Tag Archives: Toronto Maple Leafs

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2023/24 Edmonton Oilers GM40: Oilers VS. Maple Leafs – 3P2W – “Keep your eye on a team like Edmonton. I think that they..will certainly have some interest.”

Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!

If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.

So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for today’s matchup!

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Random Pontifications

“There’s anywhere between 4 or 5 teams… that have interest in Corey Perry… I know there’s been some talk about Toronto – I don’t see that as a fit…Keep your eye on a team like Edmonton. I think that they..will certainly have some interest.” – Chris Johnston

  • Perry’s on his way to the Oilers. It’s only a matter of time and man, do they need him in their bottom six because those boys have fizzled right the f*ck out. I would assume that’s why the games have been a lot closer as of recent.

“The Oilers are actively exploring the possibility of adding veteran forward Corey Perry to their roster, according to insider reports. Bob Stauffer, host of Oilers Now, has revealed that the team is diligently assessing the potential acquisition of Perry.”

“TSN’s Frank Seravalli notes that the Oilers have been in pursuit of Perry for several weeks and are expressing genuine interest in securing his services. Perry, who is reportedly considering various options, is said to have Edmonton high on his list of preferred destinations.”

  • I don’t always believe what Seravalli says but I do think he’s an entertaining guest on Stauffer’s show because he sticks it to Bob every now and then and doesn’t give stock answers.
  • Now, what I’m afraid of is the Oilers considering Perry to be their “top-six” winger addition that Holland was speaking to recently. That won’t work. The former Duck is way to old to be getting that kind of TOI and he’s been way better down the lineup.
  • One thing that could materialize out of a possible Perry addition is that Warren Foegele gets moved. He’s got ten points in his last ten games and seems to be a good winger for Leon but I could foresee a scenario where Draisaitl gets pissy due to the lack of finish out of McLovin’.
  • Perry could replace Foegele in the bottom six easily and #37 could be used in a deal to bring in somebody like Vladdy Tarasenko out of Ottawa. We know the Sens and Oilers have been talking and the Staios connection is there…
  • Just as an aside, do you think there’s a chance Edmonton moves Evander Kane? I’ve not heard anything and he’s been a lot better than some projected him to be (on and off the ice) when Holland brought him in, but I just wonder if the Oilers cut bait on him before he gets into Milan Lucic territory.

Quotes come from NHL Trade Talk

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Three Players to Watch for the Bad Guys

  • #34 Auston Matthews (33g 15a 48pts) – There is something to be said with regards to scoring goals at nearly a goal-per-game pace but if you’re one of those hockey people who are saying Matthews should be in contention for the Hart, you’re kidding yourself. He’s not even the MVP of his own team this year. The next guy on the list is…
  • #88 William Nylander (21g 36a 58pts) – I think he’s the best player on the Leafs but there’s an argument to be made there. He’s definitely the most entertaining and that’s not even close. He’s scored five goals and seven assists in his last ten games played.
  • #16 Mitch Marner  (18g 28a 46pts) – Surprisingly enough, Marner is the team’s hottest player in their last five games with four goals and three assists in that time. Now, I don’t watch the team enough but at the moment, Sheldon Keefe has him lining up on his 3rd line RW for some reason alongside Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi. That line could be problematic if they’re on their game.

Three Players to Watch for the Good Guys

  • #18 Zach Hyman (14g 10a 24pts) – Is this stat true? According to hockey-reference, Hyman has only played against the Maple Leafs three times. He’s got one goal and one assist in those games. Anyways, he’s still trucking along in the goal-scoring department with five goals in his last five games.
  • #97 Connor McDavid 0g 3a 3pts) – 16 points in his last ten games and historically versus the Leafs he has 31pts in 21 games. Now Careful with him though, January seems to be one of the months where Connor slows down a bit.
  • #74 Stu Skinner (9g 30a 39pts) – He’s 4-0-0 with a 1.24 GAA and a SV% of 0.957 in his last five starts. They’ll need him on his game tonight because Toronto has enough firepower to blow it wide open if Skinner shits the bed in the tiniest of fashions. That said, so much for his sophomore slump I was pitching earlier in the season. He’s now made it so that the co-GMs Holland and Jackson don’t need to stump up for a starting goalie. All they need now is a 1B.

