A fast mixture of the issues we gleaned from the week of hockey, severe and fewer so, and rolling 4 strains deep.
1. To retool or to rebuild, that’s the query.
And whereas we’ve our personal opinion on how the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster must be reconstructed if the purpose is to hoist a Stanley Cup and never simply hoist again up into playoff competition, MLSE chief Keith Pelley made it clear the short-term path the group will probably take.
“We now have the foundational items in place, which supplies you the arrogance that we will contend in a short time. And if we put the proper individual in place with the proper construction and hockey ops, then I’m satisfied … we will do it,” Pelley stated Tuesday.
Whereas the boss left the door open for his subsequent and most necessary rent to alter his thoughts, we will already see candidates coming into their job interview with a plan to get the Leafs again to relevance as shortly as 2026-27, the penultimate season on Auston Matthews’ contract.
In line with our extremely unscientific ballot, the general public is torn practically proper down the intestine. A skinny majority believes a retool is the most suitable choice, which might imply operating again the core stars and, presumably, intriguing younger forwards Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan:
And the Leafs themselves, together with coach Craig Berube, are on that very same web page.
“In fact, I imagine that, as a result of I’ve seen it. Now, it’s been a down 12 months, and everyone knows that. We needed to be higher, and we weren’t,” Berube says. “However these foundational gamers have finished it for some time right here, so there’s no cause they cannot preserve doing it. They want assist.
“All people must be a part of it and assist carry it alongside. You realize, it isn’t simply on three or 4 guys or no matter you are speaking about. It is on everyone; it is a crew. That is how you may have success on this league.”
All of the veteran Leafs with lengthy contracts and recent reminiscences of their seven playoff wins in 2025 are adamant they’ll rebound again to type by spring 2027. Even when they’ll be a few years older. Even when Buffalo and Montreal are gaining steam.
William Nylander is all aboard for some tweaks. Matthews hasn’t spoken since his damage however, in March, cited the Bruins and Lightning nearly as good groups that rebounded shortly from non-playoff years and advised Toronto might do the identical.
Morgan Rielly: “As a participant, you at all times wish to agree with that. I feel there’s been examples of groups which have kinda been in a position to do this.”
John Tavares: “You by no means cease combating. You by no means stop. And also you attempt to construct, no matter the place you’re at, and clearly wanting to maneuver issues in the proper path.”
Max Domi: “Obtained all the arrogance on the planet, man … You possibly can sit right here and make each excuse within the e-book, or you can simply look your self within the mirror and say, ‘Hey, it’s finished with now. Let’s be taught from it, end off these final (six) video games sturdy and have an incredible summer time.’ Come again, everybody wholesome and able to go, champing on the bit.
“We imagine in ourselves, we imagine in one another, and we acquired a powerful group in there, so we’ll concentrate on that.”
Anthony Stolarz: “You simply have a look at the items we’ve. We now have loads of guys on the crew from final 12 months, and we made a run there as properly. So, having that have from final 12 months and getting humbled just a little bit this 12 months, I feel everybody’s gonna go into the summer time hungry. And I feel we acquired the items right here that, transferring ahead, we will get again to the place we wish to be.”
Is that sufficient so that you can?
2. Pelley rhymed off the sweater numbers of the “foundational items” he believes can nonetheless be the core of contender in Toronto: 34, 88, 23, and 91.
The 32-year-old Rielly, the longest-serving Leaf, is youthful than Tavares. Like Nylander and Matthew Knies, Rielly is signed for 4 extra seasons past this one. The defenceman’s full no-movement safety doesn’t downgrade to a 10-team no-trade checklist till 2028-29.
Rielly interprets GM Brad Treliving’s firing as a failure of the gamers. The information, he says, is “recent.” He’s processing his ideas on lacking the playoffs and the way forward for the group.
“It’s been a problem. And if you’re in it, you by no means enable your self to type of surrender or lose hope and lose motivation that you are gonna attempt to make a push and make the playoffs,” Rielly says. “That’s not the case this 12 months, so it’s difficult.”
Rielly didn’t watch all of Pelley’s presser. He did converse to individuals who did to be taught the message.
“It’s at all times just a little bit uneasy if you’ve labored with individuals for a sure period of time,” he says. “You get to know them, and so they get to know you. And when that adjustments, there’s just a little little bit of uncertainty. And I feel it simply creates just a little little bit of an uneasy feeling, simply not understanding.”
Berube says Rielly has been dealing with the turmoil and disappointment properly.
“I talked to him fairly a bit about it all through the season,” Berube says. “I imply, there’s loads of noise. However he by no means as soon as (stated), ‘Effectively, it’s an excessive amount of,’ or this or that. He was good: ‘I simply wish to play, care concerning the crew, do my greatest.’ That is it. So, that’s all I can go off of.”
If we’re interviewing the subsequent head of hockey ops, we’re asking for his ideas on Rielly’s place on this roster.
3. Stolarz (six foot six, 248 kilos) twice skated to centre ice throughout Toronto’s penalty-filled affair in Anaheim, nevertheless it was clear that Geese counterpart Ville Husso (six foot three, 205 kilos) didn’t need the smoke.
