A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Get well, John Tavares.
1. We didn’t think much or write much about the game aspect of Game 1 because how could it possibly feel important?
Even now, with John Tavares resting at home, it’s secondary at best. So it with that understanding — and a knot in our gut — that we do look at the game.
OK. If you were to jot down the perfect formula for a Montreal Canadiens upset of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it would include many ingredients from Game 1:
Come out hitting.
Win the special-teams battle.
Score first to negate any need to open up.
Stuff the neutral zone and throw up speed bumps.
Patiently wait to counterattack with stretch passes.
Bet on Carey Price to do classic Carey Price things.
Win 2-1.
“I don’t think there’s anything that surprised us,” Alexander Kerfoot said. “But they were engaged from the get-go. And I don’t think that we were necessarily. I think it took us a little bit to get into it, and there’s no excuse for that.”
Nick Foligno provided the most accurate post-game assessment.
“It was a really choppy game, and then nobody gets a feel for it. It kind of takes away what we’re really good at, which is being a five-on-five team and dangerous with holding onto puck,” Foligno said.
With both teams parading to the penalty box, the game was devoid of speed and rhythm. It’s on the Leafs to act like the alpha dogs they are supposed to be and dictate Game 2.
“We’ve just got to find a way to get our offensive flow going and play hockey,” Foligno continued. “When we do that, we’ve shown that we’re a real dangerous team and have proven it time and time again.”
The Habs controlled the tone, and the Leafs helped slog momentum by committing three puck-over-glass penalties.
“The [Justin] Holl one was pretty accidental and just tried to knock a puck down and it gets out,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I thought the other two [by William Nylander and Mitch Marner]there was a little bit of a sense of panic. I’d like to think those aren’t things that are going to occur again.”
Jason Spezza took two careless stick infractions, further draining five-on-five time.
“I took three penalties all year, and I took two [Thursday]. That’s gotta not be there,” Spezza said Friday, owning it.
Although Montreal brought it to the Leafs physically, Keefe took issue with the league’s 55-27 hit count, which had the visitors ahead by a mile.
“I don’t know who it is that counts the hits in the game, but they’re definitely not a Leaf fan,” said Keefe, under the microscope for his lineup tweaks and sagging power play.
The Maple Leafs have vowed to come out with more speed, more intensity, and more discipline Saturday.
“We have to show up,” Morgan Rielly said, “and change the narrative.”
Because Chapter One went according to the Canadiens’ underdog script.
2. John Tavares led the stretch at the conclusion of the Maple Leafs’ final practice before a playoff tilt 42 years in the making.
The captain came home for moments like this, series like this.
To see him go down so early is to be snapped out of the romantic escape of sports. To think instead about a man who has lived and breathed hockey his whole life, who has poured hours getting mentally and physically prepared to perform on this stage.
In a fraction of a second, that gets stolen from him.
Here is what coach Sheldon Keefe said about the King Clancy nominee and his impact on the group the morning before Game 1:
“Just even keel. Professional. Committed to just doing what it takes to get himself ready to play and to be at his best. Just the way that he goes about things with a level of confidence, I think, especially at this time of year where emotions can be both high and low, having a leader like him with his mindset and his approach helps level off those emotions.”
3. Quote of the Week is a throwback.
Nazem Kadri, on the March 25 episode of Spittin’ Chiclets, said this of his trade away from the Toronto Maple Leafs following back-to-back Round 1 suspensions: “Bit of a s––––– thing for me to go through. But you can’t think I was gonna do that again for a third time, did ya? Two’s enough.”
4. Mitch Marner skated 27:23 in Toronto’s Game 1 loss.
That’s a ton, even for an Energizer bunny who plays on both special teams and led all NHL forwards in average ice time (22:26) during the regular season.
The most Marner had previously skated in any game in 2021 was 26:41. That, too, was in an offence-starved loss (3-0 to Calgary on Feb. 22).
By comparison, workhorse Connor McDavid had only one regulation game busier than Marner’s Thursday night. McDavid logged 28:16 in a Feb. 6 loss in Calgary.
I get it. Keefe needed a goal, and Marner is the fourth-best point producer in hockey.
But for a team that prides itself on depth, this is running a star too thin.
Three games in four nights are on deck.
5. In a world where coaches are judged on results and men are hired to be fired, as they say, Steve Yzerman’s extension of Jeff Blashill speaks volumes about the man and the patient state of the Detroit Red Wings rebuild.
