Off the Twitter Wire:
Shawn Matthias, who sat Saturday with a shoulder injury, isn't practicing today. Took a twirl on ice beforehand though.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) October 12, 2015
Leafs D at practice
Gardiner-Phaneuf
Rielly-Hunwick
Harrington-Polak
Corrdao, MarincinScott on track to play FRI after missing last game
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 12, 2015
Nazem Kadri is second in the NHL with 14 shots on goal so far. Only Patrick Kane has more.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) October 12, 2015
Marlies and forward Nikolai Skladnichenko have agreed to a mutual release, allowing him to return to KHL. 21-year-old was on AHL contract
— Kyle Cicerella (@KyleTheReporter) October 13, 2015
ES TOI per game under Babcock
D
Gardiner 18:28
Phaneuf 17:58
Hunwick 17:51F
Bozak 16:00
JVR 14:30
Lupul 14:00
Boyes 13:54
Kadri 13:53— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 11, 2015
Tuesday Links:
- James Mirtle: Maple Leafs’ Dan Winnik a role model in coach Babcock’s system overhaul (The Globe and Mail)
Winnik explained that his transition into Babcock’s heavily structured system has been an easy one, as he knows many of the details from playing briefly under Todd McLellan in San Jose. While some players are still learning the finer points of what Babcock wants and the Leafs have yet to earn their first win, Winnik can already see what’s being asked for working in games.
I - Jonas Siegel: New Leaf already a trusted asset for Babcock (TSN)
Babcock had seen Hunwick play collegiately at Michigan, but got to know him best during those days in the gym. He saw the intensity, determination and professionalism and the reports he got back – from Wolverines coach Red Berenson as well as the gym’s strength coach – were all positive.
I - Mark Masters: No Leafs goalie controversy just yet as Bernier looks to shake off rust with help of a new coach (TSN)
Monday was the longest Leafs practice of the regular season, the goalies were the first ones on the ice and they were among the last to leave, as both James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier stuck around to work on their struggling games. Mark Masters has more.
I - Kyle Cicerella: Marlies and Russian forward Nikolai Skladnichenko agree to terminate AHL contract (Kyle The Reporter)
Skladnichenko originally signed a one-year AHL contract with the Marlies in the summer and participated in both the Maple Leafs’ and Marlies’ training camps before being sent to the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL on Oct. 5.
I - Melissa Dunne: Maple Leafs winger Zachary Hyman is a children’s author, too (Metro)
Hyman’s used that spare time off the ice very efficiently over the past few years. On top of writing his children’s books, he recently earned an honours degree in history from the University of Michigan. While still a student at Michigan he published his debut book, The Bambino and Me.
I - Eric Duhatschek: Five NHL coaches on the evolution and art of the league’s coaching carousel (The Globe and Mail)
Ruff: There was a time when fear was effective – creating animosity and competition worked. In the past, I’ve sat out players to see their reactions, sometimes key players. I don’t know if we have any “fear” coaches left. You almost have a partnership with the players now. Some of it is based on the amount of money they make. The players in today’s game have been brought up a different way. They want to know why. The answer isn’t yelling and screaming.
I - James Mirtle: Mike Richards settlement does little to prevent players’ ‘destructive spirals’ (The Globe and Mail)
Players who have outlived their usefulness are punitively dumped and forced into a grievance process to recoup their contracts – if teams believe they can get better terms there than on a buyout. It’s an outcome that will only breed distrust rather than help these players, who will be less likely to come forward with their issues if they risk a lucrative contract being annulled.