Author Archives: Dominic Broadwood

What Are The Vancouver Canucks Doing?

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With the trade deadline now having come and gone many Canucks fans are asking themselves just what is this franchise doing after one of the more puzzling days under this management’s leadership. In the weeks and months leading up to deadline day the club made several moves seemingly priming themselves to pull the trigger on a massive move for today, yet nothing happened. It’s not so much what they did as what they didn’t do. On one of the busiest hockey days of the year Vancouver went completely radio silent, not making a singular trade and then waltzing management out for a press conference where they said a whole lot of nothing? The Canucks have been major players in the trade market this campaign with their season seemingly having gone off the rails after early tensions between star players. They have been making all the right moves going into March with a Miller trade that saw them recoup a younger center with high upside and additionally a first round pick which they used flipped the Pittsburgh for an established veteran defenseman and a speedy depth forward. In making all these trades the club opened up their cap space as well allowing for a big splash where they could pick up a big name heading into the final stretch before the playoffs. This noise grew even louder when Boeser extensions hit a snag and seemed inevitable that at the very least the Brockstar was on his way out for something. However, deadline day has come and gone and nothing was done. It appears that this is the group that management wants to head into the postseason with, despite the poor on ice performance for the better part of the season.

 

Following the deadline, Vancouver general manager Patrik Allvin met with the media where he made some puzzling comments to say the least. He stated that “he’d have to run out of here if you knew what the offers for Boeser were” leaving the imagination to assume… what? Does this mean that teams were low balling the franchise on their goal scoring winger? Or does this mean the team values him and wants to keep him? Many have assumed the former and that can’t be something you like to hear as a player. Many people around the media have jumped to say that this is a bluff and a negotiation tactic from the general manager, but I ask at what cost? I can only assume the comments have demoralized Boeser if anything and is just an odd comment to make and has been criticized rightfully so. Additionally he said that this isn’t a day to judge the management’s resume with the club, and yet THESE ARE THE DAYS TO JUDGE! Of course hindsight is 20/20 and it’s difficult to predict where this team will be sitting or even look like a year from now, but days like today are where management groups are make or break. The trade deadline, free agency, and draft day are the days where management makes the tough decisions on changing the roster and to say that this isn’t a deeply important day for the future  of this franchise is blatant blame deflecting. I don’t know if Canucks management slept in past their alarm this morning or what, but they dropped the ball immensely today and this won’t be forgotten by the fan base anytime in the near future.

 

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This management has been known for their tight ship they run with short leashes and not being afraid to call out players and even their own coaches to the media, but to what length? We all remember when this same group was practically waving the fired sign in coach Bruce Boudreau’s face for weeks before finally sending him packing. Just this season President Jim Rutherford aired Pettersson and Miller’s dirty laundry to the media, despite it being known already, that’s not something you air out about your own players especially after both have denied the rumours, effectively sand bagging them. They’ve let go of several members of their front office due to personal differences and it seems as though the way they’ve chosen to run this club is getting old and getting old quickly.

 

Between now and playoff time there is little that Rutherford and Allvin can do to change this roster. It is what it is now for this season and they won’t be able to make any big moves until the draft at the end of June. This leads us to believe they must have had some sort of plan in place that fell through. For my own sanity I need to believe this, and so let’s look at what management had hoped to happen prior to the deadline. Several times throughout the course of this season they have come out to state they believe in this group and this is a playoff team that they’ve constructed so the plan was undoubtedly to pick up a piece to help push themselves over the hump that they’ve seemingly been on for about 40 games of the season. I have to imagine the club at least took a run at securing Mikko Rantanen. Any trade I conjured up would of course be simply speculation, however they were apparently preliminary talks between Carolina and Vancouver involving a swap of Pettersson and Rantanen that hit a snag when a Vancouver prospect became a part of the ask. It’s clear that they were looking for a high end, top line forward that can slot in where Miller used to play, preferably a center. They would need someone who could help fill in after the potential absence of Brock Boeser in free agency. Martin Necas would have been a perfect early season candidate however he of course has since been traded to Colorado in exchange for Rantanen, leaving…who? Some interesting names for Vancouver to have been looking at would’ve been Cozens or Peterka from Buffalo. Cozens was traded to Ottawa earlier today and was said to have been part of the package Vancouver had preliminary talks about early in the season with Buffalo on an Elias Pettersson trade. Both players were unlikely to see playoff ice anytime soon within Buffalo making for perfect trade targets on a desperate franchise. Peterka would be a perfect slot in for Miller as he’s young with extremely high upside and could probably be acquired by Vancouver without having to give up a core roster player.

