2015/2016 Hockey Thread

[leaf4]

Definitely torn, I'm so happy for Phil, but at the same time Reimer, Polak and Spaling (not that he really played that much) are all from the leafs too so thats a good story but I'm pulling for Phil because he's been such a big part of it in Pittsburgh. At the same time I'm pulling for Joe and Marleau, those two totally deserve it too, a combined 3000+ games between the two of them and they haven't made it to the finals it would be awesome for them to close it out

[DRIFTER_016]

http://www.tsn.ca/leafs-marner-named-chl-player-of-the-year-1.497378

 

 

 

 

Leafs' Marner named CHL player of the year

Mitch Marner, Claus Andersen/Getty Images

RED DEER, Alta. — Mitch Marner's dad built him a display case for his accomplishments while he was still playing minor hockey. His latest trophy might need its own stand.

The London Knights forward was named Canadian Hockey League player of the year on Saturday — a trophy so big in size that two people had to carry it for Marner when it was time for him to take pictures with it.

"My dad got (a trophy case) made when I won my first one, it was special at that time with little trophies," said Marner. "It's special to be named to this, (but) I don't know if this one will fit in the trophy case."

The 19-year-old Marner, who the Toronto Maple Leafs selected fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, tore up the Ontario Hockey League this season, and has been picking up awards with ease.

He was named the OHL's most outstanding player in the regular season after producing 39 goals and 116 points in 57 games. He followed that up by winning the OHL playoff MVP with 44 points in 18 games, leading his Knights to a spot in the 2016 Memorial Cup.

Marner, from Thornhill, Ont., has played the entire season on a line with Matthew Tkachuk and Christian Dvorak. All three broke the 100-point mark for London, finished 1-2-3 in playoff scoring and have been unstoppable at the Memorial Cup. He believes the award wouldn't be his without their help.

"Those two could be on the trophy just as much as I can," said Marner, who has 13 points in three games at the Memorial Cup — just three off the tournament record.

Connor McDavid earned the award last season.

"There's a lot of big names on (the trophy), but like I said all year it wouldn't be possible without the players and the coaching staff. Without those guys on my (line) who knows what would have happened?"

Dvorak says playing with Marner has made hockey an easier game to play.

"He can do anything out there, makes a lot of plays, knows where we are on the ice without even looking," said Dvorak.

"Awesome player, not only finding people but being able to bury it too. You can rely on him in all situations," added Tkachuk.

Marner beat out Dryden Hunt of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Francis Perron of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for the honour.

When he called his parents to tell them the news, they didn't know what to say.

"They were speechless," said Marner. "They are the reason why I am here today. It's crazy what they've done for me. I wouldn't be anywhere without them."

The CHL gave out nine other awards on Saturday.

Mississauga's Alex Nylander won rookie of the year, Everett's Carter Hart earned goaltender of the year and Brandon's Ivan Provorov took home defenceman of the year.

Moncton's Conor Garland won the top scorer with 128 points in 62 games, Cape Breton's Pierre-Luc Dubois earned top NHL draft prospect, sportsman of the year went to Shawinigan's Samuel Girard, Saginaw's Will Petschenig won humanitarian of the year, the scholastic player award was given to Alexis D'Aoust of Shawinigan and Rouyn-Noranda's Gilles Bouchard was named coach of the year.

Marner and his Knights will face Perron and the Huskies in the Memorial Cup final on Sunday.

His advice to upcoming players trying to do what he's done this past season is simple: "Sacrifice, work as hard as you can every day and just buy into the system that every day you are prepared."

 

 

[LostAnotherOne]

I just sent some recommendations to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment on how they should conduct their parade.

[Old Ironmaker]

That was a great game.

[grimsbylander]

I just sent some recommendations to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment on how they should conduct their parade.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I've never heard that one before.

[jimmer]

Kessel going to Pittsburg was best for all involved. I don't think anyone was wishing for him to fail there. He is a talented kid who needed out of the limelight. I also think Phaneuf is perfect for the Sens. Why does everyone always thinks the worst of Leaf fans?

[muskymatt]

Why does everyone always thinks the worst of Leaf fans?

Ummmmm.........Because they are "leafs fans?"....

Edited May 31, 2016 by muskymatt

[AKRISONER]

lol matt, id honestly let you get away with it and take the jabs if you were anything but a sens fan...(vancouver fan probably too)

[manitoubass2]

Aaaaaand kessel gets a ring!

