NEUGSIE’S AROUND THE RINKS

By: Jamie Neugebauer
Voice of the ND Hounds/DUBNetwork MJ Warriors Beat Writer

• 1 – Gaudreau: Johnny Gaudreau is going to leave money on the table to not stay in Calgary, and anybody who says they know what this is really about (ie, him not wanting to stay) is lying. Only he knows, and we’ll only find out what he’s looking forward to after he signs. It is supposedly a “family decision”, according to ‘Johnny Hockey’s agent, and the rumour is that as Gaudreau and his wife are expecting their first child, they desire to be close to home in New Jersey. Is it ‘fair’ that he and his family can simply decide to make this career move while many, many others can’t? I don’t know, but he has earned that right, so he is in no way a bad person. I wish my parents were closer to my kids (my family in Regina, parents and brother in Toronto), but that isn’t the case. Believe me, if Gaudreau’s motive is actually that, then there have been WAY worse motives for making decisions like this!
• 2 – Goodbye Charlie: The Blue Jays decided to drop the Charlie Montoyo firing bombshell smackdab during the NHL Free Agent ‘Frenzy’, but I honestly just think the decisions made during the horrific road trip, and then even during the win Tuesday night were the last straws. With this roster, and in a world where keeping players is so hard, you just have to win right now…that’s the way it is. Charlie seemed like a nice guy and is probably a first-class talent developer, but this is win-now time for the Birds, and he wasn’t winning now. So, who’s fault is it?
• 3 – Credit and blame: I know there is always this talk about credit and blame for success and failure, and it usually is the players who deserve far more blame (especially in a sport like baseball); but I still think the tone set over time makes an earth-shattering difference for a team, if only because players and front offices (aka humans) cling to any excuse they can find that isn’t their own for failure. The adage rings true: coaches get hired to get fired!
• 4 – Leafs’ tenders: Did the Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation get better? Not sure. They traded for Matt Murray from Ottawa and signed Ilya Samsonov from Washington, after trading Petr Mrazek to Chicago at the draft, and Jack Campbell was signed by Edmonton. I get it: there is history between Murray and the Leafs brass from Sault Ste. Marie in the OHL, and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, but last year was a mess in Ottawa. Is he damaged goods? So, I see this as Toronto’s Plan C, D, or more after other moves (read: Kuemper, Darcy) fell through, but here’s hoping Dubas and company are as much smarter than you and I as they come across!
• 5 – Kuemper to the Caps: Speaking of Kuemper, how about his move to Washington after winning the cup? The Saskatoon boy and former Humboldt Broncos’ AP gives the still very talented Caps team an elite goaltender, something they have not really had since, I don’t know, 2019 Braden Holtby? It was a huge hole, it’s now filled and looks like a great fit.
• 6 – JT: What on earth are the Vancouver Canucks doing being willing to move on from JT Miller? How often do you see a guy lead an NHL team by 21 points (yes, 21 POINTS!!)? In the cap world especially, that is insanity! He is a UFA in 22-23, but lock him up! The Canucks fan base is already volatile, and what a year he had!
• 7 – Starting to become my No. 2…: I will be honest: I have always, always loved Brent Burns, and I’ve already adored the job Rod the Bod and his crew are doing in Carolina, so what a fit his addition is! I’m pretty much ready to say the ‘Canes are my second team (even though my great pal Mario Ferraro is still a San Jose Shark…for now), but man, what a group they are. Watch out for them big time in 22-23!
• 8 – Humboldt loses their guy?: I wrote and talked a lot about the incredible year Rayce Ramsay had in Humboldt last year, and he earned his spot at the University of Toronto, and I know they hoped former Moose Jaw Warriors’ goaltender Brett Mirwald was going to come in and do something similar. Mirwald’s WHL rights were since dealt from MJ to Vancouver, and he’s reported to be heading west to take a shot there, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens there! The interesting thing from my perspective is that, as I’ve said before, I watched the Warriors closely in the Regina Hub, and their two goalies were Boston Bilous – who just won the SJHL with Estevan – and Brett Mirwald. It wasn’t a great Hub for either guy, to be honest, but that was a weird situation, as I’ve said before.
• 9 – Seattle doing great: Life is good for the Seattle Thunderbirds. Made a great run in the WHL playoffs last year, picked up a potential all-star in Gracyn Sawchyn from the USNTDP, and might be getting Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Brad Lambert. They already had a bevy of talent to bring back, with NHL draft picks all over the place, so watch out for the TBirds big time next year! Want to see Lambert in the ‘Dub’…big fan of what he could do against people his age.
• 10 – A soccer second: Lots going on in the soccer world, but if you’re in Saskatchewan come out to Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 3 when Toronto FC II (TFC’s affiliate team) take on classic English club Sunderland in Regina. The Canadian Women’s National Team qualified for the World Cup easily, the men are already in the Men’s World Cup that will go in November, so it’s all going pretty well up here! Give it a chance if you don’t like it! Tune into a Toronto FC game! It’s entertaining!

(Follow Jamie on Twitter at @Neugsie)