Friday Commentary: Random Thoughts
Photo: Toronto Maple Leafs
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A coupla three or more thoughts entering the weekend …
#1 – It’s going to be a wild day! The NHL Trade Deadline is 3 pm Friday and I woke up today to the news that the Winnipeg Jets dealt D-men Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley to Buffalo while Washington shipped veteran blueliner John Carlson to Anaheim. Clearly the Jets and Capitals have waved the white flag.
Who’s next? Here in Florida, the Bob (Sergei Bobrovsky) Watch is on red alert.
#2 – It’s a question for coffee row: Is it bad for the NHL that we’re going to see perhaps an historically low amount of Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? I sure feel like it is. Yet the NHL is trumpeting the fact up to five new teams will be in the postseason this spring including Buffalo, Utah and Detroit and that’s GREAT for the game.
You tell me.
#3 – What is it now, six straight losses for the Leafs coming out of the Olympic break? It was clear the Toronto players totally tuned out coach Craig Berube in last night’s 6-2 loss at the New York Rangers. Who’s going to pay for Toronto’s nine season playoff run coming to an end? And will anyone pay in Winnipeg for the Jets’ plummet from first to worst?
#4 – A huge blessing in my life was the opportunity to get into baseball (thank you Moose Jaw Miller Express for that) and it’s really got me excited for the World Baseball Classic. The U.S. plays its first game tonight while Canada sees its first action on Saturday. Think of it as baseball’s version of the World Cup!
And #5 – While seemingly the world’s attention is on the NHL Trade Deadline today, we’ll stick with tradition on the RP Show today with our usual Football Friday.
Please tell me there’s more to discuss than the Combine!
That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.
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I tossed Toronto out of the boat. I honestly wish for that franchise to go on a futility run similar to what Buffalo went through. The virtue signalling, core 4 b.s. If someone can’t play with, for, or along side Craig Berube then it ain’t Chief. This goes all the way back to Brian Burke. This is the guy that gave the stamp of approval to the Boston Pizza owners son. This guy someone was in Arizona as an Asst GM. He then sinks the Calgary franchise, then gets hired in Toronto. Before that it was the woke Kyle Dubas… Read more »
With regard to Buffalo. In my lifetime of following the NHL. That organization has been a regrettable after thought. I always viewed them as Canada’s 10th NHL team or the defacto Hamilton franchise as the fanbase is predominantly from there. With that – if anyone has listened to Brett Hull/Chaser on Ice Guardians and their interviews with Rob Ray or Mathew Barnaby. Mathew Barnaby is the lost treasure of 1990s/2000s hockey. If I knew the guy was that great how are more people not into Buffalo and St Louis? What was once thought of as space filler/geographical franchises – these… Read more »