Berube-Treliving Duo Could Be Last Chance for Shanahan with Leafs

BY NATE MOSER

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Craig Berube will be their next head coach. He replaces Sheldon Keefe, who was behind the bench for the club since he came in midseason after Mike Babcock was fired during the 2019-20 NHL season. Berube was last the head coach of the St. Louis Blues, where he coached them to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2019. He was fired by the Blues in December 2023. He finished his time there having coached in 382 games and producing a record of 206-132-44. He was also head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.

This is the second offseason in a row where the Leafs made a major change in their hockey department. Leafs President Brendan Shanahan parted ways with former team general manager Kyle Dubas and hired Brad Treliving as his replacement following the 2022-23 season. The Leafs followed up a season where they finally were able to get into the second round of the postseason, with yet another first round exit. The clock should be ticking now on Shanahan’s job. He has been in his role with the organization since April 2014. It is surprising already that Shanahan has been in his role so long. Don’t get me wrong, he did a fantastic job creating the foundation of this era in Leafs history. He is a well-respected hockey man, and had the tools to set the organization up well. He brought in arguably the best general manager in the history of the sport in Lou Lamoriello. He brought in Babcock, who had made a significant name for himself while being with the Detroit Red Wings. They drafted and grew some talented players in William Nylander and Mitch Marner. They won the 2016 NHL Draft lottery and landed one of the best American players in the game in Auston Matthews (I still cannot believe he almost netted 70 goals this season. He has been phenomenal on the ice). They brought him a hometown name in John Tavares and gave him the captaincy. This should be working. Unfortunately, for the team and their fanbase, it hasn’t.

The reality of the situation is there have been four general managers now under Shanahan. It started with Dave Nonis. While Shanahan did not hire him originally to the team, he did choose to keep him as general manager his first year in as president. Then it was Lamoriello for a few years. Eventually, Dubas took on that role. Now, it has been Treliving. Looking at head coaches under Shanahan’s time, it started with Randy Carlyle (and interim head coach Peter Horachek), then Babcock, then Keefe, and now Berube. At some point, someone higher up has to take the blame. I am honestly surprised Shanahan was not let go after 2022-23 when Dubas left the team. Shanahan was able to hire another general manager in Treliving and the results are the same. Obviously, some changes are going to happen with the on-ice product (and many expect Marner to be the big piece on the move), but if the Leafs cannot make some more significant progress in the 2025 postseason, I would think it would be time to move on from Shanahan. It has already been a decade with him in his role with the team. Shanahan is a great hockey mind, but it is a results business and the expectations have been raised since talents like Matthews, Marner, and Nylander came into the fold. This is already a hockey market with high expectations, and falling short in the playoffs every season is no longer acceptable. Treliving and Berube are the men responsible to help Shanahan keep his job. If they cannot get the results in a timely fashion, it may be time to tear down the whole management running this operation and start fresh. The clock is ticking.

SCHEFFLER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN

By Mark Halpern

Scottie Scheffler, one the world’s top golfers, ran into a little bit of a snag on his way to the course in Valhalla. Sometime before he arrived  on Friday there was a fatality at the crosswalk by the entrance to the Course. According to police Scheffler disobeyed an order from police, was charged with a total of three misdemeanors one of them “The cop was dragged to the ground while he resisted arrest” Obviously we have heard several different versions but all pretty close to one another. Scheffler was charged and was out in more than enough time to go and make his tee time which was set for 10:08am. There was no word from the PGA if they were going to move his time due to his incident but it didn’t matter as he not only showed up but was cool, calm and on the top of his game by shooting a 66. 

   Yesterday, 5/18/2024 the Louisville Mayor when asked about the body cam footage and replied “We have no body camera of the incident.” This is where now things are going to get stirred and we are going to see this Officer and Scheffler are going to be in the news for the wrong reason and we have no other word as of now of any witness to corroborate the officer’s charges that he placed on Scheffler. This will be an ongoing story so stay tuned for more.

Chris’s Trick

By Mike Rifkin

Entering the third period of Game Six the New York Rangers trailed the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 and on the verge of having a game seven after having a 3-0 series lead. That’s when the longest tenured Ranger took over.  Chris Kreider, the Rangers first round pick in 2009 had a third period hat trick to help the Rangers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Kreider became the first Ranger in nine years (Derrick Brassard) to have a hat trick in the playoffs. Kreider is also the third player in franchise history with a hat trick in one period (Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky). Krieder, the franchise leader in playoff goals (47) will be entering the Conference Final for the fifth time in his career, seeking his second chance at the Stanley Cup, and the team’s first in thirty years. 