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2020-21 Edmonton Oilers GM36: Oilers vs. Maple Leafs – Three Players to Watch

After coughing up a two-goal lead late in Saturday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Edmonton Oilers are back at it tonight will be looking for revenge and a way to close the gap on the North Division-leading team in blue and white.

I wrote about some of the latest Oilers rumors and hearsay that’s been passed along to me recently in this post. There you’ll find things like,

  • Which player GMs are asking about.
  • Someone the Oilers just missed out on in a trade.
  • Who the Oilers have been shopping.
  • Who they’re targeting.
  • Which teams they’ve been talking to the most lately.
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Should they be in the lineup, here are three players that I think you should keep an eye on for the Leafs tonight,

  • #91 John Tavares – Took a massive hit from Zack Kassian late in the last game. Tavares has been a beast against Edmonton in every game but the first meeting between the two clubs.
  • #3 Justin Holl – He’s part of a new breed of defender emerging. There seems to be more tall, gangly, well-skating, shutdown d-men developing. He’s done a fantastic job of taking Edmonton’s stars out of the equation this season. We’ll see if he can continue that this evening.
  • #88 William Nylander – I think he’s the most underrated superstar in the NHL. Sure, he’s not Ron Francis, but man can this boy skill. He’s really had some key goals against Edmonton this year and I don’t think he’s about to stop.

For Toronto to have a better chance at success versus the Oilers they could do two things,

  • Get Edmonton moving in their own zone.
    • Meaning don’t allow the Oilers to get set and in a position to box out you out. Coach Tippett’s boys can get wirey at times and it causes them to start puck watching which ultimately leaves a forward open an in a scoring position.
  • Get point shots and Muck it up in front of Edmonton’s net.
    • Deflections and redirections are Mike Smith’s and Mikko Koskinen’s kryptonite. Also, the Oilers only really have Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse to clear the crease. So the Leafs could take advantage of that.

With regards to Edmonton, I’ll be watching these three individuals closely,

  • #91 Gaetan Haas – I really dig this guy, but I do wonder if he’d be more effective on the wing. He simply doesn’t have the faceoff skills to be a good center in the NHL and last game he lost some really key draws on the PK that resulted in some panicky moments for Edmonton… The Oilers need a little bit more from Haas and I happen to think there’s more there to give from him.
  • #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – This season has been up and down for Nuge which is a tad uncharacteristic. He’s usually a lot more consistent but it sounds like he’ll be back up with McDavid in this game and, in my opinion, that’s where he should be. RNH is a much better winger than he is a center and that’s because his work along the boards and in the corners is exactly what elite pivots like McDavid and Draisaitl need.
  • #74 Ethan Bear – Another lackluster game over the weekend… Evan Bouchard is ready to go, I’m just saying. The three games prior to the break in Montreal, Bear was really good, so don’t ask me what happened in Toronto. He looked back to his out-of-form self and the Oilers cannot have that going into the final leg of this season. They need more consistency.

Three Keys to Success For the Oilers

  • Faceoffs, Win a Few.

Outside of Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton’s centers need to step up on the draw. If Ken Holland can’t procure a center or two who are elite at winning faceoffs, it might be their downfall, ultimately. You can’t win without good draw takers and with the talent level of the Maple Leafs being somewhat similar to what the Oilers will be facing in the post-season, they’d best improve their FO% or find some players who already have good percentages on the dot.

