The fate of the Anaheim Ducks' season will be heavily influenced by the performance of Connor McDavid. That goes without saying.
As if his remarkable footspeed, awe-inspiring hands, and cunning hockey IQ, aren't enough to deal with, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle believes his club is battling the refs when it comes to No. 97, too.
"To me, it seems like there is somewhat of a white-glove treatment for Mr. McDavid," Carlyle told reporters, according to Frank Seravalli of TSN. "The restrictions on anybody touching him seem to be a little bit higher than normal. It's fact. Simple. We review the tape numerous times.
"He does draw penalties because of his speed. But if you don't get close to him and you're not inside of him, you're going to watch him or you're going to try to impede his progress."
Through three games of the second-round series, McDavid has two points and has drawn a penalty in each contest.
Despite allowing him to score a highlight-reel goal, the Ducks got the best of McDavid in Game 3, as he was also on the ice for three goals against. They'll look to do the same Wednesday night in Game 4.
The fate of the Anaheim Ducks' season will be heavily influenced by the performance of Connor McDavid. That goes without saying.
As if his remarkable footspeed, awe-inspiring hands, and cunning hockey IQ, aren't enough to deal with, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle believes his club is battling the refs when it comes to No. 97, too.
"To me, it seems like there is somewhat of a white-glove treatment for Mr. McDavid," Carlyle told reporters, according to Frank Seravalli of TSN. "The restrictions on anybody touching him seem to be a little bit higher than normal. It's fact. Simple. We review the tape numerous times.
"He does draw penalties because of his speed. But if you don't get close to him and you're not inside of him, you're going to watch him or you're going to try to impede his progress."
Through three games of the second-round series, McDavid has two points and has drawn a penalty in each contest.
Despite allowing him to score a highlight-reel goal, the Ducks got the best of McDavid in Game 3, as he was also on the ice for three goals against. They'll look to do the same Wednesday night in Game 4.
Could Martin Brodeur be as great a general manager as he was a goaltender?
The Buffalo Sabres won't get to find out for sure, as their attempt to speak with Brodeur about the team's open GM position was rebuffed, John Shannon told WGR 550.
Brodeur currently serves as assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues, a position he's held since May 2015. He moved into a management position with the club after finishing his playing days with the Blues during the 2014-15 season.
The search for the next GM in Buffalo has been a far-reaching effort, with reports indicating the Sabres have contacted Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Mike Futa, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito, as well as Jason Botterill and Bill Guerin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, among other potential candidates.
Could Martin Brodeur be as great a general manager as he was a goaltender?
The Buffalo Sabres won't get to find out for sure, as their attempt to speak with Brodeur about the team's open GM position was rebuffed, John Shannon told WGR 550.
Brodeur currently serves as assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues, a position he's held since May 2015. He moved into a management position with the club after finishing his playing days with the Blues during the 2014-15 season.
The search for the next GM in Buffalo has been a far-reaching effort, with reports indicating the Sabres have contacted Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Mike Futa, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito, as well as Jason Botterill and Bill Guerin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, among other potential candidates.
There's plenty of intriguing components to the deal, so without wasting any time, let's get into them.
The past
Zaitsev, 25, just concluded his first NHL campaign after joining the Maple Leafs last offseason. He suited up in all 82 games as a rookie, and logged the second-most ice time (22:01 per game) among all Toronto defenders.
Additionally, he chipped in with 36 points (four goals, 32 assists) and quarterbacked the Leafs' top power-play unit.
Despite solid offensive numbers, Zaitsev struggled possession-wise. Deployed primarily with Morgan Rielly until a switch to Jake Gardiner's pairing late in the season, Zaitsev - though not alone on Toronto's roster - was not on the right end of the shot count.
Zaitsev was assigned mostly unfavorable matchups as a freshman against opponents' top lines on Toronto's No. 1 pairing, so with more time to adjust to the league, the Leafs are hoping for positive development in that area.
The present and immediate future
While seven years is undoubtedly a lot of term, at this point, Zaitsev is Toronto's best right-handed shot.
Roman Polak is an unrestricted free agent July 1, and at 31, is coming off a gruesome leg injury suffered in the playoffs. Elsewhere, Toronto's depth chart isn't particularly flattering.
When it comes to salary, Zaitsev's AAV of $4.5 million ranks second among Leafs blue-liners, ahead of Gardiner ($4.05 million through 2019) and below Rielly ($5 million through 2022).
That said, upgrading the Maple Leafs' blue line will be a priority this offseason for general manager Lou Lamiorello.
