Toronto Maple Leafs: Goals, Assists, and Penalties
By John
Each week I post a new “Goals, Assists, and Penalties” where I give you my two cents on the weeks news around the NHL and Toronto Maple Leafs. I break it down into Goals (positive news), Assists (generally positive news or something is lacking), and Penalties (negative news). These are purely my subjective opinions.
Goal: Auston Matthews. After three exhibition games at the World Cup, Matthews has shown that he belongs on the ice with the best of them. I highly recommend everyone watch this video which has been edited to show each of his shifts from the last game vs. Europe. Matthews could turn into one of the best two way centers in the league.
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Assist: Andersen. Lamoriello has stated that there has be “progression” and no “regression” with his upper body injury.
Goal: Calder X3. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a legitimate chance of having THREE players that can take home a Calder trophy this season. Matthews, Nylander, and Marner. I put their likelihood in that order (assuming Marner makes the team).
More from Editor In Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
- Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament
Goal: Team North America. How fun are they to watch? I have given the concept of team North America a hard time, but boy are they a speedy and skilled bunch. 2-0 in exhibitions vs. team Europe is promising. 0-1 vs. the Czechs.
Goal: Morgan Reilly. I am impressed with how good Morgan Reilly is looking over three games. He hasn’t looked out of place playing many top minutes vs team Europe and the Czech Republic. This could be the year he truly breaks through and becomes a top defender in the league.
Assist: McDavid named Captain…of Team North America. Could this be the audition that gets him the “C” in Edmonton? Probably. Could he be too young for the “C” right now? Probably. Could I be overreacting to him being Captain in Edmonton? Probably.
Penalty: Goalie pants. The NHL has decided to reduce the size of some of the goalie equipment, making them slimmer. Call me a fan. But the NHL, for no good reason, decided to rush it and attempted to get the changes implemented to chest protectors and pants by this regular season. “We’re going to get reduced pants size early in the season, as early as opening night,” said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.
Clearly, he didn’t mention the other equipment which is being held up due to disagreements between the NHL and NHLPA as well as the equipment manufacturers being unable to turnover inventory and create the new pads quick enough. They should have given more time and attempted to implement the new rules for the 2017/18 season. Instead, they rushed it and will only be able to limit the pants this year.
Next: Auston Matthews Highlights at the WCH
Under Review: Lupul MIA. Joffrey Lupul was not to be found at the teams most recent golf tournament, a staple to their offseason each year. He was also missing in the seasons-end team photo, although he was already sidelined for the rest of the season and may just have not been around for the photo.
But this is starting to add up with Lamoriello yet to comment on the plan for Lupul for this season. My opinion, he is headed for Robidas Island and will be bought out next June when it is more advantageous for the Maple Leafs to do so.