Around the NHL 2026-27

[ska-T Chitown]

Two games, no points - can we call McKenna a bust yet??

[SabreFinn]

5 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

Two games, no points - can we call McKenna a bust yet??

Give him a few more games 😃

From what can be seen from highlights Leafs look better. Their third line seems to be really good for a third line. 

[mjd1001]

11 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

Give him a few more games 😃

From what can be seen from highlights Leafs look better. Their third line seems to be really good for a third line. 

Yep McKenna is going to need a while to make any kind of opinion on him that is valid.

The line he has been on has been the worst through 2 games for the Leafs though, McKenna-Tavaras-Nylander.

Heard a little talk on 590 that they didn't really look good as a line either game. 

Checking stats for that line: https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20262027&thruseason=20262027&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&rate=n&team=TOR&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2026-09-29&td=2027-04-10&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8486067&p2=8475166&p3=8477939&p4=0&p5=0

17:28 ice time even strength through 2 games. Out shot 16-2. Out-Corsi 31-9. On the wrong side of scoring chances 15-4. And no goals for that line, but they were on the ice for 2 against.

 

Its early though, VERY early.

[LGR4GM]

32 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Yep McKenna is going to need a while to make any kind of opinion on him that is valid.

The line he has been on has been the worst through 2 games for the Leafs though, McKenna-Tavaras-Nylander.

Heard a little talk on 590 that they didn't really look good as a line either game. 

Checking stats for that line: https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20262027&thruseason=20262027&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&rate=n&team=TOR&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2026-09-29&td=2027-04-10&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8486067&p2=8475166&p3=8477939&p4=0&p5=0

17:28 ice time even strength through 2 games. Out shot 16-2. Out-Corsi 31-9. On the wrong side of scoring chances 15-4. And no goals for that line, but they were on the ice for 2 against.

 

Its early though, VERY early.

McKenna solves a lot of problems with his hands, meaning he uses his handling to negotiate around or through trouble. The issue at the NHL level is everyone else has really good and active sticks, they will drop a hip into you, and without the speed burst and physical ability your hands are just buying you more time, they aren't solving your problem. Benson at 18 suffered a lot from this, he could solve a problem with his hands but without the rest of the package you just end up with another problem (problems are opposing players). McKenna doesn't have the space or the pacing down yet for the NHL. At his size, it might take a bit to click in. Matthew Shaefer hand good hands and excellent skating, so he was able to take 2 components and add them together to solve his problems. On top of that he was 6'2" versus 5'11" and 175lbs sopping wet. McKenna is going to have to learn that his stick dangling play won't work as well and certainly will fail if he can't get inside on opponents. Sure you deke Mattias Samuelsson but he's just going to lean on you when you try to get inside and that's that. 

[apuszczalowski]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

Yep McKenna is going to need a while to make any kind of opinion on him that is valid.

The line he has been on has been the worst through 2 games for the Leafs though, McKenna-Tavaras-Nylander.

Heard a little talk on 590 that they didn't really look good as a line either game. 

Checking stats for that line: https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20262027&thruseason=20262027&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&rate=n&team=TOR&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2026-09-29&td=2027-04-10&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8486067&p2=8475166&p3=8477939&p4=0&p5=0

17:28 ice time even strength through 2 games. Out shot 16-2. Out-Corsi 31-9. On the wrong side of scoring chances 15-4. And no goals for that line, but they were on the ice for 2 against.

 

Its early though, VERY early.

Are you sure about this? Nylander had the only 2 goals for them in game 1 Tuesday against Montreal

[mjd1001]

13 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said:

Are you sure about this? Nylander had the only 2 goals for them in game 1 Tuesday against Montreal

Yep, Nylander played a little with some other players.

The goals he scored McKenna was not on the ice with him.  McKenna was out there most of the time with Nylander and Tavares, but both of Nylanders goals where scored when McKenna was on the bench.

Even strength:

Nylander with McKenna: 18:46, 4 scoring chances for, 16 scoring chances against.  -2

Nylander wihoutt McKenna: 8:55, 7 scoring chances for, 4 against. +1.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20262027&thruseason=20262027&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&rate=n&team=TOR&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2026-09-29&td=2027-04-10&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8486067&p2=8477939&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0

Edited Thursday at 09:52 PM by mjd1001

[Eleven]

He's a rookie.  Relax.

[thewookie1]

Goalie goal for Rangers against Lightning

[Ctaeth]

Levi in net for oilers

[pi2000]

50 minutes ago, Ctaeth said:

Levi in net for oilers

channelling his inner UPL... 4 shots 2 saves

[nfreeman]

1 hour ago, thewookie1 said:

Goalie goal for Rangers against Lightning

Here it is:

 

 

[pi2000]

1 hour ago, pi2000 said:

channelling his inner UPL... 4 shots 2 saves

Gave up 7 goals on 22 shots and got the W

[TheAud]

1 hour ago, pi2000 said:

Gave up 7 goals on 22 shots and got the W

Hey, he's stopping north of 2/3's of his shots so far. 

[SabresFan69420]

Wow Barkovs injury did not look good. 
 

very little contact and his left knee just crumpled 

[Flashsabre]

4 hours ago, SabresFan69420 said:

Wow Barkovs injury did not look good. 
 

very little contact and his left knee just crumpled 

He went right to the room throwing his gloves in disgust. It didn’t look good. Guy hasn’t had any luck.

[DarthEbriate]

The Barkov injury is crushing... for Florida.

If it is ruled as season-ending, it takes the Cup favorite among anonymous coaches/GMs (paywall Athletic article) and makes them a bubble team, at best. If it's a 4-6 week sprain that's good news for the league.

[shrader]

Same knee?

[SabresFan69420]

3 minutes ago, shrader said:

Same knee?

It looked like the opposite knee. 
 

any time there’s a no-low contact injury like that it’s scary and his reaction is really what’s making me think it’s serious. 
 

He just got up, opened the door and went to the locker room while throwing his gloves in anger… that’s not great 

[PromoTheRobot]

When you gotta go....

 

 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

When you gotta go....

 

 

Wish we had a camera with us back in the early 90's when our dog did something similar.  Rollerblading around the old Rich Stadium when they had all of the AFC team logos around the outside of the stadium.  Our dog needed to pitch a deuce and did it directly towards the Cheatriots logo.  Who knew, he was ahead of his time.

[...]

3 hours ago, shrader said:

Same knee?

Looked like the left ankle or maybe hip, depending on how that leg over-extended.

 

[shrader]

2 hours ago, ... said:

Looked like the left ankle or maybe hip, depending on how that leg over-extended.

 

Sure looks like an ankle to me. I guess it could be tibia/fibula too. I always get those mixed up. 

Edited Friday at 08:42 PM by shrader

[Wyldnwoody44]

57 minutes ago, shrader said:

Sure looks like an ankle to me. I guess it could be tibia/fibula too. I always get those mixed up. 

The tib/fib are the bones that make up the top of the ankle joint, tibia is shin bone and fibula is small bone behind it we don't feel. 

The talus in the foot makes up the bottom of the joint. If there is disruption of the joint then it becomes surgical and then at least 8 weeks. 

[Second Line Center]

Tuch goal

[Jorcus]

Just now, Second Line Center said:

Tuch goal

He got a free one. Goalie miss played it and left net open but it counts.