Your Tuesday morning links feature an NHL.com preview of the Leafs 2016-17 season, a feature on Leafs prospect J.D. Greenway’s goal to make Team USA’s WJC squad with his brother, and a Jonathan Bernier interview on the trade.
Inside look at the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL.com)
“We’re going the right way,” Babcock said. “We’re not trying to maintain. That maintain part is what kills you. It’s not easy to win in this League. But now, and this is no word of a lie, we’re loaded with kids. Real kids. There’s five or six who are going to score big-time in the NHL.”
Five questions the Maple Leafs face in August (TSN)
Lupul turns 33 in September and has two years, at $5.2 million a season, left on his contract. So what is Toronto’s best option moving forward? To ride out his contract the next two seasons? Trade him, and likely an important prospect as an incentive, out of town? Buy out his deal, but keep him on the books another four years? Last season, defenceman Stephane Robidas was banished to long term injured reserve (LTIR) without a word from the Leafs on the progress of his knee injury or when he would return; Lupul could conceivably get the same treatment. But a source close to Lupul said recently he’s healthy and wants to play. If that’s the case, a Robidas-like move would surely draw the ire of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
The Sit-Down: Dave Hopkinson, MLSE (Sports Business Daily)
We’ve already gone ahead and rebranded the Maple Leafs. A lot of people think going to a classic Leafs logo is going backwards. The current logo the Leafs are wearing was put in the 1970-71 season and we’ve never won anything in it. It’s not lost on us that that needs to change and change quickly. Especially anchored by the leadership of Mike Babcock, Brendan Shanahan and Lou Lamoriello, I believe we’re on a championship path.
Brothers attempt to be U.S. WJC teammates (NHL.com)
Jordan Greenway and James Greenway are used to being long distances apart during the hockey season. But this December they have a chance to change that. The brothers were two of 41 players taking part in the 2016 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., this week. It’s the first step in picking the United States team for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be played in Toronto and Montreal from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
After escaping the heat in Toronto, Jonathan Bernier is ready for calmer Anaheim (ESPN)
“I was expecting [the trade], it’s a tough business. I was ready mentally for that,” Bernier said. “I knew they were going to get someone. But to be honest I didn’t expect a long-term deal like Freddy signed. At that point I knew it was better for me to go somewhere else because I wasn’t in their future plan. That’s why I’m excited.”
For Your Reference: Leaf Waiver Eligibilities (PPP)
The website Cap Friendly has a great tool that lets you look up which players are still currently exempt from waivers, but it doesn’t tell you when they will have to go through them. For your reference, I’ve gone through each player the Leafs currently have under contract to see which ones remain exempt. PPP has the list.
