[ad_1]
In this version of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I touch upon what I see because the deep irony of the arbitration ruling for Ilya Samsonov. For me, it highlights the disparity between highly-paid superstars and gamers incomes NHL league minimal salaries inside the Maple Leafs group. I’ll discover the idea of “Studs and Duds” and mirror on the challenges and complexities it’d current in skilled sports activities.
Second, I’ll share one hockey author’s suggestion of a possible commerce between the Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes that would contain William Nylander and Brett Pesce.
Latest News & Highlight
Third, I check out what I feel is a curious signing of latest assistant Guy Boucher because the coach answerable for the crew’s energy play, changing Spencer Carbery. Although it might be arduous to enhance the efficiency of the primary power-play unit, maybe there’s a possible for enchancment within the second unit with the addition of Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi.
Item One: The Irony of the Ilya Samsonov Arbitration
I’ve been pondering so much lately concerning the deep irony of the Samsonov arbitration. From what I hear, it’s not a nice course of that would shake a participant’s confidence. That would appear to be an enormous consideration for a goalie – the place confidence is a necessary a part of the talent set.
Related: Best & Worst Trades in Winnipeg Jets’ History
For me, it additionally brings up the context wherein this arbitration ruling is going down. The Maple Leafs group presents a deep paradox. On one hand, on the high, the group is a billion-dollar trade with immense income. That monetary capability permits them to put money into a degree of highly-paid superstars like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares.
At the identical time, and inside the similar crew, there are various extra gamers incomes near the NHL’s league minimal wage. While that’s nonetheless some huge cash for normal Joes like most of us, the discrepancy on the crew is big.
These lower-paid gamers present crew depth and assist the “big guys” on the roster. However, additionally they earn comparatively modest salaries by comparability. The idea of “Studs and Duds” has usually been used, I suppose, kind of humorously.
The Samsonov arbitration appears to throw mild on the complexities and challenges current in skilled sports activities as we settle for them. The “Studs and Duds” metaphor sheds mild on the irony of disproportionate compensation, private devaluation for some gamers, acceptance of a monetary system with large disparities, the best way we outline individuals as “assets,” and the sensible affect of all this on crew dynamics and the way the general public (the followers) interact with the crew.
Regardless of what occurs with Samsonov in his arbitration settlement, it’s a reminder to me that – aside from a only a few of the actually elite high skilled athletes, and on the Maple Leafs Matthews is the one one which I see – skilled sports activities could be robust on one’s self-worth. Samsonov came upon precisely what the Maple Leafs consider him on Friday if what I hear about an arbitration listening to is correct.
Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Samsonov, McMann & Brodie
How he emerges from this expertise will likely be anybody’s guess. But, it seemingly gained’t be forgotten. There are intriguing contrasts, complexities, and disparities inside the skilled sports activities groups we root for. Whether it’s truthful or not is one other query; however, right here’s my acknowledgment that it’s acquired to be robust on a younger man like Samsonov.
Item Two: Trade William Nylander for Brett Pesce?
According to Rachel Doerrie of The Hockey News, a commerce between the Maple Leafs and the Hurricanes involving Nylander and Pesce may make sense. If Nylander’s contract calls for exceed what the Maple Leafs are keen to pay, and the Hurricanes have a troublesome time re-signing Pesce, a commerce may tackle each groups’ wants.
Neither crew wish to “lose a player” for nothing, and the Maple Leafs are at all times on the lookout for assistance on the blue line. Pesce’s participant who has performed with the Hurricanes for his total NHL profession. He’s a stable defenseman, who brings defensive consciousness, shot-blocking, and management to his crew. He’s additionally a couple of million {dollars} cheaper than Nylander.
Related: Ex-Maple Leafs Goalie Michael Hutchinson: Where’s He Now?
Doerrie prompt that, if the Maple Leafs can re-sign Nylander at $9 million, they need to. However, if his calls for attain $9.5 million, they may contemplate shifting him.
Item Three: The Expected Uptick on the Maple Leafs Second Power Play Unit
It’s fascinating to me that the Maple Leafs introduced in former NHL coach Guy Boucher to take over for Spencer Carbery. Carbery ran the crew’s energy play final season however has moved on to educate the Washington Capitals.
On one hand, insofar as I can see, there’s nothing in Boucher’s teaching model or resume that means he’s any form of a power-play knowledgeable. At the identical time, what sort of an knowledgeable does one have to be to have a profitable energy play given the gamers the Maple Leafs can throw out on the ice?
Regardless of what followers consider the “flawed” construction of this crew, the small variety of elite scorers makes the facility play a little bit of a no brainer. Sure there’s technique, however the expertise is just too nice to not rating with regularity when you’re enjoying Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Tavares with a person benefit.
Related: Red Wings’ 10 Hall of Famers on 2002 Stanley Cup Team
I’m to see simply how Boucher makes a distinction within the crew’s success. They have already got a potent first-unit energy play. Where I see a chance for enchancment is with the second unit. How will Boucher deploy his two new gamers – Bertuzzi and Domi? That appears to me to be a spot the place the crew may change into overwhelming.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
I’m inquisitive about watching how the addition of Bertuzzi and Domi adjustments the crew’s play. It might be an immense change. I feel it’s an enchancment, however the jury will likely be out on that for some time.
However, I’m simply as inquisitive about watching what occurs to 4 different gamers within the group. One is Calle Jarnkrok. Can he preserve bettering on the scoresheet? The others are kids Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, and Nick Robertson.
Can this group of three make an affect on the crew’s success? That will likely be enjoyable to see over the season.
[ad_2]
Source link