 

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Ultimately it’s hard to know just what exactly went on behind the scenes on deadline morning, but what we do know is that nothing was done to bolster this roster and now the team is teetering on the edge of playoff spot sitting just above purgatory where they’re too mid to progress forward. We can only hope that six months from now while we’re gearing up for pre-season hockey that the club has made some moves to improve the roster and propel this team into contendership.

Top Places To Eat in Vancouver

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If you love food,  then Vancouver might  be the perfect place for you with a large city and vibrant culture, Vancouver has hundreds of restaurants with dozens of hidden gems as one of the largest Multicultural cities in the world whether you’re into Bollywood, Korean BBQ, or some traditional Italian at every corner there’s a restaurant waiting to buy your bite and give a food lover an unforgettable experience. Today we’re going to be looking at some of the top restaurants in Vancouver as stated by yours truly.

 

Starting off with my absolute favorite place to eat in all of Vancouver, that is Jo’s Italian Deli, located in Kitsilano. Jo’s provides in-house, homemade, gourmet pastas and sandwiches at a more-than-reasonable price with perfect portions. Jo’s is the ultimate hole in a wall restaurant– well, that was until TikTok spread the word. The fettuccine alfredo with chicken is absolutely to die for and is quite possibly my favorite food in the entire world aside from my wife’s homemade alfredo. Jo’s also makes a mean Rose as well as spaghetti and meatballs, bolognese, and a creamy pesto. If pasta is not for you, then I don’t trust you. I’m kidding. But they do sell sandwiches as well, all of which come in at under $14, which in today’s economy is an absolute bargain for a meal out. They also have a little shop located inside where you can buy dried pasta as well as fresh pasta available at the front counter. The dining area is small but cute: kind of like my old kitten Bella. If you’re not from Vancouver, it is a bit of a ways out. However, it is extremely accessible through bus and SkyTrain.

 

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Next on the list, sticking with the same theme we have Amorosa Pasta House located in Burnaby near the New Westminster border. Unlike Jo’s, Amorosa is quite pricey, however the portions are massive and the pasta is quite good. The vibe and the restaurant is very Italian with candlelit tables and is the perfect place to take your significant other on a fancy date night while eating some good Italian food. Plus the price will make you seem like a big baller, so if your girlfriend or boyfriend is into that, this might be the perfect place for you. It’s also extremely accessible via bus or SkyTrain, located not far from Edmonds station as well as buses coming through New West.

 

Vancouver has a chain of restaurants, and if you love Hot Pot you know exactly where I’m going with this. We have Big Way Hot Pot. With several locations around Canada, Big Way has quickly become a staple of teenagers and young adults across Vancouver with its delicious Ma La Tang broth and pick-your-own ingredients bowls, the ideal spot to go if you’re feeling soup or pho. It’s also perfect for picky eaters because you get to choose your own ingredients and the price is measured by how much your bowl weighs when you place it on the scale. Additionally, at Big Way, you get free ice cream at the conclusion of your meal and it’s a clean and aesthetic environment for you and family or friends to go for a Thursday evening dinner. There’s also many locations across the Lower Mainland so that you’re never far from the closest one. Just make sure you know how to use chopsticks or you might get some dirty looks– *cough* even from the ones you trust the most *cough*.

 

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Next up is a restaurant with just six locations in Canada and only two in Vancouver. If you love Southern barbecue, this place might just be your Holy Grail. And I’m talking about Memphis Blues Southern barbecue. Priced reasonably, Memphis Blues provides a southern Tavern aesthetic in their restaurants, where they sell barbecued meat from grill or in sandwiches such as ribs pulled pork, and of course, brisket. Playing Southern music in-house, Memphis Blues flash to the past where you can satisfy all your meat cravings. The business can be considered locally owned as it was started here in Vancouver and is still a relatively small chain. It definitely doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves among Vancouverites, but hey, I’m okay with that if it means it’s less busy.

