? That is anyone’s guess. I would look into replacing the injured players and take it from there.

Randy 

Romanov’s Exit: Short-term Fixes and Long-term Plans for the Isles

The Isles are dealing with the loss of Romanov

First of all, no one has died. Whew, now that we have dealt with that, let's move on. The Islanders are the best not-talked-about team in the NHL. The Islanders sit in second place in the Metro and second in the Eastern Conference. Statwise, those are facts at the time I am writing this article. But are the Islanders the team the numbers say they are?

That depends on how far Matthew Schaefer can take them. Matthew has been all that and then some. A mature young man who has carried the team on his shoulders. The next question is, do you believe Schaefer can do that for the whole season? Better yet, if he does, can the Islanders make the playoffs? If the answer is yes, then the Isles need to replace Romanov with an equal or better defenseman.

Pavel Mintyukov

The best option out there is Pavel Mintyukov, a big, nasty, left-handed dman. He is a steady, no-flash dman who can help on our end.

  

Mario Ferraro

Another possibility that comes to mind is San Jose Sharks Mario Ferraro. Again, nothing flashy offensively, but he is an NHL-calibre dman who will fill in nicely. He is steady and knows his limitations; you're not bringing him in for his offensive prowess anyway.

Final Word

In my professional opinion, the Isles are shopping for a dman. But they will try at first to see how it goes. If they continue to win, they may take the kids with them. A good GM always takes his time and will not rush into anything. They could go big game hunting, but the cost would be high. 

The Maple Leafs’ Crisis: Coaching, Core, or Culture?

Leafs fans are probably getting tired of hearing the Maple Leafs are showing no life. You’re probably getting sick of how they are finding new ways to lose each game. And of course, the injuries are piling up as if this team were cursed. All these facts are true, but they don’t change the fact that we are getting tired of hearing them. 

Yet these players continue to live by the definition of insanity, doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. We continue to see them throwing the puck away, putting in minimal effort, and, in the third, not hitting anyone. For some reason, this team thinks they win by just skating around.

Everyone thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs need a shake-up or a trade. Let me bring something new to the discussion: Can we introduce the word ‘accountability’? Everyone said they liked the job Brad Treliving did as General Manager in the off-season. Yet here we are, sitting in the last place in the Eastern Conference.  

Is this all on Berube? Berube obviously had some input on who they brought in. Makes you wonder if it’s Berube’s system or simply the core?   It is too easy to fire the coaches rather than trade the whole team. 

It all comes down to the question: Should the ownership consider restructuring the core? Is it time? We’re up to the one-quarter mark of the season. Selling the core might be the only real option. Morgan Reily is the biggest asset, and management is willing to move him. But if they do, will it be enough?

Randy

Who Will Take the Bull by the Horns for Toronto?

There is not much to be happy about in Maple Leaf land. The complaint I’m hearing over and over and over again is that the team has no life. I’ve listened to a lot of people saying to fire the Toronto Maple Leafs’ coach, Berube. I myself have been among those people yelling, but that might be a mistake.

I was asked, “When do we start blaming the players? We had the same problem under previous coaches and the same core players.” My take was that this is a different team, with a number of different players.

The general consensus is that these players must take responsibility for their roles. I don’t know exactly what the source of the problem is; maybe it is that they just don’t want to put in the effort. Or could it be that losing has become acceptable in the dressing room? If that is the case, then we have a major problem. These players have to learn to work hard to turn their weaknesses into strengths.

Who will step up? Who will take the bull by the horns? I want to mention a couple of good players who have exactly done that.

John Tavares

John Tavares, known to fans as JT, has been the story this season. He has come to play game after a game. What I like about John is his determination to win. He has been the best offensive player and, probably, the best defensive player. He has come so far, truly the MVP.