Kreider is top ten in goals, power play goals, and points in franchise history. Chris Kreider has been a career Ranger. Once it is done his number 20 will be raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden, and a big part of the celebration montage will be the performance he put on in game six of the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Florida Panthers Need to Re-Sign Sam Reinhart

BY NATE MOSER

The Florida Panthers are currently in an exciting era in their franchise’s history. The club made the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in their existence back in 2023, and they have a younger core who will have seasons to continue to grow together and be a serious contender throughout the league. However, as exciting as these times are for the Panthers and their fanbase, there is work to be done for general manager Bill Zito, no matter what happens for them in the 2024 playoffs. There are significant names who are about to hit free agency. There is Vladimir Tarasenko, who Florida got from the Ottawa Senators in a trade during this season. There is Brandon Montour on defense, who if he hits free agency, will garner plenty of attention. Then, there is forward Sam Reinhart, who had a career season and was second in the whole NHL in goals with only Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews getting more (69 goals).

The clock is ticking for the Panthers to get Reinhart re-signed. Free agency is less than two months away now. He has proven that he needs to be one of the talents front and center to represent this organization going forward. He, Matthew Tkachuk, and Aleksander Barkov all finished this season with at least 80 points (Tkachuk had 88 and Barkov 80). Reinhart in particular had career highs in both goals and points. The 28-year-old had 57 goals and 94 points, which led the whole team in both categories.

Reinhart started his career with the Buffalo Sabres. He was selected second overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft (Panthers selected defender Aaron Ekblad first overall and the Calgary Flames picked current Panther Sam Bennett third overall). He, along with 2015 second overall pick Jack Eichel, were the faces of the Sabres as they were trying to come out of their organizational rebuild. As a result of skilled teammates like Eichel and forward Ryan O’Reilly among others, Reinhart was almost an underrated part of the team. His production grew over the seasons he put under his belt. He posted the following numbers while in Buffalo:

  • 2014-15: one assist for one point in nine games
  • 2015-16: 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points in 79 games
  • 2016-17: 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points in 79 games
  • 2017-18: 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 82 games
  • 2018-19: 22 goals and 43 assists for 65 points in 82 games
  • 2019-20: 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 69 games
  • 2020-21: 25 goals and 15 assists for 40 points in 54 games

At some point, the Sabres needed to give Reinhart that big long-term contract, but it never came. Instead, the extensions he would get would be more bridge deals. If you ask me, it was a fumble on the organization’s fault not to get a long-term contract signed. One team’s fumble is another franchise’s reward. Reinhart was dealt in the summer of 2021 to the Panthers. The full deal was Reinhart to Florida and Buffalo acquiring a first-round pick in 2022 and goalie prospect Devon Levi. While Levi has the potential to become a star goalie between the pipes for Buffalo, Reinhart’s change of scenery proved to be an important move for Florida’s development into a contender.

In Florida’s current era as a contender, Reinhart’s stats have shot up. He has hit his prime with the Panthers, and it skyrocketed especially this season. Since arriving as a Panther, these are the regular season numbers he has posted:

  • 2021-22: 33 goals and 49 assists for 82 points in 79 games
  • 2022-23: 31 goals and 36 assists for 67 points in 82 games
  • 2023-24: 57 goals and 37 assists for 94 points in 82 games

Additionally, Reinhart has netted 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points in his first 41 postseason games, all with Florida. In his first 10 playoff games for 2024, he accumulated five goals and four assists for nine points. That is good for fourth on the squad in points. Barkov (13 points), Tkachuk (13), and Carter Verhaeghe (10) currently have more, as this is being written.

Looking back at Reinhart’s regular season stats for this season, being able to score 50 goals is very hard to do in the NHL, but almost getting 60 is another challenge entirely. Only a few have been able to accomplish that. Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos immediately comes to mind when he potted 60 in 2011-12. Matthews got 69 so he just fell short of the 70 mark. What Reinhart was able to do this season was incredible. Zito needs to make bringing him back priority one. Reinhart is a talent you make room for if his cap hit were to become too much. He deserves every penny he gets this offseason, from the Panthers or from another team. It has been a great pairing between Reinhart and the organization. Letting him walk to another team would just be a huge loss in the progress of the Panthers. It’s your move, Zito. It’s time to pay Sam.