 

Finally is Taps and Tacos, located in Port Moody. Just blocks from the pier, this place will not be shy to serve you tacos. With a nice view of the water, this glass building allows you to gaze out with your loved ones while devouring some sweet sweet tacos. Whether you’re feeling burritos, chips, guac, and salsa, quesadillas, or simply just a margarita, this place has it all. Personally, coming here on Canada Day a couple years ago is a memory that I cherish deeply. Lucky for you, there’s a big location of Rocky Point Ice Cream minutes away from this Taps and Tacos for a sweet treat afterwards. If you are in the Coquitlam or Port Moody area and you like Mexican food, this is without a doubt the place to be. With short wait times and a nice location, Taps and Tacos is the ultimate Mexican food experience, and although it may not be at the top of everybody’s list it is reliable for a good meal and some fun on any given night.

 

Some honourable mentions that I didn’t go into depth include Chipotle, and Cactus club. Although they may seem like basic options for a dinner out in Vancouver, they are reliable and always find a way to hit the spot. With both establishments having several locations scattered across the lower mainland it’s never difficult to find one and sit down for a delicious meal. Both of which also sell alcohol if you’re looking to spice up your meal.

 

These restaurants provided are just some of the many many places that the Vancouver food industry has to offer. It feels like there’s a bougie restaurant or a greasy grab and go at every corner, so you’re never left hungry when out and about. Vancouver has some of the top restaurants in the world including Black and Blue Steakhouse and Gotham which were left off these lists simply due to the price. The city is a food lover’s paradise! Did I miss your favorite restaurant? There are so many restaurants in the city, I could not have possibly tried them all but here’s to hoping that you and I will someday get a taste of all the best flavors across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland!

Summer in Vancouver

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As Spring begins to take over Vancouver this week, we’re getting closer and closer to Sunny days ahead, and with that an action packed summer full of adventures and activities. Vancouver has so much to do come summer time for whatever you might be into whether it’s hitting the beaches, mountain biking, indoor activities, or maybe even watching sports live. There’s so much to do in the Lower Mainland, and today we’re going to be looking at some of the top summer activities that Vancouver has to offer.

 

Do you like going on rides? Well, the PNE will be open all summer where you can ride roller coasters, play carnival games, eat fun food, or even visit The Fair which will open in August. Are you an animal lover? There’s even a barn during The Fair with cows, pigs and more. Playland is a top summer activity in Vancouver for people of all ages. If you’ve been before, it’s still worth it to go as they often change the rides and attractions and bring in new ones to keep the demand fresh and fun for Vancouverites every year. As far as price goes, you can get the Fun Season Pass for $89 or the Thrill Season Pass for $129, giving you access to Playland from May all the way until August, so worst case scenario, you always have somewhere to go. The area is accessible, located at Hastings and Renfrew and it’s not a long bus ride if you’re taking Transit.

 

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 Do you like splashing around in the water? Well, I have more activities than I can count on two hands. Firstly, Cultus Lake Waterpark is one of the best water slide attractions in all of Canada. They have beginner, intermediate, and even expert water slides, so whether you’re a small child or an adult that likes rides, you will have a good time when visiting. The downside of Cultus Lake is that it’s located all the way out in Chilliwack and for many, it can be a bit of a far drive. However there is a way to Transit there as well. I did this with my friends a few years back, and although it took nearly half the day, it was well worth it for the fun we had when we got there. The water park also has hot tubs located across the property, so if you get cold or even if it’s raining, you are able to warm up between rides or just relax with your friends. They also sell food on site. Although it is a little bit overpriced, there are a few restaurants and shops in the area that you can go to before or after your visit to the water park. Additionally, across the street from the water park is the amusement park, which includes roller coasters, water bumper cars, and mini golf. Not far from there is the beach which, although can get packed sometimes, has a beautiful dock coupled with a fantastic view that might be more your speed if you’re into a more natural swimming experience.

