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Leafs Links:

  • Alec Brownscombe: 2015 NHL Draft Analysis with Brock Otten (MLHS)
    Otten: Ultimately, I think Marner’s skill set makes him a better option on the wing. His ability to be the first man in on the forecheck, and create offense off the wall, is something all NHL wingers are asked to do now. Having a big center to play with, who can gain entry to the zone and who can let Marner utilize his speed coming down the wing, would be the ideal situation. As you mentioned, he is defensively responsible, so that’s not an issue. I think it has more to do with the way the NHL has evolved, with big guys playing down the middle and smaller, speedy guys on the wing.

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  • Declan Kerin: Maple Leafs’ Scott Pellerin promoted to Director of Player Development, Steve Staios leaves to be President of the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs (MLHS)
    Unquestionably, for a team that simply hasn’t produced enough homegrown, young, impact NHL talent in the last decade, an improved development process will be a major part of the rebuild and has to work hand in hand with the Leafs’ major investments in improving their performance at the draft table. The Maple Leafs are betting on a different way of thinking and different processes with Pellerin, Bettle and Belfry, and looking for better results than what they experienced with Jim Hughes, Anthony Belza and company.
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  • Mike Chambers: Avs, Leafs, Capitals pursuing an American in Sweden, Derek Ryan of Spokane (Denver Post)
    The Avalanche could be a frontrunner in the Derek Ryan sweepstakes. I’ve heard that Colorado is in the negotiation stage with Ryan on a two-way contract for 2015-16 and I’m in the process of confirming it with the player or his agent. The Avs declined comment. The Maple Leafs and Capitals are also in the mix.
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  • Declan Kerin: Maple Leafs sign forward Andreas Johnson to three-year entry-level contract (MLHS)
    Coming off rookie of the year honours in 2013-14, the 20 year old Johnson had another great season in 2014-15, finishing as one of the top goal scorers in the SHL. He ranked 21st in points in the Swedish Elite League with 35 points in 55 games, and fifth in goal scoring with 22 goals in 35 games. Among prospects under the age of 24, he was third in the league in points and first in goals.
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  • Declan Kerin: T.J. Brennan signs one-year deal with Maple Leafs (MLHS)
    Defenceman TJ Brennan has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a one-year contract.
    The 26-year-old Brennan, who was a pending restricted free agent, will have a shot at a spot on the NHL roster at camp in the Fall.
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  • Greg Wyshynski: Ron Wilson named U.S. world junior team coach, hopefully on best behavior (Puck Daddy)
    If he wants another NHL gig … well, it’s time to get back in the game. There have been enough open jobs where its obvious he’s not getting hired on his laurels alone. Other coaches have used international tournament coaching gigs to get their name back out there – heck, one of them is on the Chicago Blackhawks’ bench right now in Kevin Dineen, head coach of the Canadians women’s gold medal team in Sochi.
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  • Michael Traikos: Maple Leafs’ new philosophy has them looking to select future stars at upcoming entry draft (National Post)
    For the Leafs, the bigger selections could come later in the first round with the draft pick that they acquired from the Nashville Predators as well as the other rounds. In the last six years, the Leafs have not had a player selected after the first round who has played more than 31 games in the NHL. That has to change. And Morrison, with the help of Hunter and the analytics department — “They’ve added a different insight and are helping us make decisions,” said Morrison — is hoping to change that.
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  • Bob McKenzie: Leafs not on list of teams meeting with Mike Reilly (Tweet)

NHL Links:

  • Kevin Woodley: Goalie Matchup — Inside Game 1 for Bishop, Crawford (NHL.com)
    Despite a lot of focus on the high-octane offenses of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawksheading into the Stanley Cup Final, each goaltender benefitted from tight defensive structure during Chicago’s 2-1 victory in Game 1.
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  • Greg Wyshynski: NHL competition committee backs coach’s challenge, balks at 3-on-3 OT (Puck Daddy)
    Also from the Committee: The Committee recommends a change to the face-off rule, whereby, for all face-offs in the defensive zone, the player from the defensive zone team must put down his stick first. For face-offs at center ice, the rule will remain the same, requiring that the visiting team player put his stick down first.
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  • James Mirtle: Why the NHL’s salary cap may stay almost flat next year (The Globe and Mail)
    If the NHLPA relents and again agrees to go with that full boost, the NHL’s cap will rise marginally, from $69-million this season into the $71-million range, which would be an all-time high. If they don’t, it won’t, and teams such as the Chicago Blackhawks – who already have $65-million committed to next year’s cap – will be even more pressured to dump useful players in order to get under the limit.
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  • Kyle Alexander: Looking back at the Braydon Coburn trade (Raw Charge)
    There’s still a lot to like about Coburn’s game; he’s big, he’s mobile, and he holds the defending blue line well. But he’s struggled to read breakouts and make clean, decisive passes out of his own end to start rushes. The Bolts routinely get hemmed in with Coburn on, and for the price paid, you’d expect more than Coburn is giving. He’s currently dead last on the Lightning in Corsi For % in the playoffs (38.41%) and he’s torpedoed what had been a very strong season for Jason Garrison.
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  • Satchel Price: Teuvo Teravainen keeps raising our expectations (Second City Hockey)
    Many people are calling the series opener against Tampa Bay “The Teuvo Game,” which makes sense. The Blackhawks might not rally without the young forward, who played a pivotal role in both of the team’s goals, and it felt like a coming out party of sorts. He ended up under the limelight in a Cup Final less than two weeks after finding himself in the press box.
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