Lamoriello says the Leafs will focus on getting better on defence this summer. "We have to add to that group."
In Zaitsev, Toronto has a viable option to slot in the top four, and rather than go to arbitration, the club opted to lock him up, which is completely sensible.
The long-term future
Zatisev's contract will take him to age 32, which is typically an age of steady decline among NHL defenders. In that sense, his new contract can go one of two ways.
1) Zaitsev develops in his remaining peak years, provides stability to the Leafs' D-corps for years to come at a reasonable price.
2) Zaitsev's mediocre possession numbers don't improve, and the Leafs are stuck with a burdening contract as he ages until 2024.
Of course, this is an oversimplified breakdown. It's impossible to predict what the Maple Leafs' top six will look like next season, but if they add quality pieces, and perhaps include Zaitsev in a more favorable role, he could certainly help Toronto on its quest to contend in the East.
In all, Leafs' management took a calculated gamble on what Zaitsev brings to the table, and put its faith in a 25-year-old rookie. Now we wait.
There's plenty of intriguing components to the deal, so without wasting any time, let's get into them.
The past
Zaitsev, 25, just concluded his first NHL campaign after joining the Maple Leafs last offseason. He suited up in all 82 games as a rookie, and logged the second-most ice time (22:01 per game) among all Toronto defenders.
Additionally, he chipped in with 36 points (four goals, 32 assists) and quarterbacked the Leafs' top power-play unit.
Despite solid offensive numbers, Zaitsev struggled possession-wise. Deployed primarily with Morgan Rielly until a switch to Jake Gardiner's pairing late in the season, Zaitsev - though not alone on Toronto's roster - was not on the right end of the shot count.
Zaitsev was assigned mostly unfavorable matchups as a freshman against opponents' top lines on Toronto's No. 1 pairing, so with more time to adjust to the league, the Leafs are hoping for positive development in that area.
The present and immediate future
While seven years is undoubtedly a lot of term, at this point, Zaitsev is Toronto's best right-handed shot.
Roman Polak is an unrestricted free agent July 1, and at 31, is coming off a gruesome leg injury suffered in the playoffs. Elsewhere, Toronto's depth chart isn't particularly flattering.
When it comes to salary, Zaitsev's AAV of $4.5 million ranks second among Leafs blue-liners, ahead of Gardiner ($4.05 million through 2019) and below Rielly ($5 million through 2022).
That said, upgrading the Maple Leafs' blue line will be a priority this offseason for general manager Lou Lamiorello.
Lamoriello says the Leafs will focus on getting better on defence this summer. "We have to add to that group."
In Zaitsev, Toronto has a viable option to slot in the top four, and rather than go to arbitration, the club opted to lock him up, which is completely sensible.
The long-term future
Zatisev's contract will take him to age 32, which is typically an age of steady decline among NHL defenders. In that sense, his new contract can go one of two ways.
1) Zaitsev develops in his remaining peak years, provides stability to the Leafs' D-corps for years to come at a reasonable price.
2) Zaitsev's mediocre possession numbers don't improve, and the Leafs are stuck with a burdening contract as he ages until 2024.
Of course, this is an oversimplified breakdown. It's impossible to predict what the Maple Leafs' top six will look like next season, but if they add quality pieces, and perhaps include Zaitsev in a more favorable role, he could certainly help Toronto on its quest to contend in the East.
In all, Leafs' management took a calculated gamble on what Zaitsev brings to the table, and put its faith in a 25-year-old rookie. Now we wait.
Niskanen was handed a major penalty and a game misconduct following the incident. It was announced Tuesday he will not receive supplemental discipline, while Crosby is sidelined with a concussion.
The Capitals took Game 3 with a 3-2 overtime victory, bringing the series to 2-1 Pittsburgh.
The Penguins, meanwhile, likely don't care for Carlyle commenting on their series, but he's speaking from experience. Prior to his coaching career, he starred as an NHL defenseman for 17 seasons, spending the majority of his playing days with the original Winnipeg Jets.
Niskanen was handed a major penalty and a game misconduct following the incident. It was announced Tuesday he will not receive supplemental discipline, while Crosby is sidelined with a concussion.
The Capitals took Game 3 with a 3-2 overtime victory, bringing the series to 2-1 Pittsburgh.
The Penguins, meanwhile, likely don't care for Carlyle commenting on their series, but he's speaking from experience. Prior to his coaching career, he starred as an NHL defenseman for 17 seasons, spending the majority of his playing days with the original Winnipeg Jets.