 

 On the topic of beaches, Vancouver has plenty of different beaches for you to visit with my personal favorite being Second Beach, located at Stanley Park. Although English Bay is the most popular and has a fantastic view, if you walk down the seawall at Stanley Park you’ll find First, Second, and Third Beach, which provide more escapism from the city and is a great place to watch the sun set on a cool summer night. If you head over to Port Moody, they have White Pine Beach which is another fan favorite. It’s a little further out from the city and provides more seclusion, although it has been picking up in popularity over the last several years and it may be hard to find a place in the sand to park your items. If you’re feeling really bougie, you could head over to Kitsilano Beach where you’ve got a fantastic view of a big tanker way out in the water. In all seriousness, Kits is a nice beach with some surrounding restaurants for a perfect sunbathing and stomach satiating day.

 

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 If you’re into sports, the White Caps and the BC Lions season begins in the summer with both clubs playing at BC Place Stadium, one of the nicer stadiums in both leagues as it was renovated just back in 2010 for the Olympics. The roof comes off if it’s a nice day out, allowing for a traditional Stadium experience. Tickets for both Whitecaps and Lions games are relatively cheap as the stadium seats upwards of 50,000 people and is never hard to get tickets, although like many of the activities provided here the food is a little pricey, so I would recommend eating before or after you catch the game.

 

Any guesses with the final activity on this list is? Well if you guessed mini golf, you are correct! If mini golf had its own PGA Tour, you could hold it in Vancouver alone with so many different places to play and cool gimmicks. Vancouver is, no doubt, a mini golf hub of the world and, although I would love to gatekeep some of these mini golf places to myself, it’s only fair that I clue you in to a few of the best spots around town. Starting off with West Coast Mini Putt located in Richmond. It has a neon glow-in-the-dark theme with the fun, TikTok hole-in-the-wall vibe, where you win prizes depending on your score and can even get your picture on the wall if you get a hole in one along with a free game. While you’re visiting, there’s also other activities such as billiards or pool if mini golf isn’t enough to draw you in. Now, this is one of the more pricey mini golf places out there. However, I can say with confidence that it is well worth the experience you get. Another great spot is Castle Fun Park, with a fun outdoor mini golf course overlooking the farmlands of Chilliwack. Castle Fun Park is a great place to unwind and putt some balls. Additionally, although the most basic of the places mentioned, Eagle Quest is always a go-to if you’re looking to play some golf. With a driving range and Mini Golf two-in-one, it’s easy to spend a few hours there and lose track of time while having  fun with some friends.

 

 These are just a few of the many activities that Vancouver has to offer this coming summer. Whether you’re an indoor or outdoor person, there’s more than enough to go around for everybody, and things for all ages to enjoy. What’s your favorite thing to do in Vancouver? What are you most looking forward to doing this summer? Is there anything that I left off this list?

Top 5 Things To Do on A Rainy Day

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We’ve all experienced a rainy day right? Where all you want to do is go out and play some ball hockey with friends? No? Just me? The point is sometimes the rain keeps us inside and what is there to do when you’re bored and don’t want to go outside and get soaked. Of course there’s the obvious answer like Netflix or video games, but what about something that’s not going to rot your brain. Well today I’ll be answering that question with my top five things to do on a rainy day that don’t involve using your personal devices. 

 

At number five is going to the movies.  I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like this. I mean what’s better than watching a movie on the big screen with theater style popcorn buttered to perfection and a drink machine ready to dispense all your favorite sodas. Did I mention the chocolate snacks? I can sit in the movies for hours on end without getting bored. If you’re feeling really scandalous you could even theatre hop when your first movie is done, and sneak into a second one. But that’s only for the bravest of the brave. I mean seriously my mouth waters at the thought of the popcorn. The only downside to this activity is if there are no good movies on, it might not be the best activity for you or if you have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. It’s also worth mentioning to make sure that you go to a theater with comfortable seats that are cushiony and recline like at Landmark. The seats themselves can make or break the movie watching experience and can take it from a two out of ten to a solid eight.

 

Next up on the list is baking. Now, this may seem like a cliche thing to do on a rainy day. However, there’s no better time than when the weather’s poor and you don’t have to worry about overheating in the kitchen. I can think back to some of my youngest memories with my grandma where we would bake on a Saturday morning with the rain drumming against the windows, and those memories have stuck with me into my adult life. Not to mention the delayed gratification of a sweet treat when you’re done because, come on, who doesn’t like brownies? It’s also a simple and relatively cheap thing to do and can even be something to do on the side while you complete other tasks or activities. Whether it’s brownies, cake, or even a loaf of bread. Baking is a perfect rainy day activity for you and your friends or family. 