DOLPHINS SCHEDULE RELEASE : 5 GAMES TO WATCH

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The NFL has released the 2024-25 schedule. The Miami Dolphins started last season at 8-3 and finished 11-6 and lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC East should be fun with the Dolphins, Bills and Aaron Rodgers’ return should elevate the Jets. But outside of the division here are five interesting games on the Dolphins schedule. 

Week 1 : Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars last season were in control of the AFC South, but went 1-5 in their last six games and lost the division. The Jags are in a very interesting position with Quarterback Trevor Lawrence who is eligible for a contract extension. So the Dolphins open the season with an in-state opponent and two teams battling for AFC playoff positioning.

Week 13 : Green Bay Packers : Thanksgiving night after you have your Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes,etc… The Dolphins travel to Lambeau Field to play a Packer team, that surprised some people last year by not just making the playoffs, but steamrolling the Cowboys in the Wild Card round. Jordan Love and the newly added Josh Jacobs will lead a Packer offense that shows a lot of speed. 

Week 15 : Houston Texans : Like the Packers, the Texans exceeded expectations last season and won the AFC South. The Texans were active this offseason getting CJ Stroud some new toys in the form of running back Joe Mixon and receiver Stefon Diggs. Demeco Ryans and Mike Mcdaniel did coach together in San Francisco. 

Week 16 : San Francisco 49ers : Mike McDaniel’s old team and arguably the best team in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers are one of the Super Bowl favorites. And just think of the star power offensively : Deebo Samuel, Christian Mccafrey, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr. It’s a star studded show and is a big late season game where there could be playoff implications on the line. 

Week 17 : Cleveland Browns – The end of the Dolphins’ schedule is very rough and this game in late December is a cherry on top. The Browns possess one of the most interesting teams in the NFL because if they get Deshaun Watson to revert back to his Texans day they could be a sleeper Super Bowl team, but if they don’t they’re a playoff bubble team. But Myles Garrett and company will be in the race for this game so there are playoff implications on the line in this late season game.

What Is Goalie Interference?

By Mike Rifkin

The Florida Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 in Game four of their Eastern Conference Semifinal to take a 3-1 series lead. The Panthers swept the two games in Boston. 

The Bruins were up 2-1 in the third period and with the Panthers on the power play, Panthers forward Sam Bennett (who had made a controversial play in game 3) pushed Bruins forward Charlie Coyle into goalie Jeremy Swayman and was able to put the puck in the net and tie the game for Florida. The Bruins challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the play stood, which led to the Bruins being short handed again. 

Rule 69.1 in the NHL Rulebook says “If a defending player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by an attacking player so as to cause the defending player to come into contact with his own goalkeeper, such contact shall be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, and if necessary a penalty assessed to the attacking player and if a goal is scored it would be disallowed”. 

Here’s the thing for me: the rulebook doesn’t say how hard the shove or push has to be. Now the definition of interference is “ When a player uses their body to impede the progress of an opponent with no effort to play the puck, maintain normal foot speed, or an established skating lane”. So by pushing Coyle into Swayman that impedes his progress to potentially make a save or impedes Coyle from clearing the puck, so why did the call stand?  The ruling from the league was “Video review supports the referees’ call on the ice that the shove on Coyle and subsequent contact with Swayman did not prevent Swayman from playing his positions in the crease prior to the goal”. 

According to Scouting the refs website (Link below) there were 87 challenges for goalie interference and 40 were upheld making it 54% during the regular season. This includes five challenges where the goal was initially waved off and one of those was overturned. So far this postseason coaches are 1-4 on coaches challenges on goalie interference.

Here’s the big problem: they’re guessing what is goalie interference. There is no set standard, unless blatantly obvious. So if the players and coaches are confused by goalie interference, then the fans are also confused so what’s the solution. The league averaged 6.3 goals per game, which is the same as it was last season, which means more offense isn’t the problem. But we’ve gotten to the point where nobody knows what is going on when these challenges occur, and Sunday night it might have cost the Boston Bruins the series. We need a rule that is clear and precise on what goalie interference is because these calls are now sinking teams in the playoffs and that’s a rough look for the NHL. 

Scouting the refs link (https://scoutingtherefs.com/nhl-coachs-challenge-tracker-2024-playoffs/)

Sabres’ Promotion of Appert Shows Potential Blueprint

BY Nate Moser

The Buffalo Sabres recently announced Lindy Ruff was returning as head coach of the club after last behind the bench for them during the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season. Now, Ruff’s coaching staff has been revealed. The organization announced that Rochester Americans head coach Seth Appert will be promoted to a Sabres assistant coach for next season. Matt Ellis and Marty Wilford, part of Don Granato’s staff last season, will also return as assistants along with goalie coach Mike Bales. Amir Gulati was also promoted to video coordinator.

