Two or less

Grigorenko will report to Quebec, he announces.

Not shocked at all. Apparently they were hoping the Leafs fire Randy Carlyle as coach so they can bring him over. Carlyle played 10 seasons for the Jets. Then, last night when Elliott Friedman quoted a Leafs source that Carlyle is safe, i think their patience ran out and made the move. I'm with d4rksabre, i was never high on Noel.

You realize we have a historically bad offense, right?

The guy can't defend in his own zone. Many in the media say he doesn't go full-out in practice and lacks a "compete level"... according to 3 coaches and is a pretty poor skater. Yet, he deserves a chance to just play? Talk about setting the wrong example to the rest of your players. So, in your theory, it is also OK for Cody Hodgson to give zero effort on defense because he scores and he is our most gifted center? You don't win with one-dimensional players in the league today. The kid just has a bad attitude. In the WJC, Russia scored to make it something like 7-0 vs. Norway, at the first whistle after they made it 7-0, Grigorenko went to the scorers table to argue the fact he wasn't awarded an assist on the play. Seriously? The guy is just selfish.

Sam Reinhart is also one of Oster's players which i find interesting.

Btw, Oster works for Newport Sports player agency, the one led by Meehan and Morris, who as i mentioned above, are very close to LaFontaine. Sorry. Briere48 and Vanek-man last for a long time, though.

Some insight from Garrioch on our new AGM- Link- http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/01/11/toronto-maple-leafs-looking-for-help-up-front-could-be-willing-to-unload-a-defenceman Oster's profile - http://www.thehockeyagency.com/agency-team-detail/8

It must be Don Meehan or Pat Morris. Both are very close with Pat LaFontaine.

Man, LaFontaine has really transformed our hockey department into arguably the best in hockey. Craig Patrick is a huge addition.

So... what is everyone watching tonight? Another game or what? I got Isles vs. Leafs on and some cold brews.

This is true and sad indeed. Just the kind of censorship world we live in today. We hear what they want us to hear. I thought Scott Burnside did a terrific job and I think it did more positive for the sport among the general public then negative.

Thanks for posting it. GREAT read. It's crazy to see what an arrogant prick Brian Burke is even in meetings with just higher up hockey people. Whenever he is strong about an opinion, he just throws jabs. Can't argue with points any other way then to cut a guy down. I am only a fan and these guys have earned their right to have the jobs that they do to create Team USA to have their best chance to win at Sochi. I don't agree with many of the choices (Saad, Ryan, Okposo, Yandle), but in this article they do make me think twice. They do a good job to argue against those players. But somethings still just don't make sense to me. For example, saying Yandle would be a "disaster" if he was a top-4 d-men for USA, but they are OK with Faulk being top-4? And i am still confused tonight after much reading of many articles online to why Derek Stepan got named to the team?

True. And i do think they will try to re-sign Miller, as Paul Hamilton said last night. But the thing is, if Miller and the Sabres can't agree to terms by March, how can they keep him? Even Pegula will understand that. Sooner then later, the Sabres will need to move some players around and bring in Grigorenko and some of the younger players back in. That's when i really think this team will fall.

Def keep the pick if it's ours. I would go with option B. Draft Reinhart and then take a risk on another forward. Not sure if Dal Colle would be that guy, mayber Nylander or the German Leon, but def Reinhart and another forward... would be musts to add to this historically bad offense and who knows how much longer Matt Moulson remains here.

Vanek vs. Pommer tonight on center ice for anyone bored after the Sabres and Bills games.

This guy must of been hammered. Have another one...

Rasmus Ristolainen is pretty good too.

Who's more worthy of the "C" then Ott, on THIS team?

Good stuff. Looks like Pegula's family first environment is actually working.

Not sure who it is but nobody from stateside. It's a Eurosport announcer.

Roy video

Thats what was reported yesterday, but then this tweet came earlier this morning... So, Ellis didn't go?

It was supposed to be on TWCS but idk what happened since it's not.

I'm torn on the idea of tanking because i truly don't believe in it too much. Darcy tried to do the closest thing to tanking with the Sabres, by forming a young team that wasn't NHL ready. But, i don't really believe he knew they'd be that bad and there isn't any evidence that suggests losing in the fashion as they did was his plan. I also don't believe Ron Rolston would sacrifice his career and legacy as a NHL head coach to go along Darcy's plan as his puppet and lose. Losing is contagious, and i don't think neither RR or DR really were willing to ruin Girgensons, Myers and some other kids just for the simple fact of getting Reinhart and McDavid. Theres no way DR/RR felt they had 4-5 years to work with. And i will never buy that players tank. These are athletes who have been playing to win at a very high level since they were kids. No way do they start now to play soft so the team they are on now, will be getting a McDavid, just in time for that player to be kicked to another organization. What PLF and Nolan are doing now is the exact perfect plan. You teach these guys to play hard. "Kill for each other" so to speak. They need to develop guys and see who out of this group is good enough to carry over into next season and to the future. This is the tryout season. Its very important to lose but also important to develop our youngsters. Give it a month or so, and there will be some very tough decisions to be made. They will have had enough time to see some of these guys play and it will be time to make decisions on Ott, Moulson and Miller. It will also be near the end of the season and will be time to start bringing in some other talent, such as Grigorenko, back into the lineup, once you've established an idea of where the current guys are at. Is that "tanking" or is that just a wise-organiztional decision to see and develop some other talent for the next season and beyond?

Per Amerks.com, Matt Ellis and Johan Larsson en route to Switzerland to meet up with the Amerks.