The Toronto Maple Leafs will dress up tonight for the final installment of the Battle of Ontario this season.
So far the Ottawa Senators have had the best of the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. The battle, however, is won already. Just take a quick look at the standings and let it sink in. The Battle of Ontario has been won by the Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s a wrap folks!
I’m not saying tonight’s contest is just a formality, not at all. There’s plenty to play for still, well, for the Leafs there is. Ottawa’s season is lost and it can only get worse for them.
Erik Karlsson
It’s a frustrating year of the Sens captain, Erik Karlsson. From playing for a team that was one goal away from the Stanly Cup final last year. Erik Karlsson is now playing for a team that is probably hoping for the best in this year’s draft lottery. Not to mention Matt Duchene, wanted to be traded so he can win, only to see his former team is doing better than his new team.
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The upcoming UFA status of Karlsson in the summer of 2019 has been filling headlines. Like every player in the league, Karlsson has been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Could it be? That Erik Karlsson is inspecting his new hometown tonight?
Hell no, the price would be too steep. The package that would have to go Ottawa if the Toronto Maple Leafs would trade for him, is more than a GM should be comfortable trading. Likely, Marner or Nylander in combination with Travis Dermott and first-round picks would go to Ottawa. For a player that is looking to get paid as much as possible, I’d take a pass on that one.
Handing out an 8-year contract, probably averaging 10 to 12 million per year is, in my opinion, too much for someone who will be 36 when that contract expires. No, when the puck drops in the ACC tonight at 7 PM, Karlsson will perhaps face his last battle of Ontario, but not his future team.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs will play their third game in a five-game homestand. Looking to improve their two-game winning streak to three. The Toronto Maple Leafs were terrible at home in January, so they will be eager to top that record in February.
Frederik Andersen is expected to start for the Leafs tonight. Andersen, who has been nothing but stellar in the last two home games will try to improve his stats against Ottawa this season. Currently, he has a .857 save percentage and a GAA of 4.08. (Stats from Daily Faceoff).
Thanks for reading and enjoy the game tonight!