Too Much Rubber, Not Enough Defense

Montreal got a wake-up call at the Jets game. You can blame anyone you want for what happened. Can I tell you a secret? It doesn’t matter; I’m going to tell you anyway.

Defensive zone coverage

For some reason, the Canadiens got loosey-goosey in the defensive zone. Whether they panicked or got lazy, they have to learn from this. Finish your checks, take the body, and stop watching the puck. Cover the open man; look for him and stick to him like glue.

Have you liked the season so far? I have some concerns. The first and biggest concern is:

Jakub Dobes

I fear the amount of pressure that was put on Dobes at the beginning of the year might have gotten to him. He started struggling. Fighting the puck. Frankly, he hasn’t been himself this season.

You know what makes St.Louis one of the best coaches in the NHL? He had the intestinal fortitude to put Jakub Dobes in Dallas. To Dobes’s credit, he was fantastic. Sometimes a goalie needs to know the coach still believes in him.

Jacob Fowler

Fowler has arrived. What a story this kid has been this season. Fowler’s start in St. Louis was probably the best goalie performance of the season, turning away 46 shots and recording a shutout. Jakob showed so much poise while the team in front of him ran around like a chicken with its head cut off.   

Final word

It does not take a genius to see that the Habs need to improve their defensive game. That being said, we cannot overreact to one game. But they have to make sure this does not become a habit. My concern: in Fowler’s last two starts, he has faced 93 shots. That is too much rubber. He needs the team to back him up. There is work to do.

Here We Go Again, Islanders! Less Hooking, More Hockey

The Isles seem to have these nasty habits every time the season opens. Some they have managed to improve; with others, fate has raised its ugly head.  

The defense is making mistakes at the worst times

The Isles are playing competitively this year; I have no problem with their effort. The problem is the defensive lapses that lead to penalties and scoring chances against. The Isles cannot afford to fall behind. It is not a good way to win.

Serokin has to be perfect

Serokin has to be on his game for the Isles to win. It seems like Serokin is bailing his team out every game. The team has to support Serokin by cutting down on shots against. Mental errors have to be minimized.

More offence

The Isles’ offense has to improve. The bottom six need to step up. It’s time for anyone on the defense not named Schaefer to get involved. Finally, the core has to live up to expectations—offense is a team effort.

The penalties have to stop

Especially for tripping and hooking because they didn’t take that extra stride. Too often, players get caught flat-footed and take the lazy way out with the trip or holding the stick.

Not getting off to a clear start

The Isles need to get going quicker. The first goal is vital; it greatly increases their chances of winning. The Isles’ slow periods need to be cut down. Their loss to the Leafs is a great example: they fell behind 2-0, ran into a hot goalie, and lost 2-1. Getting the first goal will be critical to the Isles’ success.

Final word: The Barzal injury and how to overcome it

The captain has risen; Horvat’s play has improved vastly this season. Kyle Palmieri is showing signs of picking up his play. Mr. Dependable Matthew Schaefer is holding strong. The Islanders work as a team; they can be successful, but it takes a team effort. Hard work and dedication in defending their zone will pay off.  

Same Old Leafs: Why Toronto’s Defence Still Lets Them Down

This season has a familiar tune. I will show what I mean.

Tanev injured

Tanev is a warrior; every game, he throws himself into the action the same way. He abandons all common sense and suffers for it. It is like clockwork: everyone comments on how much they love him and mourns him when he goes back to the infirmary. I fear the nurses and doctors know him as well as his family does.

Leafs abandon all defense

The Leafs abandon all defense and leave the goalies to the dogs. And everyone blames the goalie 100 percent. I’m not saying the goaltending doesn’t deserve some of the blame, but the brainless play in front of the net doesn’t help. Stolarz has struggled, but his teammates have checked out.

Matthews and Nylander hit near deity status

Nylander is on fire. He has been skating like the wind, doing his thing. His shot has been deadly, scoring at will. I have loved the way he’s been skating—going in and out of traffic, and making plays out of nothing.

Matthews, meanwhile, has made a new friend in McKenna. Matthews’ one-timers are fun to watch as he finds openings to shoot. He has that knack for finding scoring opportunities. His health is a factor, as we finally have a healthy Auston.

The only consistent thing is the Leafs’ inconsistency.

The habit of winning a game and then losing the next is comical. We never know what the Maple Leafs will bring. The only sure thing is chaos. The Leafs will have to score 5 goals to win because their defense is atrocious. Fans will feel like they are on a rollercoaster, loving their heroes one minute and sending them to death row the next.

Final word

Word is the Leafs are on the hunt for defensive help. So, tell me what else is new? Yup, same old Leafs. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I, for one, have seen this movie; can we choose another theater? One ending with some silverware?

Randy 

John Garrett: The Man Who Made Hockey Feel Like Home

One of my favorite commentators from Sportsnet and, of course, Hockey Night in Canada has always been John Garrett. Not only did he have a memorable broadcasting style, but he was also one of the many players who went to the WHA.

During his time in the WHA, John built strong memories, especially from his years of service with the Canucks, which he always recalled fondly.

John played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints from 1973 to 1976. After leaving the Saints, he joined the Toronto Toros, who later relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, where he played for three seasons. In his last WHA season, he played with the New England Whalers. When the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, John stayed with the Hartford Whalers. He later played with the Quebec Nordiques and finished his NHL playing career with the Vancouver Canucks.

I often listened to him calling the Canucks games; he was so good. His cheerful presence stood out, and he really enjoyed life, as evidenced by both his play and his calls. He was so knowledgeable with his comments. He taught me how a goalie in the NHL was supposed to be.

He was known for being very personable, and no one ever had a mean thing to say about him. Always willing to talk hockey, he was widely recognized for his ability to make people feel welcome.