Nick Robertson

Nick Robertson has taken the bull by the horns. He is playing like he needs to. He’s been asking for the playing time. The Maple Leafs are finally giving it to him. He has taken it and run with it. His stats are not bad: 5 goals and six assists in 19 games. What really makes me happy is his skating and his hustle. If he continues to put in the effort, there may be hope for him yet.

Troy Stecher’s debut

Troy was a good, useful defenceman in the past. He is playing very well. What makes him useful is that he plays within his limits; he won’t push past those limits. He’s not fancy, he’s just reliable. He is there when he is needed. He is a steady sixth defenceman.

Final Word

They are going to have to keep their eyes on the prize. They have to stay focused. Everyone has to do their job. John is taking over this team right now, and he needs the rest of the team to step up. If they do, the Toronto Maple Leafs can still make this season memorable.

How could I end this blog without mentioning the goal last night? That ass kicking by John Tavares was probably one of the best plays I’ve seen. Then, of course, the toe-drag by William Nylander and the deke around the goalie was the ultimate goal. What a great way to win the game.

Randy 

A Team with Something to Say: New Confidence in New York

Funny how a coach only becomes visible in the hard times — yet this season the fans have gone quiet for a different reason. Roy does not need a squad for protection. He has gone from being regarded as slime to fairy godfather. 

You thought Clutterbuck was hired for his knowledge of the hockey team? Not so fast there, bucko. Who do you think is in charge of the squad? Things have changed. Clutter’s job is now an overpaid candy striper.

This is all because of the Isles’ newfound winning ways.

All joking aside, the Islanders have risen from the ashes and become a team that has something to say. What they’re saying by their actions is, “How do you like me now?” They are a fast and fun team to watch. Roy has got his players buying into what he is selling. And what is he selling? It is that a team does not have to be boring to be defensively sound. The Isles are using their speed to force teams to make mistakes, making them reactive instead of proactive. The Isles’ defensive speed is making teams second-guess themselves into oblivion. The Isles have turned that into goals at the other end.

No, I am not naive enough to think the New York Islanders will automatically win the Stanley Cup. What I am saying is that they are playing well enough to make the playoffs. I have no idea whether they can keep this up for the rest of the season. Right now, they are playing like a team that wants to make a statement.

So what has made the difference? Why couldn’t they play like this earlier? I can’t answer those questions, but what I can say is I see the difference between now and earlier in the season

They are a fun team to watch because they are sticking to the fundamentals and listening to the coaches. What worries me is that they are being led by a 19-year-old defenceman who is a wonder kid, the one and only Matthew Schaefer. 

The supporting cast is led by Bo Horvat and sniper Emil Heineman. As long as these two players keep it up and the team sticks to the fundamentals into March:

• Do not put themselves in a position to lose; 

• Continue to play to win and not to lose; and

• Do not sit on leads. Keep playing and try to add to their leads. 

If they play smart, they will be fine. 

Don’t question it, just sit back and enjoy it. Bye for now.

Randy 

Centre vs Defenceman: How General Managers Make the Draft Call

If you’re the general manager of a hockey team, do you draft a first-line Centre or do you build your team around the first-pairing defensemen? 

Most of the answers I got say it depends on the organization or the management. Better yet, it depends on the organization’s biggest need. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs need a first-pairing defenceman who could help on the power play. But the Calgary Flames need a first-line center—although some Calgary Flames fans say the defenceman trumps the centre because the zone coverage is so bad.

The New York Islanders will tell you how grateful they are for the defenseman Matthew Schaeffer. There is no doubt in their minds that the route to take for every organization is addressing the defenseman. 

Of course, a general manager has to use his common sense. If the first player in the draft is a Centre who is a generational player, then, of course, that changes everything — you have to draft the said player. 

That being said, if both players are equal, most people told me the defenseman is the way to go. My source informs me that the reason people go for a defenceman is that they take longer to develop. It is a harder position to learn. That makes them the more valuable assets.

When it comes down to it,  the defensemen have a lot more responsibility. Playing defence is more complicated than going up and down the ice. 