Stolarz even brushed Husso as they crossed paths throughout a stoppage and had a couple of phrases.
“I noticed he slashed Willy (Nylander) earlier within the recreation,” Stolarz says. “I simply instructed him, ‘Don’t contact anybody else once more, or I’m going to return down there.’
“We’re sticking up for one another.”
With the sudden spike in goalie fights this season, Stolarz would welcome some motion.
“I feel I’d be effective,” the New Jersey native grinned, devilishly. “I’m a much bigger man, in order that’s going to assist with the attain. It’s not one thing you go into each recreation on the lookout for, but when the chance does come, , I wouldn’t say no.”
Would he relatively rating a purpose or have a struggle?
“That is a troublesome one. In all probability a purpose. I’d say a purpose, for certain.”
“I’m all professional conserving (the) coach so long as doable.” —Kris Knoblauch, Edmonton Oilers coach on Bruce Cassidy’s firing.
5. Cassidy has a .631 profession factors proportion, a successful playoff document (62-57), and a Stanley Cup ring.
Peter DeBoer has a .585 profession factors proportion, a successful playoff document (97-82), an ideal document in Sport 7s (9-0), and two Cup Remaining appearances.
Have they got quick shelf lives and rub some gamers the fallacious means? Positive.
However if you wish to improve your bench, you higher pounce shortly.
Cassidy and DeBoer will enhance your sagging crew for 2026-27. Financial institution on it.
6. Ottawa Senators coach Travis Inexperienced dismissed the most recent Wingmen podcast as “white noise,” which is a broad time period that normally refers to social-media opinion or sports-talk radio.
However when the captain’s father makes mocking reference to not with the ability to play as a consequence of a foul evening’s sleep after your crew’s No. 1 goalie begs out of an necessary begin within the title relaxation, and he additionally wonders if the captain is getting sufficient ice time, after which that dialog will get uploaded on the captain’s podcast … properly, it’s a troublesome look and a PR headache at greatest.
At worst, if Keith was speaking about Ottawa, it’s a glimpse into some crew dysfunction and a harbinger that Brady Tkachuk and/or Linus Ullmark will not be lengthy for the Sens.
Profitable, they are saying, cures all.
So, Ullmark backstopping Ottawa to an enormous 4-1 win over the Sabres on Thursday, and Tkachuk’s fiery efficiency that evening, served vital for each conserving the playoff dream alive and mitigating a number of the drama.
Seems, Keith Tkachuk was solely speaking concerning the Panthers anyway. Huh.
7. Because the unseen steam engine that’s the Sabres formally finish their 14-year playoff drought, the Detroit Pink Wings (9 years and counting and not using a post-season gate) are in grave hazard of taking that dreaded baton.
The Wings occupied the Atlantic Division penthouse on Jan. 25. As just lately as Feb. 26, they had been in second. On March 21, they had been nonetheless clinging to a wild-card spot.
Stretch runs have been a killer.
The winged wheels fall off each March, a month during which Detroit has gone 17-35-5 over the previous 4 seasons.
The Wings enter the weekend deadlocked with the Senators.
There’s an plain romance to hiring franchise taking part in greats as executives, however issues get sticky when outcomes don’t observe.
Steve Yzerman is the sixth-longest-tenured NHL GM. The 5 execs with extra seniority have all led their crew to not less than one Stanley Cup, convention championship, or Presidents’ Trophy since Yzerman’s hiring.
Yzerman, who was employed in April 2019, remains to be attempting to host his first playoff recreation at Little Caesars Enviornment.
8. One man desirous to lengthen Yzerman’s drought is Marco Sturm.
Boston’s rookie head coach credit the Bruins’ low season depth additions — Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, et al. — and a new-look bench for meshing properly with the prevailing core and pushing for constant effort.
However Sturm is real looking about the place his scrappy bunch is at. He is aware of why they didn’t make a deadline splash and sees a number of areas in want of enchancment, regardless of a plus-22 purpose differential.
“We’re not an elite crew on this league, proper? So which means we’re nonetheless discovering our methods. However I like how we discover methods to win hockey video games,” Sturm says. “The blokes are very structured. The blokes are working actually arduous to provide me all the pieces they’ll, however you bought to keep it up. For this 12 months, we’ll see what occurs. And the next 12 months, who is aware of?”
Within the current, Sturm is treating each evening as a must-win. This expertise of pushing for a playoff spot will serve younger gamers — and younger head coaches — sooner or later.
He doesn’t sound slowed down by the stress. The B’s have gathered not less than a degree in 9 of their previous 11 video games.
“For me, it’s thrilling. I’m fortunate sufficient, possibly it’s in me. As a result of once I even performed, I took it as a motivation, proper? And that is how I’m proper now. Sure, I really feel the stress, nevertheless it’s additionally motivating for me coming to the rink. You wish to beat these guys, ?” Sturm says.