 

Congrats pittsburgh

[glen]

[leaf4]

Pumped for Kessel!!!! Though he got robbed of the Conn Smythe, can't let an opportunity pass for the golden boy to add some hardware to the cabinet right? Kessel was their leading scorer and Crosby was 10th overall in the playoffs... although he did play a dominant game it still feels like Kessel or Murray should've won it

[manitoubass2]

Kinda feel for fleury too.

 

Murray steps in and wins big

 

And id agree kessel was robbed.

[Acountdeleted]

With Pittsburgh winning the cup, will their first round draft pick be last overall or will it still be dependent on their record in the regular season?

[Moosebunk]

Kessel was a menace out there.

 

Crosby lead well as always.

 

Malkin always impresses me.

[muskymatt]

 

And id agree kessel was robbed.

Spoken like a true laffs fan lol.....

Crosby put that team on his back and carried them to the cup. Kessel will need one more year of being rid of the dreaded blue and white disease before you can consider him for that!

[manitoubass2]

Did you watch the games?

 

Of course you didnt, your a sens fan???

 

At least leafs fans like hockey

[BillM]

Kessel deserved the Conn Smythe.

[DRIFTER_016]

Kessel deserved the Conn Smythe.

 

But they did buy him a cheeseburger as a consolation prize!!!

[DRIFTER_016]

The Conn Smythe balloting was the closest in history.

 

http://www.tsn.ca/ballots-show-crosby-edged-kessel-in-tight-conn-smythe-vote-1.508739

[leaf4]

Happy to see there's at least some recognition, like I said earlier I'm pumped for Kessel winning a cup, its awesome to see. For what it's worth I still wanna see jumbo and Marleau get a cup, hopefully they can do a repeat next year and win instead

Edited June 16, 2016 by Lucas F

[glen]

All the people that said kessel sucked.

 

Lol.

[DRIFTER_016]

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!

Rogers has come to their senses!!!!!

Ron's back next season!!!!

George skinny jeans Strombopoadoppleous is gonzo!!!!!

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/rogers-to-replace-stromboulopoulos-with-ron-maclean-on-hockey-night-in-canada/article30519154/

 

 

Rogers planning to replace Stroumboulopoulos with MacLean on Hockey Night in Canada

DAVID SHOALTS

The Globe and Mail

Published

Sunday, Jun. 19, 2016 10:21PM EDT

Last updated

Sunday, Jun. 19, 2016 11:28PM EDT

Rogers Media is planning to replace George Stroumboulopoulos with Ron MacLean as host of Hockey Night In Canada next season but many details need to be worked out before the deal can be declared official, according to multiple sources.

The chief stumbling block to the move is that Mr. MacLean, 56, is adamant that he will not give up his position as sidekick to Don Cherry on the Coach’s Corner segment on Hockey Night, nor will he step down as host of Rogers’ Sunday night show, Hometown Hockey.

A source says the Rogers plan has the backing of National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman, despite his past fractious relationship with Mr. MacLean.

The move also comes as Rogers has struggled in the first two years of a 12-year, $5.2-billion deal for the Canadian na-tional broadcast rights to NHL hockey.

The negotiations with Mr. MacLean are continuing.

Until Mr. MacLean and his bosses, Rogers Media president Rick Brace, Sportsnet president Scott Moore and production chief Rob Corte, can work out how Mr. MacLean will do all three jobs, the ouster of Mr. Stroumboulopoulos, 43, cannot proceed, sources said.

If Mr. MacLean regains the job he held from 1986 to 2014, when he was demoted from host of Hockey Night to the Sunday-night show and his spot with Mr. Cherry, it will be a stunning comeback.

Mr. MacLean lost the post in no small part due to his battles with Mr. Bettman. The two clashed on the air many times during interviews as Mr. MacLean took a strong pro-player stand during the NHL’s many labour squabbles. After Rogers cut the deal with the NHL, Mr. Moore said many times that he regarded the NHL as a partner. Mr. MacLean himself acknowledged his relationship with Mr. Bettman could have cost him the host’s job.

Mr. Bettman could not be reached for comment and Mr. MacLean declined to comment in detail. “I can’t say a thing until Rob Corte or Scott Moore say a thing [about the plans for the 2016-17 season],” he said Sunday night. But Mr. MacLean did add that when it comes to Hometown Hockey, “I’m not going anywhere, I’m really into that and committed to it and Coach’s Corner.”

Mr. Stroumboulopoulos did not respond to a request for comment. One of Mr. Stroumboulopoulos’s friends said the broadcaster was in the midst of riding his motorcycle from Toronto to Los Angeles.

