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Toronto Maple Leafs: The Roast of the Atlantic Division

By Mike Stephens

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs poses after winning the Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs poses after winning the Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT – OCTOBER 12: Executive Vice President and General Manager, Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings address the media during a press conference to announce the retirement from hockey of Kirk Maltby
DETROIT – OCTOBER 12: Executive Vice President and General Manager, Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings address the media during a press conference to announce the retirement from hockey of Kirk Maltby /

Detroit Red Wings

Notable Adds: Trevor Daley, P.A. Parenteau (PTO), David Booth (PTO)

Notable Losses: Tomas Nosek, Drew Miller, league-wide respect.

For a quarter century, the Red Wings reigned supreme as the NHL’s tiffany franchise. Flash to present day, and they’ve magically transformed into Sideshow Bob stepping on a bunch of rakes. 

My, how the mighty have fallen.

Ken Holland is hockey’s Robert DeNiro. Early in his career, he achieved immense critical acclaim, and it all seemed completely warranted. Consecutive Stanley Cups in ’97 and ’98 is basically the same as getting back to back Oscar nods for Godfather Part II and Taxi Driver. Lately, however, he’s been so mind numbingly bad, it makes me question whether he was ever actually that good in the first place. Jonathan Ericsson’s contract is, without a doubt, Holland’s “Dirty Grandpa“.

The first of “Hockey Town’s” (lol) many summer stumbles occurred when the team nearly drove Thomas Tatar out of town. Tatar, by the way, just happens to be Detroit’s only true young star. Don’t tell me it’s Dylan Larkin. You’re wrong. The guy can’t even win a fastest skater competition without cheating.

So, how did they manage to do this? By refusing to pay him. Why didn’t they pay him? Because they’re already over the cap. Why are they over the cap? Because Ken Holland‘s definition of a “good idea” is paying  Justin Abdelkader $4 million a year.

Currently, the Wings are still in the process of exiling Andreas Anathaseiou, perhaps their most dynamic player, to the KHL. Take a wild guess as to why. If you answered, “because they can’t afford him”, then congratulations! You win nothing.

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