  • More Shots From the Home Plate

I would like to see Edmonton’s forwards be completely selfish tonight. Once they’re in Toronto’s end, let’s get some shots right away. Really pepper the Maple Leafs goalie and keep the shots lower than waist height if possible to try and create more rebounds and out of the glove or gut. Last time out, they really got out shot and out-chanced pretty badly by the Leafs and if they want to beat Toronto outright, it starts with shots.

  • Keep Up the Physicality

Zack Kassian’s hit on John Tavares was GOLD and Josh Archibald has nine of his own last time out. Jesse Puljujarvi is a wrecking ball in his own right but obviously he’s out to dislodge pucks whereas the other two are looking to dislodge brain stems. That said, Edmonton could target their hits a bit better and to be honest, isn’t it about time some other team’s stars started to feel the noise?

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2020-21 Edmonton Oilers GM35: Oilers vs. Maple Leafs – Three Players to Watch

Good Lord, we finally have some HACKEY to watch! After a week off, the Edmonton Oilers stroll into the Big Smoke and are aiming not to choke on it. They were on a helluva roll before Montreal screwed it all up by catching The ‘Vid, but there’s an opportunity to keep this truck rolling down the highway because the Toronto Maple Leafs are sucking the hind tit since running the gamut on Edmonton thricely a few weeks ago.

The number one question on my mind, did Dave Tippett and his staff learn anything from that trio of losses or will they fall back into old habits and cost the Oilers some extremely valuable points in the standings?

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Should they be in the lineup, here are three players that I think you should keep an eye on for the Buds tonight,

  • #34 Auston Matthews – He’s on a big of a drought lately and you know what the cure to a scoring drought is in the NHL? A game against the Edmonton Oilers…
  • #11 Zach Hyman – According the dailyfaceoff.com, Hyman’s got three goals in his last five games and four points in that time. He’s a menace to opposing defenders plus he’s on an expiring contract, so he’s got a pretty good incentive to produce.
  • #36 Jack Campbell – Is Campbell the unbeatable entity or is there a human underneath all of that goalie equipment? We’ll soon find out.

For Toronto to have success, I think they should simply smother Edmonton’s top-six and give them no room to breath. Let the bottom-six players battle it out and allow the chips to fall where they may. Sheldon Keefe’s group are deeper than Coach Tippett’s and he’s at home, so he’s going to get the last change.

The Oilers are prone to some brain farts and collapsing completely when the game is out of reach as we witnessed in Toronto’s 6-1 win previously.

With regards to Edmonton, I’ll be watching these three individuals closely,

  • #56 Kailer Yamamoto – Killer’s first game back since getting dinged up last week. Edmonton is going to need his tenacity and there are some wondering how he’ll mesh with RNH on the second line if the Oilers decide to go with the “Nuclear Option” on line 1.
  • #25 Darnell Nurse – I think he’s going to see A LOT of TOI tonight and he’s been really great this season to date aside from some poor games versus the Leafs. The moment of truth comes in these types of games and the Oilers are going to require 100% of his concentration tonight.
  • #44 Zack Kassian – I really wonder how a physical element like Kass will change the complexion of the game against Toronto. The Oilers will have some really heavy players in their lineup and things could go either way on that front, to be honest. Kassian and his band of brothers could make tonight a living hell for Toronto’s skillers and defensemen or they could have their asses handed to them by the Maple Leafs’ talented forwards.

Three Keys to Success For the Oilers

  • Keep Toronto’s Chances to the Outside

Toronto has big problems playing against teams who force them to take their chances from the outside. They’ve got a handful of players who make their livings in the muck but those aren’t their best players and their all-stars tend to avoid those areas. Edmonton has a much better chance if Toronto’s big boys have to take low-chance shots.

  • Protect the House

If the Oilers do manage to keep the Leafs to the perimeter, they’re going to switch it up and start crashing the net and going for garbage goals and deflections. Edmonton’s Defensemen will have a great responsibility to keep the front of the net clear. So, it’s probably a good thing Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse are having the seasons of their lives. As well, it will be a fantastic test for Kris Russell and William Lagesson.