Several sources said Rogers’ hockey employees are expecting to hear the company’s plans for next season as soon as the NHL draft wraps up on Saturday. Over the past two years, Rogers has been hurt by the struggles of the seven Canadian teams, resulting in ratings declines and firings in the hockey department. Company staffers have said they expect sweeping changes to the hockey broadcasts over the summer.

Mr. Moore said in an e-mail that the story “is speculation. We won’t comment on rumours.” Mr. Brace and Mr. Corte could not be reached for comment.

One source said Mr. Moore was responsible for the decision and he has been considering the move for at least a year. Discussions are under way with Mr. Stroumboulopoulos’s representatives about a contract settlement (it is believed he has two years remaining on his deal), the source also said.

Mr. MacLean took the loss of the Hockey Night host job in stride and remained loyal to Rogers. While the ratings on Hometown Hockey were disappointing, often because too few good games were shown that night, Mr. MacLean was said to have done an outstanding job as host. He broadcast each week from a small town in Canada and the show was seen by those at the top of Rogers Communications Inc., including chief executive officer Guy Laurence, as important from a community-building perspective. They loved Mr. MacLean’s work and his stock with Rogers’ top executives rose dramatically.

Mr. Stroumboulopoulos was hired to give the staid Hockey Night show a more youthful face. But his his style never captured the imagination of the television audience. Criticism of Mr. Stroumboulopoulos’s skinny suits was frequent on social media and viewers also felt his passions – he still has a CBC radio show that focuses on music – did not lie with hockey.

Rogers hockey staffers contacted Sunday said they were not surprised about the pending move, which was signalled this summer in the surprise firing of Gord Cutler, the head of hockey production at Rogers.

Mr. Cutler was hired away from rival Bell Media’s TSN and he, along with Mr. Moore, were behind the radical change in broadcast style from the CBC version of Hockey Night. Rogers sources said Mr. Cutler made it clear he was not as enamoured of Mr. MacLean and Mr. Cherry as the previous regime and their time on air was cut under the new boss.

But after Mr. Cutler was fired, Mr. MacLean and Mr. Cherry were seen more often on the air during the playoffs. So was another old CBC hand, legendary play-by-play announcer Bob Cole. Rogers insiders say viewers can expect to see a return to a more traditional look for the hockey broadcasts this fall.

 

 

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/report-ron-maclean-to-return-as-hockey-night-host-replace-george-stroumboulopoulos/

 

 

 

Report: Ron MacLean to return as Hockey Night in Canada host, replace George Stroumboulopoulos

By: Jared Clinton on

June 19, 2016

Filed under: News

Ron MacLean (Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Hockey Night in Canada might have a different look next season, but it’s going to feel awfully familiar for Canadian hockey fans.

According to the Toronto Star’s Dave Feschuk, Rogers is set to replace Hockey Night host George Stroumboulopoulos with Ron MacLean, who Stroumboulopoulos had replaced in the host’s chair when the iconic program became part of the Rogers broadcast family. Stroumboulopoulos took over as host on the tail of his successful CBC interview show, and the hope was ‘Strombo’ would draw in and appeal to a younger audience.

The change hasn’t been made official by Rogers, and Scott Moore, president of Sportsnet, told Feschuk that at this point the reports of the switch back to MacLean are “simply speculation,” adding that no plans have been finalized for the 2016-17 season.

However, if the swap is made and Stroumboulopoulos is out as the host, it will mean he lasted only two seasons as the face of the program. There are no details regarding the possibility of Stroumboulopoulos continuing with the Hockey Night broadcast in any other capacity.

As for MacLean, his return would see him inch closer to 30 years as the host of the program. MacLean’s original run as the host began in 1986 and continued until 2014, at which point he was replaced by Stroumboulopoulos.

MacLean has remained with Hockey Night, though, working the first intermission with Don Cherry on Coach’s Corner and MacLean was host of the Sunday evening Hometown Hockey broadcasts. Cherry recently signed a multi-year deal to remain a part of Hockey Night, and MacLean, his longtime sidekick, will remain in the role.

MacLean told Feschuk that he is committed to fulfilling his duties on Coach’s Corner and Hometown Hockey, but wouldn’t comment on the report that he was set to take over hosting duties once again.

 

 

Edited June 20, 2016 by DRIFTER_016

[Oggie]

Didn't even watch the final game! Brutal series to say the least. I hope Kessel chokes on the cup! I think Crosby finally managed to get Phil to commit to something in life and for that he deserves the Conn Smythe!

 

Yeah George was deadly as the CBC anchor for HNIC. Glad to see Ron McLean back.

[DRIFTER_016]

The Leafs picked up goalie Frederik Andersen from Anaheim today.

