Does the league really have the authority to tell teams who they can or can't draft? Or sign? Yes they need to approve deals but that's within the context, I'm assuming, of whether or not those deals comply with established rules and regulations in the CBA. I don't think they have any sort of authority to pass moral judgements on players who get signed and overrule the teams on these matters.

I suppose it would fall under the CBA's Article 18A "Commissioner Discipline for Off-Ice Conduct" where it gives pretty broad latitude if the player "has been or is guilty of conduct (whether during or outside the playing season) that is detrimental to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey..." The commissioner is able to expel or suspend the player indefinitely, or void his SPC (or impose a fine). There's a bunch of procedures they're supposed to follow to do that, but it pretty much gives Bettman carte blache if he thinks it's merited.

Pretty surprised that Kadri remains unsigned and it's the end of July already. There can't be many teams left who could even fit him into their cap even if he comes down from what were presumably initially overly ambitious salary/term demands. I wonder if he ends up having to sign a cheap 1-year deal just to have somewhere to play this season which I suppose would also give him a chance to prove that last season wasn't quite so much of an anomaly. Can't imagine he'd end up not playing somewhere.

I'm kinda done with the Spezza, Simmonds, Clifford type 4th liners.

Sure they can come in and give you 8 minutes a night of filler, but I think they need to use that space to bleed young guys that are doing well in the AHL.

The more swings you take the more chances you have at finding a guy who is too good to be kept on the 4th line and your depth improves.

They need to find players that can play meaningful roles on ELC's.

I think you can have one, and I think there's value in having one, all be it probably more in the mould of Spezza.

If a Spezza can only offer 10 minutes a night, I don't mind cycling in someone like Nylander for extra shifts, especially if he's playing more of a 3rd line role.

But the other 2 fourth line spots should definitely be used more productively.

Love him or hate him, Corey Perry was a beast for Tampa during their playoff run this year and would be the ideal sort of guy to pick up for the 4th line. I guess Simmons was hoped to be in that vein but just doesn't quite have enough left in the tank to play at the level Perry still can -- a danger to score; a capable penalty killer; and big, heavy, tough as nails play shift in and shift out.

I guess in the end it depends on what you're looking for from your 4th line. IMO having them score isn't nearly as useful as having them be able to eat up around 10 minutes of safe and reliable ice time a night and do some crashing and banging along the way. They shouldn't require babysitting from our best defensive pair, and shouldn't spend their shifts buried in our own end. Having one or two of our key penalty killers on that line would be good, too, since it would help keep them fresh for when they're needed. Those sorts of requirements are easier to satisfy from the "old but not quite yet dead" category of player rather than the up-and-coming ELC type.

This feels like a guy whose only priority left in the NHL is to win a cup and thinks this is his best shot at it. He doesn't want or need the money and he knows the team will need every penny possible given how tight they are to the cap. The money he's leaving on the table is to help give himself the best shot at a ring. I'm sure it also doesn't hurt that it's his home town, too. All of that said...shocking!

It's worth noting that part of the cost of the transaction is getting the cap hit cost down to only 1/4 of his actual hit. Doing that at a time where very few teams have any cap room at all is never going to be cheap.

Uh ... there's no sound from the booth?

Best play-by-play and colour commentary SN/CBC has done in a few years!

Ray + Gord >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> any other pair that call games. They're just so damn good.

Yeah, he's a bit of a unicorn. Mark Stone, maybe? I guess ultimately, you have to decide between hyman or an established starting goalie.

That's a scary one considering he's at $9.5 on a long deal. I think Stone has more of a scoring touch but I guess Hyman is making a case for himself.

More insane saves by Hellebuyck.   

I honestly can't remember the last time the Leafs got goaltending like this

Eddie?

Credit that goal to Hyman's great get.

Dreger just added another $250k to his contract ask.

Dreger is out to lunch on what he thinks Hyman will get. He sure won't get it with the Leafs.

I missed the intermission. What did he say he could get?

He said on overdrive 5.5 mill.

Geez, to be honest, depending on term, I don't think that's all that outrageous.

Not even sure who you would even use as comparables?

Maybe the one and only saving grace is the Covid-induced flat cap. That's going to put the pinch on a lot of teams this summer so maybe he can't get quite as much as he otherwise would.

That third line trio is relentless.

Spezza
HM Brodie

The whole team played 3 fantastic, disciplined games of hockey.

So sweet! I badly wanted Hyman to get one.

Mr Styles strikes again

Loving this new 3rd line checking unit.