You have to keep one eye on your own man and the other on everybody else’s man. Ninety percent of the defenceman’s business is addressing mistakes the forwards make. 

That being said, the centremen is the stick that stirs the drink. Without a first-line centre, the team’s offence is in quicksand. If no one is getting the snipers the puck, how are they supposed to shoot? Every good team in the league has a top-line center, the biggest cog of the offense. 

Final word, I guess I would have to say I am leaning toward picking the defenseman just simply because it’s harder to grow a defenseman than it is a first-line center. They are more valuable in the long run.

When the Story Mattered Most: Larry Brooks on Getting It First

Nobody really likes to have to write about a hockey legend passing away. The great Larry Brooks of the New York Times recently passed away. Hockey has lost a tremendous icon and legend. For him, it was not always about the story; he also wanted to help people.

Millions of people looked first to Larry Brooks to find out what was happening. He knew how to get to the story and get to the truth.

Everybody knows there is a race when it comes to getting the story in sports. It is especially true in the hockey rumor world. Larry Brooks was one of the best at getting the story first and telling it straight. There is a saying that went along in the world that I think fits Larry Brooks to a T.  The saying “to be the man, you must be the man, you must beat the man.” (Ric Flair)

Larry Brooks was definitely the man, and for reporting in New York, whatever anyone needed — anything, or any kind of news — he was simply the main source to believe.

I asked three guests today to share their remarks on the loss of the legend Larry Brooks.

Jan Levine  

Jan is a correspondent on the site https://hockeyhotstove.com/

Jan just wrote his tribute to Larry Brooks. He’s a terrific, knowledgeable writer and a great Twitter follow. You can follow him on Twitter at @airjan23.

Here are his kind words:

Larry Brooks was the dean of the New York hockey media. He had contacts all over the hockey world, using them to obtain tidbits no one else had or was willing to report. His Sunday SlapShots column in the NY Post was a must-read. Brooks leaves an indelible impact on hockey in general and especially the Metro NY area.

Jonny Lazarus

My second guest, Jonny Lazarus, is a digital reporter at https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/ College Hockey, NESN, AND USHL, and a genuine good guy. Last but not least, cohost of the podcast, Morning Cuppa Hockey.

I asked if he would share a favourite story he had about Larry Brooks:

I had a really cool opportunity to spend some 1-on-1 time with Larry last season in Anaheim. We were the only two people there covering the game. I got to ask him about his time with the Devils, how he got started with the Rangers, his relationship with Tortorella, his feud with Dan Boyle, and so many other things. But what we talked about most was his Grandson, Scott. I didn’t know Larry all that well, but I can tell you from my experience, there’s nothing he took more joy in than Scott’s hockey career. I talked to him about my youth hockey experience, and he shared with me about how Scott was kind of undersized and was about to start checking as a Bantam. He brought Scott to practice one day, and I could tell he was Scott’s hero. I mean, imagine being a young hockey player getting to go to the Rangers practice and see your grandfather talking to every single player, that’s so damn cool. Every time I heard news about the Rangers, I was checking Larry’s Twitter to confirm it. He was always the first one to get to everything. Even in press conferences, I wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking until Larry asked his question. He’s a guy who commanded respect. He was the only reporter that Peter Laviolette spoke to by name. For a small guy, he had such a large presence around the press box. I’m happy and honored I got to know him, even if it was just a little.

Russ Cohen

My final guest today is an old friend, a huge supporter of mine for years.

You can find Russ on Twitter @sportsology. He is a prospect writer at Sportsology.com and http://NHLdraftbuzz.com. A terrific follow on Twitter.

When I was a new writer covering the New York Rangers, Larry would occasionally ask what I saw on a particular play or goal. That was thrilling. I would see him over the years. I was in a few memorable John Tortorella scrums and would listen to his stories about his grandson’s hockey game, at my request. I would joke that someday I would scout him and write a feature article about him.

Final word

Thank you, Larry, for all that you did

Randy