They gave up the 30th pick acquired from the Pens in the Kessel deal.

They also gave up a 2nd rounder next year. The leafs still have 11 picks in this years draft including #1 and #31.

 

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=886552

 

 

 

 

Leafs acquire Andersen from Anaheim

Monday, 06.20.2016 / 4:30 PM ET / News

Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired goaltender Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the 30th overall selection from the 2016 NHL Entry Draft (originally acquired by Toronto from Pittsburgh) and a second round selection from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Andersen posted a 22-9-7 record with a 2.30 goals-against-average (GAA) and .919 save-percentage (SV%) in 43 games (37 starts) last season with the Ducks. The 26-year-old also went 3-2 with a 1.41 GAA and .947 SV% in five playoff starts in the 2016 post-season.

In 125 career regular season games with Anaheim, Andersen has posted a 77-26-12 record with a 2.33 GAA and .918 SV%. He also holds a 17-9-2 career post-season record with a 2.34 GAA and .916 SV%. In 2014-15 season, Andersen became the fastest goaltender to reach the 26-win mark (26-5-0) in NHL history and tied the league record for the fastest to 50 career wins (50-13-5), originally set by Montreal’s Bill Durnan (50-9-9) in 1944. During the 2013-14 season, Andersen was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after posting a 20-5-0 record with a 2.29 GAA and .923 SV% in 28 appearances. That season he led all rookie goaltenders in wins, goals-against average and save percentage -- the best numbers in those categories by any rookie netminder since 2010-11.

The Herning, Denmark native was selected by Anaheim in the third round (87th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

 

[DRIFTER_016]

http://www.tsn.ca/statistically-speaking-leafs-land-a-new-goalie-1.511676

 

 

 

Statistically Speaking: Leafs land a new goalie

• 

Frederik Andersen, The Canadian Press

Scott Cullen

TSN.ca Analytics

Follow|Archive

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be a lot better next season and they started their quest by dealing for a new starting goaltender.

Statistically Speaking breaks down Toronto’s trade for Frederik Andersen.

Anaheim was dealing from a position of strength, and Toronto addressed a need.

The Maple Leafs Get: G Frederik Andersen

Andersen, 26, has been an above-average puck-stopper for the Ducks, posting a .918 save percentage (.925 at even strength) in 125 career games. He also has a .916 save percentage in 28 playoff games. He doesn't appear to be a star but, more and more, we've seen that a star in net isn't what is needed to have success.

The difficulty for Andersen was that he had been battling John Gibson for playing time in Anaheim, and it’s a battle that was tilting in Gibson’s favour, not least of all because Gibson is a highly-touted, 22-year-old so, at least theoretically, he offers more seasons of prime performance.

Andersen is a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who hails from Denmark that has the size teams tend to seek out in goaltenders and that stands in contrast to the goaltender that the Maple Leafs currently have under contract, Jonathan Bernier, who is listed at 6-foot and 184 pounds.

While Bernier has struggled in the past couple of seasons with the Maple Leafs – his .915 career save percentage isn’t far off of Andersen’s track record – and it’s likely going to be what the Leafs try to sell on the trade market. There aren’t a lot of teams with needs for a starting goaltender, or at least a goaltender with a $4.15-million cap hit, but it won’t be a surprise if Bernier is playing somewhere other than Toronto next season; either that, or he will be an expensive backup.

Andersen, who made $1.3-million last season, was set to be a restricted free agent, but has signed a new five-year contract with the Maple Leafs. He’s the present and the future in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Ducks Get: A first-round pick in 2016 and a second-round pick in 2017

The first pick that the Ducks receive will be the 30th pick in this year’s draft (which originally belonged to the Pittsburgh Penguins). The 30th pick typically offers a little less than a 40% chance of turning into an NHL player. The Ducks now have a couple of late first rounders to play with in Friday's first-round.

There’s some variance with the 2017 second-round pick that the Ducks will receive, since it depends on the 2016-2017 standings, but a second-round pick, generally, presents just barely better than a one-in-three chance of becoming an NHL player.

Between the two picks, there is a fair opportunity for the Ducks to find a player that will have some value to them long-term, and this is a case of Anaheim dealing from a position of strength. Gibson is a very good young goaltender so it made no sense for the Ducks to pay a big price to keep Andersen too.

Verdict: While the price of the picks might appear significant, there’s a lot of uncertainty there, more than would reasonably be expected when evaluating a goaltender with Andersen’s track record. Thus, the Maple Leafs get the nod for acquiring the better player at a fair, but not unreasonable, price.