It is very apparent that the Sabres view Appert as a key figure in the organization’s structure moving forward. He had previously been head coach for the Americans for four seasons. During that span of time, Rochester made the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs three straight years in a row. Appert also has a track record of developing talent during his time down there, coaching eventual Sabres regulars in Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen among others. He recently has been helping develop some of the potential future talents in Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, and Devon Levi.

As much as it will be beneficial to reunite Appert to some of his former players he coached down in Rochester, I think there is more to this promotion, as many have already pointed out. Ruff’s contract with the Sabres is for two years. It is very possible that Ruff could get an extension if both sides are happy with the team direction and Ruff also wants to continue to coach. Whenever Ruff does step away from the Sabres bench though, it is very possible Appert becomes his successor. Ruff can show Appert the ropes for a couple seasons in the NHL in order to get him comfortable. He will get to know the locker room players better than he did previously and build relationships and trust. Ruff will essentially mentor him, and when the time comes, Appert can take the reins.

Now, this of course, is all reliant on whether the Sabres take the next step under Ruff. This can be the blueprint by Ruff and general manager Kevyn Adams, but if any progress fails to be made in a certain amount of time, it is very possible the Sabres management does not make it to an Appert coaching stint. Adams and Ruff could both be out. Much needs to transpire though. This can be a potentially great move having Appert gain some NHL coaching experience under the winningest coach in Sabres history, or it could create no results and the postseason drought will continue to grow in number. For the sake of this management group, hopefully it is the former.

Killing It

By Mike Rifkin

The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2 in Overtime to take a 3-0 series lead in the series. One of the big reasons the Rangers are having success is their special teams, but in particular their Penalty Kill. 

The Rangers penalty kill was third in the NHL during the regular season at 84.48% only trailing the Kings and the Hurricanes. But this postseason the Rangers PK is 93.8%. The Rangers gave up two power play goals in game two of the first round against the Capitals. Outside of that the Rangers PK has been sensational including a 5-5 performance Thursday night and added a shorthanded goal from Chris Kreider. Carolina had the top ranked power play during the regular season, but the Rangers have held them in check. 

Yes, Igor Shesterkin has been sensational, but this is where I have to give Chris Drury some credit. The Rangers needed a third line center and they acquired Alex Wennberg from the Kraken. But what the acquisition of Wennberg has given the Rangers is three reliable sets of forwards to help kill penalties. 

NHL Lookback: The Mika Zibanejad-Derick Brassard Trade

BY Nate Moser

The New York Rangers have made some significant trades in their organization’s history. The most famous one they made no doubt is getting Mark Messier from the Edmonton Oilers back in October 1991. There is also the Scott Gomez trade with the Montreal Canadiens back in June 2009 that led to New York acquiring defenseman and future captain Ryan McDonagh. Watching the Rangers, though, right now in the 2024 playoffs; I want to talk about the Mika Zibanejad-Derick Brassard trade that occurred between the Rangers and Ottawa Senators.

Mika Zibanejad was drafted by Ottawa sixth overall during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played in parts of five seasons with the Senators, and he put up decent numbers for the franchise. His regular-season stats with Ottawa are the following:

  • 2011-12: zero goals and one assist for one point in nine games
  • 2012-13: seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 42 games
  • 2013-14: 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in 69 games
  • 2014-15: 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points in 80 games
  • 2015-16: 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 81 games

Additionally, in the postseason, Zibanejad chalked up the following stats for the organization in the playoffs:

  • 2013: one goal and three assists for four points in 10 games
  • 2015: one goal and three assists for four points in six games

Zibanejad learned from some solid NHL teammates while he was developing his game. The lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign saw Zibanejad on a Senators roster along with veterans Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Sergei Gonchar. That is some solid leadership to learn from.

