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Daniel Winnik is up for the rebuilding challenge in Toronto, tributes to hockey legend Al Arbour (RIP), Brock Otten gushes about Jakub Chychrun, and more in the links.
Saturday Links:
- Chris Lemon: Winnik wants to win in Toronto (NHLPA.com)
“I don’t see us in full rebuild mode,” said Winnik. “I don’t think it’s going to be, ‘This will be extremely painful, we’re going to lose a lot of games.’ What happened post-December I don’t know. But I like that challenge.“
I - Michael Traikos: A year with the Toronto Maple Leafs has given former assistant coach Steve Spott an appreciation for the job (National Post)
“The one thing I can tell you is we had and they still have a lot of good people in that dressing room,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of them since I got this job and I wish them nothing but the best. As a Toronto boy growing up in this city and getting a chance to work with the Leafs, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”
I - Sean Tierney: Using Advanced Stats to Classify NHL Center Types (Today’s Slapshot)
Based on the HERO chart, Carter would likely be described as a rare example of a sniper who plays centre. His goal scoring is elite, his primary assists total is second-liner quality, so he’s a scorer. However, by graphing Carter’s production over the past three NHL seasons — and comparing his scoring rates with other qualifying centremen — a slightly different picture emerges.
I - Josh Cooper: Al Arbour created championship culture with New York Islanders (Puck Daddy)
From the team to their fans to management, Arbour – who died Friday at the age of 82 – was a man who garnered positive memories from those who worked closely with him. He spent 19 seasons with the Islanders a span where he went 740-537-223. Just for perspective’s sake, Claude Julien is currently the league’s longest-standing bench boss at seven seasons. It’s doubtful he’ll make it 12 more years in Boston.
I - Stephen Whyno: Al Arbour, who coached 1980s Islanders to four Stanley Cups, dies at 82 (Brandon Sun)
“Al used to say that the negative energy that you’re feeling, turn it into a positive energy,” Hall of Fame defenceman Denis Potvin said. “That has never left me, and I know many of my teammates must feel the very same way because he just never felt than anything was insurmountable.”
I - Brock Otten: Preseason Top 30 for the 2016 NHL Draft (OHL Prospects)
At the same age, I actually think Chychrun is ahead of where Aaron Ekblad was. As a rookie, he was a top 5 defender in the league IMO and he can heavily influence the game at either end. Solid defensively, physical, mobile, intelligent. Aggressive offensively with a fantastic point shot, and great vision. Most complete defender I’ve seen in the league since Drew Doughty (and that includes Ekblad).