  • Play Patiently

We’ve see three times now where the Oilers have started games against Toronto like their balls were dipped in acid and three times where the Maple Leafs withstood the pressure and countered it with a goal.

I’d love to see Edmonton control this game from the get-go. Play with some composure and not push too hard after the puck drops. Own the possession game in a manner that appears as if they’re bullying Toronto. We all know when they ring that alarm that they can turn on the pressure, but can they play like the old Russian squads of the 70s and 80s?

One more thing, Toronto has caught Edmonton’s d-men out more than once this season and made them pay for it. The Maple Leafs have some big depth forwards who can skate like the wind like Engvall and Mikheyev or are highly skilled like Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza… The Oilers blueliners are going to have to be very cognizant of their on-ice decisions and positions.

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(3/23/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors: “Evgeni Kuznetsov trade possibilities…”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Evgeni Kuznetsov (WAS), Dustin Brown (LA), Niklas Hjalmarsson (ARI), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

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NHL Rumors and Speculation

Larry Brooks (NY Post) wonders if New Jersey Devils $9M right-shot defender might have some interest from other clubs at this year’s trade deadline or prior,

  • “The Spirit of 76 has one year with a $9 million cap hit remaining on his deal. If the Devils retain half, contenders with needs on the right side of the blue line could do much worse than acquiring Subban.”

Emily Sadler of Sportsnet:  Mattias Ekholm emerging as one of the top defensive trade targets has been established. Now, where could he end up? The Jake Muzzin deal sets the bar but again the where is far from set.

  • Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto seems to be involved in everything but they do need defense and/or goaltending insurance. Ekholm would be especially helpful but a deal would have to be done in the next week or so. A pure rental makes more sense but Ekholm gives Toronto three left-handed anchors for defense.
  • Philadelphia Flyers:  Again, when Matt Niskanen retired, it left a huge void on the defensive corps. At first, the Flyers were able to hide their deficiencies but now they cannot. Giving up 25 goals in the last five games makes a deal more likely. Ekholm’s term helps here at a reasonable rate for Philadelphia. The Flyers have enough prospects to sweeten any deal for the Nashville defenseman.
  • Montreal Canadiens:  Montreal’s roller coaster of a season continues at breakneck speed. Marc Bergevin remains unafraid to pull off another bold move or three. With the Ben Chiarot injury, a spot has opened up. Unfortunately, cap space is an issue as it is for most teams. Montreal possesses a wealth of draft picks — 14 in 2021, and seven in 2022. Does Montreal add Artturi Lehkonen as well?
  • Boston Bruins:  Ekholm is one of those defensemen who can boost scoring a little bit while playing mostly excellent defense in a tougher top-four role. The problem for the Bruins is that teams know Boston has one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL. A player may have to go the other way. Jake DeBrusk is the name bandied about as a possible return for Nashville.
  • Winnipeg Jets:  Winnipeg has the pieces to make a Jake Muzzin like deal according to Murat Ates via Adam Vingan of The Athletic. The problem is that other teams could offer a better package for Ekholm. Cap issues are there as well. However, adjustments can be made for the Nashville defenseman.

J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington (mailbag):  A flat salary cap remains for the next few seasons. The Washington Capitals need a center. It was something Washington did not address during the draft or free agency last year. They have a nice core of four centers with the big club but little or nothing else after that. A dollar-in, dollar-out deal to deliver a depth center seems unlikely.

Evgeni Kuznetsov trade possibilities rise a little but not until after the season. During the season makes little sense for the Washington Capitals. As for the expansion draft, stay tuned as Washington will try to steer certain deals to Seattle. A Vegas-like sequel will not happen again.

Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic: The New York Rangers would definitely be interested in Jack Eichel if he becomes available. That would be more of an offseason move, if at all. They will likely be sellers, but do have some assets/draft picks they could move for the right player.

Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, feels the Toronto Maple Leafs are talking trade for a defenseman to fill out their d-core and provide them some more insurance as they head into the playoffs. Candidates include: Nik Hjalmarsson (ARI), Marc Staal (DET), Jari Hakanpaa (ANA), and David Savard (CBJ).

Dennis Bernstein (The Fourth Period) says that that LA Kings are getting interest on veterans Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick.

  • “One team is an obvious landing spot for Brown – the New York Islanders, who were on the wrong end of a body blow when captain Anders Lee’s season ended with an ACL injury. Brown isn’t Lee, but what he is, is the most affordable and likely gettable player on the market. He’s not the only option for the Islanders (Kyle Palmieri, Mikael Granlund, Taylor Hall), but is having the best season of any options. “
  • The other player who has drawn attention is at the other end of the spectrum, goaltender Jonathan Quick. Though the Los Angeles net has not been handed over to Cal Petersen by Todd McLellan, the younger netminder is clearly the better goaltender. Some say that Quick is done and isn’t close to the Conn Smythe winner he once was and they’re right. “

Jimmy Murphy (Boston Hockey Now) recently reported multiple sources claiming the Bruins are scouting Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard. GM Don Sweeney is also continuing to monitor the situation with Ekholm and St. Louis Blues rearguard Vince Dunn. The Predators and Blues recently scouted the Bruins.

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(3/23/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors Quick Hits Edition

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Jack Eichel (BUF), Frederik Andersen (TOR), Dylan Strome (CHI), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

NHL Rumors and Speculation

Renaud Lavoie (TVA Sports) is reporting that the ask for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel is at least four first round draft picks be they players that were once selected in the first round of the NHL draft or are future selections.

David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period) says the LA Kings have spoken to the Toronto Maple Leafs about goalie Jonathan Quick but nothing is imminent on that front. The belief is that Buds netminder Frederik Andersen would go the other way if a trade is finalized.

Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet) counters the Quick to Toronto claims by saying that he doesn’t think it’s happening because he believes the Maple Leafs don’t think it’s viable.

  • The Vancouver Canucks have been taking calls on Travis Hamonic, Jordie Benn, Tanner Pearson (before injury), and Brandon Sutter. They’re gauging the market but in wait-and-see mode with their playoff status
  • Things have changed in Columbus as they’ve caught Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in their division which probably means David Savard and Nick Foligno might not get dealt. If Columbus stays in it and hold their UFAs, that changes the market.

TSN1200: Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving on his club’s potential trade deadline plans,

“I’m certainly not looking to spend high draft or prospect capital for rental players, but if there’s a way to help our team, that’s what we’ll continue to do. I’m not in a position where I need to be spending those types of assets on a rental.”

Daily Faceoff Podcast: Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell on what his club might be looking for ahead of the trade deadline,

“A right-shot defender would be something I’ve asked around about and another top-nine forward potentially. We’re also looking at all our positions from a depth standpoint.”

Andrew Gross (Newsday) has speculated recently on whether or not the the New York Islanders will pursue New Jersey Devils winger Kyle Palmieri before the trade deadline.

Larry Brooks (NY Post) has suggested that the New York Rangers keep Russian winger Pavel Buchnevich at $5.5M AAV for 4-5 years.

John Hoven (Mayor’s Manor) expects the LA Kings to retain Alex Iafallo’s services and sees him staying in LA. To date, not serious contract talks have taken place and nothing is imminent. Most signs point to a deal being announced later down the road.

Kevin Kurz (The Athletic) Patrick Marleau would definitely consider a trade to a contender if the opportunity arises but he’s not actively looking for it. His goal is still to win a Stanley Cup.

The Athletic says a league source has informed them that the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t shopping center Dylan Strome but they are willing to entertain offers for Connor McDavid’s former junior linemate.

Max Bultman (The Athletic) says if healthy, forward Tyler Bertuzzi will have a ton of appeal for buyers at the trade deadline.

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