French Collection

My son relayed a cool story to me today. He plays tier2 Junior A. An older friend of his works at summer hockey camps for kids, juniors and pros. He invited my son down to help him with the kids, skate with the juniors and check out the pros. The pros finished their drills and a few were still doing a few things on their own as the juniors were coming on. One guy asked my son if he could feed him some passes for one timers. My son couldn’t believe and immediately set up to help. The player was Owen Power. They briefly chatted after and will maybe do it again tomorrow.

He said he was good to go in the playoffs. They convinced him that making $6M sitting at home is better than a buyout and competing for a backup job for $1M.

My wife and I always watch Alone, we just admire how resourceful they are and how much of a mental challenge it is.

I don’t think they can walk away from Samsonov’s award because it is under $4M. I am not sure how long they have to buy out someone.

It was a hockey card show in Toronto. I brought my son and we met Perreault, Hasek and Lafontaine. Pat was really nice with my son.

I think we are a few hours north of Dawson City. There are only 2 or 3 communities in the 500 mile/ 800 km run. Federal govt. wanting internet for all.

Installing poles for new fibre optic line.

Heading to Cozens country this week. I signed up to work a few weeks in the Yukon, north of Dawson City, along the Dempster highway to the Arctic. It is on my bucket list of places to see, I’d rather be a tourist but someone else footing the bill is OK. The work is outdoors so I will definitely see some sights.

Travis Yost of TSN saying that the Leafs may have to buy out TJ Brodie and Matt Murray to become cap compliant. Brodie has been good, he may be a casualty due to his age and expiring contract.

They are more than $12M over the cap. Muzzin is on LTIR for $5M+. They need to move Murray and then some. And they want Karlsson. Go to cap hell Leafs!

He definitely watches all of these prospects closely. It sounds like he views games from every level on both hockey continents. I trust his work, even established veteran scouts make mistakes with drafts and prospects.

I just tried and got it right. It’s fun, I’ll add it to my morning brain work of Wordle,, Quordle, Octordle and Sudoku.

I could live with that, not sure if I would extend him though.

He’s got a poker face when discussing how much he loves Toronto imo. He doesn’t seem like the type who embraces being under the magnifying glass. Plus someone with more cap space than Toronto could give him the max, with less tax.

I knew he was a good Dman but I looked him up, 685 points in 904 games. He could score.

I think Sean Malone has only played one game but he is not in the category of player you are looking for.

The guy that comes to mind when I think of transformation from offense to two way force is Steve Yzerman. Bowman took over the Wings when StevieY was 28 and told him it was nice to score 50 goals and 100+ points but in order to win championships you need to shut down opponents as well as score. He never scored at his previous levels again but was a point per game 200’ C who went on to help his team win 3 Cups. VO is no Yzerman but I guess it can be done if the player commits to it. A few scoring veteran players hang on for a few extra years by becoming 4th line pests (Corey Perry) or more defensive roles (Staal, Stastny).

Pre injury Quinn is one of the guys I could see having a significant increase this year. You are right that his 14 goals is not a deal breaker. If Quinn can manage to be back for 30 games he can score 10 goals. Whoever replaces him on the roster (Rousek?) should put a few in up to that point. The team has lost 2 goals from Asplund, 2 goals from Hinestroza and 1 from Pilut. I expect offensive growth from JJP, Krebs, Greenway and Power. With decent health I think their offense remains close to the 280-300 goal range.

I guess size and draft pedigree matter. Wolf has more experience and has better numbers than Wallstedt and Askarov. Levi will just use this as fuel.

Something no one talks about is if he stays all year the Sabres May walk him to UFA. I don’t see an extension coming. If he plays decently and injuries keep him in the top 9, the Sabres might keep him for the playoff run. My guess is they will not be a seller at the deadline. It is not like losing Briere and Drury but it depends on how they are sitting at the deadline as far as depth and standings.

Interesting that you left out Vegas where the ownership always pursues the big fish.

Tell his friend that a lot of fans want him out too. He will be playing for another contract so he may have a decent start and increase his trade value. I still think KA will have to retain salary as most teams have no room.

Sprinting may break me.

I may try and go for a game or two

He is more mature and it is his time to give it a go. The other guys mentioned could use more time to develop. Kulich could force his way into the l8neup by season’s end by taking another step in the AHL.