 

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Now for this next one, I’m not condoning this… or am I? But prank calls. When I was younger, when me and my friends would get bored, we’d pick up the phone and we’d start prank calling people that we know and even sometimes just random numbers. When a stranger would answer the phone, we would sing to them or act like we’ve known them for our whole lives. One time, we played a game where we’d both prank call different numbers and compete to see which stranger we could keep on the line for the longest and whoever did it for the longest won the game. Again, not condoning this but a prank call does work for finding entertainment on a rainy day, even if it is a little old fashioned.

 

This next one is a personal favorite of mine, making something from scratch like pasta or pizza. Now I know what you’re thinking, why do you have to wait for a rainy day to make pasta or pizza from scratch? Well, you don’t. But if you’ve ever done it, you know what I’m talking about. It just hits differently, rolling out your own pizza dough, spreading the pizza sauce from the small canisters you get from the grocery store, using a spoon, and placing the individual slice of pepperoni on that pizza. Sprinkle it with some mozzarella. Yummy to my tummy. Alternatively, if it’s pasta, grating that cheese, mixing it in for a homemade alfredo sauce; there’s nothing like it. Cut up some chicken and throw it in, and voila! You got little Italy right from home in your own kitchen while it’s pouring outside.

 

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Finally, the last activity on this list is playing a board game. No, playing board games is not lame. However, it could be considered a little retro with all of today’s modern technology. Playing board games has seemingly become a thing of the past. More often than not, when we’re bored indoors we’ll sit and watch a show on Netflix, or even just scroll social media on our phones. But I’m here to tell you to not sleep on board games. Gather a group of friends, play Monopoly, assign one as the banker. I’m telling you there’s nothing like the rush of landing on a boardwalk, putting your first hotel on Oriental Ave, and stealing all your friends’ money. The glory of winning a Monopoly game is second to none. On the contrary, maybe you’re an aspiring doctor. How about Operation? Many of these board games have so many variants of them as well, so it helps break the repetitive nature of the games. If we’re talking about the greatest board game to play on a rainy day though, we’re talking Risk. Conquering the world from the comfort of your living room is something that people like Donald Trump could only dream of. Or maybe board games aren’t your style. Bust open a deck of cards and you can play poker like the pros or play a fun, relaxing game like Go Fish or Crazy Eights. And if you really want to get competitive, there’s no game in the world that breaks more friendships than a tense game of Uno.  And that’s only a few. There are countless amounts of board games in the world and I’m sure there’s one for you and your friends.

 

As a society, we’ve now become mindless robots and zombies that just scroll our devices when the weather gets too ugly to go outside. But there’s so much more to do, whether it’s baking cookies, making dinner,  playing a board game or even going out to the movies. There are endless activities for your friends and family to take part in to quench that thirst for entertainment when the sun doesn’t want to shine.W hat are some of your rainy day activities? Do you look for different ways to entertain yourself or does the phone suffice until the rain goes away and the sun comes back out?

The Leafs Should Target These Players

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As the March 7th NHL trade deadline approaches teams are scrambling to get their roster and finances in order to make a big splash to help give their team the edge heading into the playoffs this April. Most of such teams are cup contenders, one of which being the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have time and time again had trouble in the playoffs having won just one singular playoff series since 2004 and having lost more game seven’s than I can count on my hands. That’s not a joke. Toronto should be more active than most, as they need desperately to get back in the April win column. With them being one of my favourite teams I figured now is as good of a time as ever to take a look and who they should and who I’d like them to acquire heading into this year’s trade deadline.

 

There have been several interesting names revolving around Toronto media as potential trade candidates. One of the most notable being Nashville’s Ryan O’Rielly. This wouldn’t be his first stint with the Leafs either as he was previously acquired by the club at the 2023 trade deadline. He was an absolute unit for the team in the playoffs scoring clutch goals and making his presence known on the defensive side as well. He also led the Blues to their Stanley Cup back in 2019 and has shown he can step to the plate on the biggest stages. Some of modern day Leafs fans best memories were him in the blue and white and it would be straight electricity to see him back in Toronto. He would also suit what Toronto needs as a dynamic third line center that can shuffle in and out of the top six while being a bona fide top six guy.