“I wish to be the very best each evening. And that’s why my guys will get the message — as a result of that is simply how I really feel, and I don’t need them to slide. That’s one thing I at all times had and hopefully won’t ever change. As a result of for those who have a look at a number of the younger youngsters now, it’s not the identical anymore. So, you bought to assist these youngsters out too, the brand new technology.”
What’s totally different about this technology?
“Should you have a look at my youngsters, they’re the identical means. They simply ask much more questions now. They wish to know why. You have to clarify. You have to spend far more time lately as a coach. It’s not simply happening the ice and doing observe and altering strains; there’s extra to it. That’s the most important change.”
9. The timing of Jim Nill’s two-year extension in Dallas was definitely fascinating, because the announcement arrived lower than 24 hours after the Leafs fired their common supervisor.
If the cash is first rate, we will’t see a cause for Nill, 67, to depart a tax-free state and a Stanley Cup contender.
The Toronto gig is advanced and burdensome. Loads of points, roster and in any other case, to handle.
In Dallas, Nill has already locked up his 2026-27 goaltending and defence corps. He’s acquired a newish coach doing a effective job.
A pair small choices must be made on pending UFAs, like captain Jamie Benn (one-year offers till he retires, like Joe Pavelski?) and rental Michael Bunting.
The one main little bit of enterprise on Nill’s desk is the Jason Robertson file, a restricted free agent and main scorer due an enormous contract.
However that’s a very good downside to have.
Nill can both decide to a productive scoring risk in his prime or store a dynamic asset to 31 opponents.
Nill has set himself and the group up properly.
10. The laser disguised as 22-year-old Cutter Gauthier’s shot is within the 99th percentile for each the NHL’s hardest (99.9 m.p.h.) and most frequent (271) this season.
Final 12 months, as a rookie, the Geese sniper acquired it off 190 occasions and transformed on 10.5 per cent of his makes an attempt over 82 video games. As a sophomore, Gauthier believes his confidence in rising in live performance together with his accuracy (14 per cent) and willingness to let ’er rip.
“I feel I had that confidence final 12 months, and I shot loads of pucks, however they didn’t actually go in as a lot. I’m simply ramping up the capturing this 12 months and getting extra comfy with the crew, the fellows. Simply with the ability to get on the ice and never assume and simply play confidently,” Gauthier tells me. “That’s in all probability it.”
What’s outstanding is the left wing’s knack and willingness to fireplace from distance or in tight, and from both facet of the sheet. A peek at his shot chart exhibits no particular “workplace.”
“Effectively, I assumed he might rating. I didn’t know he might rating on the charge he’s scored at,” says coach Joel Quenneville, a first-timer in Anaheim. “He’s acquired nice launch. He’s acquired some quickness. He’s acquired the flexibility to search out the open ice. And he will get his shot away earlier than (goalies) are set or via a defenceman as properly, which is harmful.
“The factor that stands proud is, he’s acquired the quickest launch you can have. It’s loaded and he’s correct, and it’s acquired some tempo to it that you just normally don’t see. A kind of pictures you are able to do fairly properly with it.”
It’s no accident that nobody as younger as Gauthier has scored as usually this season.
“It’s my understanding of goalies,” Gauthier reveals. “I acquired actually near (Geese starter Lukas) Dostal final 12 months. Simply speaking to him on tips on how to beat goalies in sure conditions and dealing on it in observe. I discover out what goalies tendencies are and attempt to decide on these deficiencies.”
He will get the e-book proper earlier than he hits the ice.
“I’ve performed towards each goalie within the league nearly now. Like, I type of know what works on a few of them, what doesn’t. (Ville) Husso and Dostal will inform me the place to shoot proper earlier than the sport.”
11. An insane particular person streak is occurring proper now. We’d put it up there with Glenn Corridor’s 502 consecutive video games in internet as unbreakable.
Anaheim’s Troy Terry has zero hits via 54 video games performed and 989:31 in whole ice time.
To place that in perspective, no skater who has appeared in not less than 5 video games this season has gone hitless. The subsequent-busiest skater and not using a hit is Ottawa defenceman Carter Yakemchuk, nonetheless trying to provoke contact at 4 video games and 58:08.
Since time on ice (2000-01) and hits (2005-06) have been tracked, Terry is the primary participant to achieve 310 minutes and not using a hit. Now he’s closing in on 1,000.
We’re guessing nobody is happier to have his document damaged than Nick Schmaltz, who didn’t throw a physique test via 17 video games and 306:22 with the 2018-19 Arizona Coyotes.
12. The Washington Capitals’ remaining house recreation takes place April 12, towards the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If that is the ultimate time Alex Ovechkin — unsigned and uncommitted for 2026-27 — and Sidney Crosby face off, hockey’s dueling game-changers are going out with a bang.
Ovechkin, 40, simply registered his twentieth 30-goal marketing campaign, filling the web at a faster charge than he did in 2023-24. Each purpose the Capitals captain scores is a brand new document, in fact.
In the meantime, Crosby, 38, wants a measly three factors over Pittsburgh’s remaining six video games to beat his personal document and full his twenty first point-per-game season.
Greatness is one factor. Sustained greatness is one thing else.
