Maple Leafs Will Tinker

 

It appears the Leafs will add for depth reasons. They would love to add another forward to the team.  Insiders have speculated that they are trying to add a top-six forward. While they are looking, I would like to order one more stay home big dman. I still do not think the Leafs are strong enough. Yes, they are tough enough for the North division, but they will have to beef up to compete for the East. The Bruins, Islanders, Flyers, and Capitals will walk all over them. The team gets outworked in the corner and loses the puck battles. 

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE LOVE FOR SOME FORWARDS?

Jimmy Vessey

The Maple Leafs have been pretty patient with Jimmy this season. Jimmy has responded with the best hockey of his career. He has shown signs of getting to know the system and understands where it is supposed to be.  I loved this signing. Jimmy Vessy gives me a reason to get excited. 

William Nylander

Even though he is from Calgary, I have never considered William a Calgarian. William is flying out there causing havoc. I still remember his beautiful toe drag in the 5th Leaf goal. What a move. What a shot. The shot was even better than the toe drag. This kid is a talented young player. 

A Shoutout to Hutch

Toronto's third goalie Michael Hutchinson has been admirable, stepping up in Campbell and Andersen's absence. Hutchinson has a 3-2 record with a stunning 2.03 goals-against average. Michael has done a heck of a lot better than I thought he would.

The Maple Leafs have been outstanding.  I hope they don't let up on the gas. Look to Tavares to improve his play as the season progresses. Life is good in the centre of the universe. 

Randy

Is the Islanders' Lack of Offense a Concern?

The New York Islanders offense has dried up of late. The Islanders have been having trouble getting scoring chances. Not to name names (cough cough — Josh Bailey and all the third and fourth lines.) The main problem is that the Islanders need more goals from the bottom-six.  Most people seem to think the Islanders are one top-six forward away from being a contender. There are others to think that they are two forwards away from being contenders. I think they are one very good top forward or two good forwards away from a contender. 

Let me throw out an exciting theory; maybe they don't need another forward at all. Perhaps the Islanders can get more from the forwards they have? As I have written before, I firm believer in Pageau with Wahlstrom and Bellows. To me, that is the perfect line. Wahlstrom and Bellows need their freedom to achieve success. It may be that the Islanders system is too stifling to create offensive scoring chances. Wahlstrom and Bellows also need a reliable centre to distribute the puck. Pageau can match their speed. 

If they did open up the system a little, maybe the offense would come more easily. Goaltending has been outstanding with Varly and Sorokin. The defensive zone coverage has been great. If the offense could open up just a little, maybe the need for a forward would lessen. The Islanders offense just needs a nudge. Perhaps it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.  In fact, maybe it doesn't need surgery at all. Too often, we panic and do an overhaul when we could tweak a bit instead. Too many times, I have seen GM panic and buy out the the store when all they need is some chocolate, if you get my drift. Do not press that button.

Randy

Mr. Matthews MVP

Everything is hunky-dory in Maple Leaf Land. The Leafs have the most points team in NHL. Could this be the year the Leafs get the MVP? Can this be the year the Leafs bring Lord Stanley to the centre of the universe?

Austin Matthews is on an incredible pace to score 50 goals this season. He is one of the best forwards in the League. What makes him so dangerous is his quick, deadly release. Austin leads the NHL with 16 goals, most of them on the spectacular side. Some of that might have something to do with winger Mitch Marner. Matthews has a real nose for the puck. He oozes confidence every time he is on the ice, which inspires his teammates. Can he get his 50 goals in 56 games? Matthews will hit a slump; everyone does sooner or later. When he goes through his slump, his mindset will determine his fate. I predict Austin gets 40-50 this season.  

The other story is the influence of Gentle Joe on his line. Everyone has talked about Marner but, the story could be how good Joe Thornton has been. He has been a colossal surprise so far this season. Players like him. The coaches love him because of his experience; it is almost like having another coach on the bench. He will help Matthews become an even better player.  

Is it early to get excited about this team? I don't think so. What makes this team so good is that they believe in each other. The Leafs have never had vets like Simmonds and Thornton to lead this team. It has been a long time that the Leafs have had the motivation to win. In years past, they could not execute that final step to do what it takes to win. Thornton's and Simmonds' drive has spread through the team, making it a fun time to be a Maple leaf fan. So sit back and enjoy the ride.

Randy

All Cylinders, Full Speed Ahead

 

Life in Toronto is good right now, is it not?  JT is playing like a captain, off to a fresh start. Marner is maybe the best player in the League right now.  The forward's secondary scoring is up, which is huge.  

We need Vesey, Simmonds, Thornton, and Kerfoot to keep it up. I love the way Simmonds has brought new life to this team. He knows how to inject the fire into this team; he has been a great leader on the squad. 

