Leafs mailbag: Playoff what-ifs, the trouble with ‘Hockey Night’

Undecided, Leafs followers, you inform me: Is it simpler to take — the truth that the Maple Leafs misplaced to Tampa in seven video games — now that Tampa has swept Florida to maneuver on to the Jap Convention ultimate.

Are you considering that would have been the Leafs going up in opposition to the New York Rangers? You in all probability really feel fairly assured that the Leafs would have taken Florida and now the place would they be?

As they are saying, “If ifs and buts had been sweet and nuts we’d all have a merry third spherical.” Or one thing like that.

The Atlantic Division is beginning to really feel a bit just like the Pacific Division did via the 2010s. Numerous actually robust groups. Again then it was the Kings, Geese and Sharks. The Geese had been nonetheless good, coming off their 2007 Cup win and getting to 2 extra Western Convention finals. The Kings, in fact, gained the Stanley Cup twice.

The Sharks, properly, the Sharks are the group you don’t need to be. Over that decade they had been the most effective group within the Pacific, sixth-best within the NHL primarily based on factors (1,032). They performed 116 playoff video games, fourth-most in that decade.

The groups round them — Boston (134 playoff video games), Pittsburgh (128), Chicago (120), Washington (115) and Tampa (111) — all gained the Cup; the Sharks didn’t. A decade of teasing followers. Now they’re in search of a GM, and embarking on a rebuild.

To the Mailbag. As all the time, when you have a query electronic mail me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I’ll reply it within the subsequent Mailbag. To this one, the place readers are nonetheless making an attempt to handle what when unsuitable with the Leafs and tips on how to repair it. Buying and selling William Nylander is one reader’s fix-all answer. Altering the playoff format is one other.

QUESTION: Hello, Kevin. I hope it’s not too late so as to add my repair for the Maple Leafs. I don’t actually suppose it’s that troublesome. As I mentioned final week, all they need to do is change the construction of the roster. One of many massive 4 forwards need to go, and since three aren’t going wherever it needs to be William Nylander. Commerce him for a No. 1 pairing defenceman to play with Morgan Rielly and the roster development is mounted. I’ve a component rant, half query I hope you may reply for me. What the heck is occurring at Sportsnet? Their protection of hockey has gone so downhill it’s deplorable! Saturday night time’s “Hockey Night time in Canada” was disgraceful! No pre-game present, and with just one recreation on they couldn’t even get a crew there to broadcast the sport! After which they solely had a B-list panel on within the intermission. The one a part of the telecast that was regular was the second intermission. It appears all they care about is chopping good expertise. I sincerely hope that TSN outbids them for the subsequent contract!

Thanks, Craig M.

ANSWER: Higher late than by no means. So Nylander for a prime defenceman, and that’s it? OK then. However I actually suppose there’s extra assist wanted. As for Sportsnet, I agree that Hockey Night time’s presentation has seen much better days. Nevertheless it’s common to hold the American broadcast for the final sequence remaining, particularly since Canadian broadcasters had not been concerned in it to start with. Getting everybody down there on a second’s discover — as soon as the opposite sequence ended — is troublesome at the most effective of instances, and extra so on the planet of COVID. So I give them a cross there.

QUESTION: The losses by many high-ranked groups within the playoffs retains reinforcing two themes which are letting basketball transfer previous hockey as a significant sport.

Common seasons are meaningless, and it’ll find yourself with the NHL having the issue of baseball, slowly shrinking attendance.

The second has been an issue since endlessly. Solely goaltending determines the sequence winner, and the wage cap has simply made this extra so.

Your ideas?

Yours really, Adam B-W

ANSWER: I disagree on the primary level. Actually, you possibly can argue now that hockey’s common season is extra necessary than ever. Solely half the groups — 16 of 32 — make the playoffs. Basketball has made it so two-thirds — 20 of 30 — have a shot at post-season glory. NHL attendance bounced again after COVID, however we’ll see to what stage it rises within the subsequent few years. Attendance is a vital a part of hockey-related income.

Your second level: Amen, brother. Goaltending is the important thing to all success. When you’ve got the second-best goalie in a sequence, the 18 skaters need to play twice in addition to the opposite guys. A near-impossible job.

QUESTION: I believe the NHL playoff format is an entire joke! There’s completely no approach the Leafs and Lightning ought to have met within the first spherical with their regular-season information. Are you able to think about Djokovic and Medvedev assembly within the first spherical of a Grand Slam! It’s an insult to the gamers and the followers!

Ian A.

ANSWER: There have been eight 100-point groups within the Jap Convention within the post-season, 4 of them gone within the first spherical. I assume you’re a proponent of a extra balanced schedule and 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5 convention playoffs (like what existed previous to 2014).

If that had been the case, the Leafs (115 factors) would have confronted the Bruins (107 factors). Cautious what you would like for.

(Additionally it could have been Florida vs. Washington, Carolina vs. Pittsburgh and Tampa would have confronted the Rangers within the first spherical, not the third.)

QUESTION: I hold studying in varied media that one attainable answer to easing a number of the Leaf cap woes can be to commerce Jake Muzzin. Individuals (a few of whom are writers) are tending to disregard the truth that he has a no-move clause in his contract. Or does he? Is it a restricted no-move? Is it one which kicks in at some future date? July 1?

It will even be fascinating to know what different gamers on the Leafs have present or future no-move clauses, and after they kick in.

Ron A.

Niagara on the Lake

ANSWER: For info functions solely, and never as a result of I consider any of this can occur: Muzzin ($5.625 million common annual worth) has a no-trade clause proper now. Which means he may be waived however not traded. To waive Muzzin, the Leafs may hope one other group claims him. Or they might purchase him out, although, as a result of a lot of his cash is in a signing bonus, the cap financial savings would solely be about $1.4 million or so. If he’s waived, unclaimed and never purchased out, he may very well be despatched to the Marlies with the Leafs saving $1.125 million in cap house.

On July 1, 2023, Muzzin’s no-trade clause downgrades to a 10-team no-trade listing.

Different Leafs: John Tavares and Morgan Rielly have no-movement clauses (can’t be traded or waived). T.J. Brodie has a no-trade clause. Justin Holl and Petr Mrázek have 10-team no-trade lists. Alex Kerfoot and Wayne Simmonds get 10-team no-trade safety beginning in July.

These particulars all courtesy capfriendly.com.

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