Particularly in a summer with so many free-agent coaches holding sparkling CVs.
In six seasons, Blashill has won one playoff game and failed to qualify for the playoffs five times. His winning percentage (.423) is the worst for a Detroit coach in 35 years. Yzerman didn’t hire him.
And yet? He’s still the right man to guide the rebuild.
Yzerman credited Blashill, 47, with bringing the “calmness, willingness and patience” to work with young players.
“We played hard, and I think our players play hard, and I think that’s a reflection of the coaching staff, that they have the respect of the players,” Yzerman said. “The other part is, Jeff has really shown [an ability]to work with me with transitioning our young players into the lineup, being patient with them, not handing them positions or ice time, really forcing them to earn it and guiding them along and being firm yet patient with our young guys.”
With Travis Green staying put in Vancouver and Rod Brind’Amour nearing an extension in Carolina, the empty seats on the carousel rest in Buffalo, Columbus, Arizona, New York, and Seattle.
6. Great move by Columbus extending Jarmo Kekalainen (the MVP of deadline sellers) and bringing back John Davidson to the front office.
The franchise needs stability ahead of some critical negotiations.
“When we got back into Columbus today and started driving down 315 and things, it was like we haven’t left,” Davidson told reporters. “It was an easy decision once I was free to go places. I will say that the phone did ring [with offers]and it rang quite a bit, actually. My choice and my wife and my family’s choice is right here in Columbus.”
Blue line pillars Seth Jones and Zach Werenski can both be extended this summer. Patrik Laine (arbitration rights) and Alex Texier must be re-signed. The roster needs a stud centre… or two.
These are massive personnel decisions that will chart the direction of this club. Smart to have experienced hands on the wheel for this.
7. Even though I got too caught up Nashville-Carolina and ended up missing Brad Marchand’s quick overtime winner Tuesday, I’m loving the staggered start times of this post-season.
Some fine people do fine work during TV intermissions, but for the first round especially, it’s great to be able to flick channels and get a feel for the tournament’s other series.
Would like to see more staggered starts — and matinees — during the regular season.
8. Kobe Bryant dropped a rap single, the Tyra Banks–assisted “K.O.B.E.,” in 2000. But when the track failed to generate enough buzz — despite Bryant performing it at the NBA’s All-Star Weekend — Columbia Records cut bait on the basketball star’s full-length album, Visions.
Well, Bryant’s shelved LP leaked. (If you dig, you’ll find it.)
Kobe Bryant in 2000 made an entire album, it has finally been fully recovered and leaked pic.twitter.com/LxAgae001K
— On Thin Ice (@OnnThinIce) May 12, 2021
It’s a star-studded project for its day, with features from Destiny’s Child, 50 Cent, Beanie Sigel, and Black Thought. Plus some glossy Trackmasters beats and his spin on Run-D.M.C.’s classic “My Adidas.”
Last year, L.L. Cool J recalled the time Bryant played his album for him.
“I was like, ‘Kobe.’ I said, ‘Come on, dog. That’s not what you need to be doing,’ ” the rapper-actor told Entertainment Tonight. “He had a gangsta rap album. He played me that album, we’re sitting in a parking lot. I was confused. I was sittin’ there, like, ‘What are we doing? You got endorsements, what are you doing?’
“It had to be the funniest moment of my life, listening to him do gangsta rap.”
“Gangsta rap” might be a stretch. Kobe keeps the proceedings PG-13, but there are a couple gun metaphors on “Thug Poet” and “Philly Live.”
It would be difficult to argue that Visions should’ve seen the light of day. (But Shaquille O’Neal dropped four albums, plus the Kazaam soundtrack, so hey.) As an emcee, Kobe is an incredible athlete.
He gets braggadocios on “Squint Your Eyes,” the closest thing to a battle track, but mostly sticks to motivational messaging.
His Mamba mentality extols hard work, fierce competitiveness, remaining true to self and even wisdom.
“I don’t smoke weed/ I’m naturally elevated,” Kobe spits at one point.
What he lacks in slick wordplay or smooth flow, Bryant tries to make up for in ambition and confidence.
“Honeys chasing me blindly ’cause I’m Money Man,” he raps on the fame-wrestling “Can I Live.” And later, on the same track: “Relatives become winos—drunk off your success.”
Still, I’m glad the album leaked. It’s a little time capsule of where a legend’s head was at in his prime, and how he felt he could be a significant player in another arena.