 

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Another name That intrigues me is Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins. with an expiring contract and Boston sitting below the playoff line they could be looking to move him. He would be an absolute dream acquisition as he’s a player that you hate to play against but would love for him to be on your team. After having torched the Maple Leafs for the better part of a decade it would be really nice to be on the other end of his Antics and I’m sure the players would agree. However I don’t see Boston parting ways with their winger anytime soon as he is the captain and he’s been a part of the roster since breaking into the league. Additionally he brings an element that suits the Maple Leafs identity playing a hard-nosed style with a scoring touch. Perfect right?

 

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Now this one might be a reach but how good would Miko Rantanen look in a Maple Leaf jersey. The Finish Winger has been among the league’s best since breaking in and is one of the top superstars in the NHL. However, I don’t see Carolina parting ways with him anytime soon as they did just trade for him and gave up one of their top young talents in Martin Necas. The only way I can see a deal getting done between the two clubs would be if Mitch Marner was involved and that could be a high risk high reward move for Toronto. Although it could help the Leafs as this core has proven to not be able to get it done come postseason. Moreover one of the stalling factors in the Marner contract for the Leafs is the salary. Rantanen has been said to be looking for upwards of 14 million per season which could come in at a higher cap hit than Marner on an extension. All in all a Rantanen  trade wouldn’t make much sense for either club, but let me have my fun.  

 

Next up Riley Smith would be a phenomenal depth piece for the Leafs. The former Golden Knight has won a championship and knows what it takes come playoffs and at this point that seems to be just what Toronto needs. Veterans that know how to win in the playoffs. The club already has so much talent that it would be unlikely for Smith to get a top six role however having a player like him to shift up and down the middle six would be a major asset for a team looking to finally get over the hump.  He also brings speed that Toronto has been lacking over the past few seasons with the departures of some of their better skaters like Tyler Bertuzzi and Zach Hyman. Ultimately Toronto’s in a position where they have a good problem to deal with and only needing bottom six talent to bolster their roster. 

 

Another sweet Center add for the Leafs would be Ryan O’Rielly’s former Blues teammate Braden Schenn. Schenn is a perfect number three center that on the Leafs would likely be seeing third line time. He brings grit, tenacity and a scoring touch to his game and like O’Reilly, he’s another player that has proven that he knows how to get it done in the playoffs having won the cup together in 2019 on the Blues. Also how epic would it be to have Brayden Schenn, brother of former Leaf Luke Schenn on the team over 10 years later. Similarly to Riley Smith his leadership qualities are intangibles in this league as he is the current captain of St Louis. The aging center is also extremely responsible defensively and would be a great addition for Toronto if  general manager Brad tree living is willing to pull the trigger on a big trade.

 

The last player on this list is Brock Boeser. His name has been swirling around in trade rumors for Vancouver for what seems like years now and in recent days it’s been said that Toronto has interest and has kicked tires on what a potential trade for the winger would look like. Depending on the asking price from Vancouver this could be an interesting addition for Toronto as he could complete a second line alongside Tavares and one of Nylander or Marner. He brings a goal scoring touch that we’ve seen begin to fade from the aging Tavares and is a proven playoff performer. With the potential  departure of Mitch Marner this coming summer, although he’s not a straight replacement, Boeser could help  fill a hole in a worst case scenario.

 

 Expect the Leafs to be busy on Deadline day as they have hot competition in the Atlantic with Florida just picking up Seth Jones the other day and Tampa on a heater. Toronto is going to need all the help they can get as they head into April where they will likely face the Lightning in round 1. Do you think this is the year that Toronto finally gets over the hump? Who do you think they should add at this year’s NHL trade deadline?

Top 5 Current NHL Goalies

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Goaltending in the NHL is one of the hardest yet interesting positions there is. A goalie can make or break a game for a team on any given night with a stellar performance or on the other hand a lackluster one. We’ve seen goalies win a playoff series for their team and we’ve seen them let their club down. It’s a difficult mental game between the pipes, knowing that the game or even season can be depending on you. Goalies should be praised for their ability to block out noise and distractions on and off the ice and play their position to the fullest. There are only a handful per team after all and only about one percent of hockey players ever get to play the position, mostly due to cost. Damn you sportchek 600 dollar pads, I’m still not over it. Today we’re going to be looking at the top five goaltenders in the NHL this season.

