🏒 NHL teams have lost their way by naming baby-faced skill players as their team captains. There was a time when veterans with natural leadership qualities were given the assignment. Regardless of what management thinks, the players in the dressing room know who the real leader is. Rarely is it the young potential superstar.
🏒 With Hallowe’en quickly approaching, it’s appropriate to suggest that the Ottawa Senators are whistling past the graveyard, hoping that Linus Ullmark will be magically better this season. Scary stuff.
🏒 Gavin McKenna’s slick hands and brilliant playmaking skills are well known. But the speed he demonstrated during the Maple Leafs’ pretend games was a surprise to many. Then again, 165-pound players need to be elusive in today’s NHL.
🏒 Los Angeles Kings fans are learning something that Edmonton supporters already know. GM Ken Holland has “lost his fastball” since departing the Detroit Dead Things.
🏒 Does the Las Vegas Golden Cheaters’ front office hate the Edmonton Oilers’ front office as much as the Oilers’ front office hates them?
🏒 As training camp opens, both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are loving the Mike Babcock hiring. By Christmas, they will find him somewhat annoying. By April, they will officially hate him.
🏒 Disgruntled goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s resume shows one clutch performance (Olympic final) and multiple choke jobs (NHL playoffs). No wonder the Winnipeg Jets are struggling to find a dance partner willing to pay up big time for his services.
🏒 Years ago, Nostradamus predicted that the Detroit Red Wings would fire their GM in 2026 and announce the incoming boss by 2055. Seems a bit optimistic to us.
🏒 The OHL has issued new fight quotas for the 2026-27 season. Up-and-coming teenage goons are not pleased. What are they supposed to do now? Develop skills or something stupid like that?
🏒 Speaking of team captains, the Ottawa Senators are struggling to settle on their new leader. Which is odd. The previous captain kind of set the bar really low.
🏒 Good news for Maple Leafs fans. Failed NHL GM and current TSN talking head Craig Button predicts the boys in blue will not make the playoffs. The good news is that Button is wrong far more than he’s right.