9. Interesting situation developing in Philadelphia with 2017’s second-overall draft pick, Nolan Patrick.
Patrick had an awful fall-off this season, producing four goals and nine points after starting his career with consecutive 30-point campaigns. His minus-30 rating tied for the second-worst in the league.
Patrick missed the entirety of 2019-20 due to a migraine disorder.
He’s a restricted free agent without arbitration rights.
Patrick’s new agent, Rich Evans, was asked by The Philadelphia Inquirer if Patrick wants to re-sign.
“I’m just at the stage now where I’m compiling information and trying to ascertain what’s happened in the past,” Evans said. “Once we get that figured all out, then we’ll have a plan for the future. It involves me speaking with Chuck [Fletcher, the Flyers general manager].”
Patrick returned home to Winnipeg for the summer.
“I don’t think players should be making decisions on anything until they’ve been home and get to take a deep breath and have some discussions, and then we’ll figure it out,” Evans said. “At the end of the day, Philadelphia retains his rights. He’s s Group 2 free agent, so the Flyers determine ultimately what happens with his rights.”
10. Awesome to see Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser promoted to senior director of player development, the highest-ranking position ever held by a woman in the NHL.
Keefe raved about the move, calling Wickenheiser “more than impressive.” When she’s not breaking boundaries, she’s earning his Ph.D.
“I learned a lot from having conversations with her. She played the game at a high, high level, obviously, and she’s an elite talent that has that unique combination of great talent, elite intelligence and elite work ethic. And all those things shine through in her role anytime she’s been around myself, the coaching staff or the players,” Keefe said.
“So, to have her take a significant step into a leadership position here now within the player development program is a huge win for our organization. I can’t speak highly enough about Hayley, in terms of what she brings on the hockey side of it.”
Wickenheiser, in turn, hired Hockey Hall of Famer Danielle Goyette as director of player development.
“I don’t know that I see it so much as searching for a woman as much as you’re just trying to hire the best person for the job,” Wickenheiser said. “It wasn’t for me like: I must hire a woman. It was: Who is the best person that I know, or that is out there, that could fill this role? And quite frankly, it was Danielle.”
Said Keefe: “I know she was right at the top of Hayley’s list to bring in. And if it’s good with Hayley, it’s good with me. So, another big win for our organization.”
Goyette called the job “a dream come true.”
What a journey, and in a pandemic to boot!
Got my wings today.
H.W. M.D. pic.twitter.com/0fmUTn5X5h
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) May 15, 2021
11. The Los Angeles Kings’ best players are “running out of time,” according to Drew Doughty.
Two-time champs Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown all wound back the clock and enjoyed terrific individual seasons for L.A. in 2021. Goalie Jonathan Quick, the other remaining player from those title runs in 2012 and 2014, is transitioning to backup status at age 35.
“Me and Kopi, Quickie, Brownie, we’re all getting older,” Doughty said during locker cleanout.
“We all had, I thought, phenomenal seasons, but we’re running out of time. You’ve got two of the best players at their position [Kopitar and Doughty], both ways, two of the most complete players at the position. And with all this [salary]cap room, yeah, we’ve got to bring guys in. That’s it, for sure. There’s no point just waiting for these prospects to develop when you’ve got guys in their prime, guys that are hungry to win and guys that are sick of losing. So, yeah, we’ve got to bring guys in.”
Never one to bite his tongue, Doughty acknowledged that improvement over the summer will be necessary after a third straight post-season miss, but suggested that management needs to do its part as well.
“That’s not just on the players,” Doughty said.
The reset of the Kings has featured a steady drain of ring-bearers. Jake Muzzin, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson and a rejuvenated Jeff Carter highlight those who have moved on.
We applaud GM Rob Blake for getting nice returns on established players, but he’s reached an intriguing point where his best two players are on the downside and his kids aren’t ready to carry the load.
With Alex Iafallo re-signed at the deadline and no whopping contract extensions on deck, Blake has the cap space to be a significant player — if he wants to be — during this summer’s trade and free agent market.
You can’t help but think of the names Jack Eichel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who could be available. Do the Calgary Flames sell on some of their forward core?
Blake’s next move will be fascinating, and his stars appear to be applying some light pressure here.
“There’s no secret that this summer is going to be very important for us from all standpoint of views, really, whether that’s obviously developing younger guys, maybe bringing some guys in,” Kopitar said. “So, it should be very exciting for everybody. And we’ll see what happens.”
12. Enjoy the long weekend, folks. Tons of great hockey on deck.
When life grabs you by the collar, try to smile.