Talking about a powerplay, eh? The Maple Leafs have the best powerplay in the League. Why? Because JT and Matthews and Marner work well together. The key to the powerplay is keeping everyone moving, finding those niches in the scoring zone. The scoring chances continue to rise with the pinpointing passing the Leafs have going. The powerplay might be the biggest reason why the Leafs are successful. 

Nice to see Mr. Andersen make an appearance this season. He has picked up his game of late. With the injury to Campbell, Andersen will have to remain on top of his game this season. His positional play is key; he rarely gets caught out of position. If it isn't his positional game, his vision always focuses on where is puck in play. 

It's early, but it seems Mr. Sheldon Keefe has his troops running on all cylinders. There is still the odd malfunction of the junction in their zone.  If they can keep those to a bare minimum, we could see a run. 

Randy

 

 

Islanders: Time to Get Back in the Trenches

Tuesday night, I witnessed a total breakdown against the Caps. Islanders players not really caring enough to win for Sorokin. I see a scary-looking habit: the Isles seem to play differently in front of Varly ( I am too lazy to spell his full name). Whether it is just a coincidence or not, it has to be nipped in the bud. 

The Islanders mailed it in. Who is at fault is anyone's guess. My gut says the Islanders took the too Capitals lightly. The Islanders have been reading too much of their own press lately as reporters have visions of Stanley Cups dancing in their heads. Everyone but the kitchen sink picked the Isles to win the division. The Islanders have started to believe this and they are just sitting on their laurels. Maybe Mr. Trots should tell them they are not the best in the division. It is time to get back in the trenches and put in some good old fashioned hard work. 

There is one line that has to be fixed. For Pete's sake (family site), Pageau needs a linemate with some skill. If you put two fourth-liners with Pageau, he becomes a fourth-liner. Have you heard of the expression "you are only as good as you think you are"? Right now, the Islanders are telling Pageau he is a fourth-liner. I have seen too many teams trying to make players something they are not. Time to release the Pageau. 

There is no reason to panic. The Islanders are an outstanding team, but they are playing like an average team. Give them time and they will work it out, or Trots will beat it out of them. 

Randy

Maple Leafs: I Would Like to Order a Touch of Offense, Please

Before I begin, let me caution everyone; it is only one game. Granted, it looks like the same old team from last season. Yes, I saw the silly defensive meltdowns. That is still going to happen this early in the season; the key is learning from their mistakes. Reilly and Brodie will still lead this team defensively; the forwards must help the defense in their own zone. 

Andersen was not sharp. Again, I am not too worried about Andersen. Shaking the rust off of their goaltending is the least of the Maple Leafs' worries. The defense has to bail him out once in a while if he is not on his game. 

Nylander has not missed a beat. He is still skating like the wind. He is still a sniper, ready to pounce every chance he gets. The offense was there on all cylinders and the Maple Leafs did not have trouble scoring goals.  

It was nice to see Jimmy Vesey contribute with a goal. Nylander made a nifty set-up pass for Jimmy in front of the slot. It is vital that the secondary scoring pinch in with a goal now and then. Every goal Kerfoot, Vesey, and Simmonds can score will be a bonus. There will be nights other teams will be able to shut down the big four, and the Maple Leaf will have to find a way to win without them. 

I am not a huge fan of fighting in the NHL. But Wayne Simmonds did seem to bring the Leafs to life with his fisticuffs. Simmonds will be a fan favourite; his robust play will lift the the team up just when needed. 

I really loved the fact that the Leafs never gave up. They continued to battle back each time they fell behind. A good character win that they should keep in mind for the future. Reminding them that hockey is a sixty minute game. 

Randy

Islanders hook Barzal

Barzal makes it official: three years, $7 million a year. The Islanders wanted a longer term, but could not work out the money.  As a result, they had to settle for a three-year deal. There is some bright side to this; the cap hit is $2 million less, giving the Islanders some cap flexibility next season. The other good news is that the Islanders still hold his rights after the contract is done. 

He is here, and the hype is at an all-time high. Mr. Ilya Serokin comes with some fanfare, and with that comes some high expectations. I hope the fans temper their expectations. Let him settle in before we exalt him as the next Billy Smith. Don't get me wrong, Sorokin is as good as advertised, but he is still a rookie.

The KHL is not the NHL, and it may take time for Ilya to get to know the game. There is a lot more to the NHL than just a different size.  This kid will be a stud, but let him grow into it. 

There is one thing different this season. The Islanders are not going to take anyone by surprise. I don't see why they are not a division contender, the only difference being Dobson. Dobson takes Toews' spot. Green should be the perfect mentor for him. Dobson will add to the powerplay this season, as the Islanders should have two powerplay leaders. 

Overall, I am excited for the season to start. The Islanders will be fun to watch.

Randy