Fast forward a few years, and Zibanejad was a victim of change by being dealt to the Rangers. The transaction took place on July 18, 2016. The full trade was Zibanejad and a second-round pick in 2018 for forward Derick Brassard and a seventh round pick in 2018. It appears that the Senators did not realize the future steps Zibanejad would make to his game, because that move aged poorly looking back. Zibanejad has become one of the best players in this era of Rangers hockey. His point production per season amped up, and has developed impressive chemistry with teammates like Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin. Since being traded to New York, these are the stats Zibanejad has produced:

  • 2016-17: 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 56 games
  • 2017-18: 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points in 72 games
  • 2018-19: 30 goals and 44 assists for 74 points in 82 games
  • 2019-20: 41 goals and 34 assists for 75 points in 57 games
  • 2020-21: 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points in 56 games
  • 2021-22: 29 goals and 52 assists for 81 points in 81 games
  • 2022-23: 39 goals and 52 assists for 91 points in 82 games
  • 2023-24: 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in 81 games

This past regular season, Zibanejad’s 72 points was fifth on the Rangers. Panarin (120 points), Vincent Trocheck (77), Kreider (75), and Adam Fox (73) were the players who had more. The Blueshirts have such a stacked lineup, but Zibanejad has proven time and time again that he is such a skilled forward in his own right. As this article is being written, he is showing off his talents in the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished Game 2 of the semifinals having recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 points in six playoff games. He leads the Rangers in postseason points, with Trocheck just behind him by a point himself (five goals and five assists for 10 points in six games).

Zibanejad is looking incredible out on the ice. If the Senators could turn back time, they would probably undo that trade with the Rangers and keep him around. He could’ve hit his stride wearing the Senators sweater, and become a household name alongside Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone (who also has broken out further since going to the Vegas Golden Knights). The Rangers are one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference, and that Zibanejad trade is a big reason why that is the case. It will never top the Messier trade with the Oilers, but Zibanejad may be able to retire a Blueshirt with a ring on his finger if everything continues to go well. Time will tell.

Curtis Samuel Has Big Shoes to Fill on Bills

By Nate Moser

The wide receiver department for the Buffalo Bills roster has changed massively over this offseason. Gabe Davis, Deonte Harty, and Trent Sherfield all left the team through free agency to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings respectively. The Bills also traded star Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans to join a squad already containing the likes of CJ Stroud, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins. Safe to say, for Buffalo, there are a lot of holes that need to be filled.

One of the new faces in the Bills wide receiver room to help replace some of the players leaving is Curtis Samuel. The 27-year-old inked a three-year contract back in March with Buffalo after spending the previous three seasons with the Washington Commanders. He originally was drafted in the second round (40th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and spent the first four seasons in the league with the club.

Samuel joined a 2017 Panthers team that contained quarterback Cam Newton, rookie running back Christian McCaffrey, running back Jonathan Stewart, and fellow wide receiver Devin Funchess. His best productive season came in the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. 2018 saw Samuel play in 13 games, while starting in eight of those. He was targeted 65 times and made 39 receptions, along with five touchdowns. 2019 saw Samuel start 15 out of the 16 games he played with Carolina. He was targeted 105 times, made 54 receptions, got 627 yards, and accrued six touchdowns. That is currently the most he has had in his career so far in games started, targets, and touchdowns for a single season.

I don’t believe we have not seen Samuel’s best football yet in the NFL. As I previously mentioned in my Chase Claypool piece, Samuel’s best quarterback that he has played with was probably Newton. The total list of quarterbacks Samuel has gotten at least one touchdown with are the following:

Cam Newton, Teddy Bridgewater, Kyle Allen, PJ Walker, Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, Sam Howell, and Jacoby Brissett

Part of Samuel’s tenure in Washington was affected by injuries. He only played in five games during the 2021 season, where he accumulated just six receptions for 27 yards and no touchdowns. The other two years he played for Washington though, he made an impact and played in most of the games. He shared the wide receiver room with teammates like Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson as well, and the three played key roles in that Washington offense under head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner. Samuel during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns posted the following numbers:

  • 2022: 17 games played, 92 targets, 64 receptions, 656 yards, 4 TDs
  • 2023: 16 games played, 91 targets, 62 receptions, 613 yards, 4 TDs

Now, Samuel finds himself on the Bills who are transitioning from the first portion of the Josh Allen Era to the next. Putting Samuel on the Bills with Allen should help him put up career stats. This will be the best quarterback he plays with now, and he will get more targets with other wide receivers having left in Diggs and Davis. Samuel will not have to carry the offensive load just him and Allen though. Second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid looks to be an offensive weapon on the rise, and a potential breakout campaign could be on the horizon. Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman will also potentially gain some chemistry and knowledge in the offense to become a core member of the Bills for years to come. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir should be able to take the next step as well for Buffalo. Samuel does not have to take care of business alone and all he will have to do is focus on playing his brand of football. He should be a welcome member to the Bills roster, and we will see how impactful he can be in the coming months.