Fans lovingly remember him as our ‘Favorite Uncle,’ a testament to the warmth he brought to the hockey community.

On the broadcast, John helped people feel included. He just brought a smile to everyone’s face and, in doing so, became a favorite among all hockey fans.

John’s Iconic Sayings

“In it goes.”

After every goal during his commentary, John would say, ‘In it goes.’ This phrase became one of the things fans will always remember him for.

“Yes!“

John’s enthusiastic response whenever he agreed with the announcer he was paired with lives on in my memory.  

Final Word

My sincere sympathy goes out to everyone who worked with John Garrett, as well as to his wife and children. His positive influence was felt by many, and he will be sadly missed. 

Randy

If the Maple Leafs Were Run by the Mob

As we put an end to a nightmare of a season, here comes the construction crew to fix it. The Owners are the clients, the General managers are the builders, and the players are the tools to get the job done. Of course, the coaches are the architects. It’s the President’s job to put everything together.

What I would like to discuss is the Architect. If I am not mistaken, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leafs Sports Entertainment, Keith Pelley, has said the organization will not undergo a total rebuild. Assuming he is telling the truth, the Leafs will likely go with an experienced architect.

Characteristics of an Architect

Must know the English language

The Architect must be fluent in English. He has to be specific about what he needs. The Architect has to bamboozle everyone into thinking he is worth millions. If he is not worth millions, no one will pay attention to him, thinking he doesn’t know what you are talking about.

The ability to kiss one’s patootie

The ability of a hustler—oops, I mean Architect—to kiss one’s royal patootie is vital to his success. Fooling employees (players) into thinking they are all good soldiers can be tricky and tiresome, but if he does not have the players’ full support, his success will be thwarted. Sooner or later, he will be executed—oh, I mean, fired. Also, holding hands may be required.

Hire the Architect assistants (The henchmen)

The Architect is usually allowed to have two assistants, one of whom has certain connections to enforce complete compliance from the employees to achieve the goal of victory. He must gently guide them toward a successful career. Keeping the Architect happy means he won’t be sent to his maker—I mean, to the minors. Sorry, slip of the tongue.  

Video assistant

For some reason, there has been a rash of complaints about tampering with video. Unfortunately, most organizations have evidence showing that they have made mistakes, but those clips have mysteriously gone missing. But I am sure that is just part of teaching players how to meet the organization’s expectations and cut down on the executions—oh, I mean demotions.

The final word

I almost forgot the last qualification: the Architect must have some artistic skills. The ability to draw stick men and diagrams. To show what happens to players who don’t comply—I mean, to hold players responsible for being where they are supposed to be. The drawing of stickmen is to help protect the innocent. We do not want to accuse anyone prematurely.

Randy 

You're the GM, Which Star Would You Bet On Now?

Wait a minute, is this the off-season? A trade involving Matthew Barzal and Elias Pettersson?

Sorry, I've never been a person to beat around the bush. I am a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy (except I am a vegetarian). Most people feel that an overhaul is not possible; a shake-up is more plausible.   

Going on that premise, if Elias Pettersson comes on the market and the price involves Matthew Barzal, would you bite? A few facts for you: Pettersson has not been the same player for the last two years. His stats have dropped to 49 and 45 points, respectively. Before that, though, he was nearly a point-per-game player for 6 seasons, topping off at 102 points in the 2022-23 season. Pettersson has been forced to change scenery in years past, a move that could revive his career. He is still in his prime.

Matthew has been a steady player, reliable throughout his career. Although his best year was 83 points, Matthew has been the better player over the last two years. This year, he scored 71 points, and, of course, he only had 30 because of an injury. He is 28 years old. He has had two 80-point seasons.

Each player is an offensive juggernaut. Both can skate and create scoring chances. Both are playmakers and leaders of the dressing rooms who can say they need a change of scenery. If this came up, would you be tempted?

Final Word

When it came down to it, the Islanders ran out of firepower. Will offensive issues be addressed in the summer? Will the Isles have a new backup for Sorokin? Then there are the vets: Who goes and who stays? The off-season will be an interesting one to watch!

Randy 

What Cost Patrick Roy His Job with the Islanders?

As the New York Islanders’ season comes to an end, I thought: What cost Roy the Isles’ job? The following article is purely conjecture; it is not an inside info story.  

Did the Players quit on him?

Is it common knowledge that a coach’s shelf life is usually 2-3 years before the players shut the coach out? When you get a strong-willed coach, it is bound to happen; he will clash with some of the players. When this happens, they usually tune him out completely.

I am referring especially to the epic 8-3 loss to the Pens. The Islanders had total control of the game until the backbreaking shorthanded goal by Rakell, which cut it to 3-2 for the Islanders. From that point on, the Pens took over, scoring 6 straight goals to an 8-3 lead.  

For some reason, the biggest issue is the Islanders’ inability to play a full 60 minutes. Go no further than the Blackhawks game in Long Island. The Hawks landed a 4-1 win over the Isles with a ferocious rally that fell short 4-3 on the 24th of March. If they weren’t so sloppy in the first two periods, they would have blown the Hawks away.

Isles hire Pete Deboer

I must admit I was shocked by the timing of the firing. I asked around, and the consensus was that if they had waited too long to hire Peter DeBoer, they would have had to compete with multiple teams vying for his services. A lot of people believe that Peter will have this team turned around for next season.

Final word

Whether Peter can save this season remains to be seen, but after what they gave up on Roy, can they recover and go 4-0? Even if they can’t, the Flyers are one of the hottest teams in the league, led by a hot goalie, and the Sens have corrected their season of late. Anything is possible; Peter will have to have this team prepared for battle.