 

This list is based upon how each goalie has performed this season and what support that they’ve had with the team in front of them. In the number five spot this season is Mackenzie Blackwood. Once a very highly touted New Jersey prospect he backstopped them through some of their toughest times in recent history when he was having more own goals scored on him than the opposition. He was eventually traded to San Jose where he was thrown into an even worse situation on the bottom feeding Sharks. Despite the poor play of the Sharks over the last several years Blackwood remained quite solid for the team providing them with an opportunity to win on any given night. Earlier this season he was traded to Colorado where for the first time in his career he has an opportunity to play behind a decent roster and show what he can do in a good environment. Show us he has, having one of the top save percentages in the NHL after having started the campaign on the Sharks and has only been picking up his play as the season has gone on. Colorado as of the making of this is running a hot streak and I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if Blackwood helps propel the Avs to a deep playoff run this April. 

 

In the number four spot coming off a great 4 Nations Faceoff performance for Sweden and the current Minnesota Wild netminder: Filip Gustavsson. He has been an absolute wall for the Wild this season with a better than average .914 save percentage this season. The Wild came out the gates this season 0 to 60, while having slowed down since, he has remained consistent between the pipes and will no doubt help Minnesota be a difficult team to take down in the playoffs.  He’s still young and somewhat lacking the recognition he deserves. Keep an eye out for Gustavsson over the next few years. He’s a big guy that takes up a lot of net, is athletic and is a name to watch for future Vezina races.

 

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In third place seemingly coming out of nowhere is Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord. The Seattle goalie has been a dominant force in the AHL over the last several years putting up far above average numbers and has finally broken out and found his game at the NHL level this season. What’s so impressive about Daccord is that he’s putting up a .911 save percentage on what’s been an unhinged Seattle team. All season he’s kept his team in games and made big saves when needed. If it weren’t for the abundance of American goaltenders and the prior pedigree they possess he would no doubt have been a lock for the United States at the 4 Nations tournament this past February. He stole the starting job early into this season from Phillip Grubauer and he’s aging into his prime and could be a big name to watch for trades to a contender next season.

 

At number two I’m sure to nobody’s surprise is “the big cat” Andrei Vasilevsky. The Russian netminder has dominated the position for almost a decade now, having some of the best numbers every season since breaking into the league. He has won a Vezina trophy for top goaltender in the league while being a finalist several other times. Vasy led the NHL in wins for five consecutive seasons, one of which was the year he won his second of back to back Stanley Cups and the 2021 Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. If it weren’t for the Russian International hockey ban, he would be backstopping them now and for years to come. Vasilevsky is without a doubt a future hall of famer and is an extremely close second to the top goaltender in the NHL today.

 

The best goaltender in the NHL today is Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. The American born goaltender has been a winner at every level and now at the NHL, only the Stanley Cup (a team award) evades him. Hellebuyck was a phenomenal college goaltender for UMass in the NCAA and made the jump quite seamlessly to the NHL level. Having won two vezina trophies along with the  Jennings at just age 31, Hellebuyck has been the most dominant goaltender of the 2020’s. He has been a brick wall for the Jets franchise through the regular season whether they;ve been good or bad he has remained consistent. He is by far the front runner for this year’s Vezina and was the starting goalie for Team USA at this year’s 4 Nations tournament. There’s only one little catch with Hellebuyck and that’s his playoff record. Over the past two seasons he has put up a well below average save percentage in Wionnipeg’s first round exits. Both Vegas and Colorado defeated the Jets without much difficulty due to Hellebuyck failing to match pressure with pressure when it matters the most. With how dominant Winnipeg has been this regular season, it’s pointless to dwell too hard on what could or couldn’t happen in the Jet’s net come April and assume that he’ll hit the postseason in form.

 

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Once again this is based solely off of this season and how good these goaltenders have been this season. Just because these five have been excellent during the season, doesn’t mean they can carry this level of play into the playoffs. Maybe someone like Stolarz of Toronto will steal a round for the Leafs and write his name into this year’s top five NHL goaltenders. Is there anybody that you would put on this list? Granted the stats do not tell the whole story of a goaltender. It’s tough playing a position where you’re banished behind the rest of the roster. It’s difficult and takes a lot of trust to depend on your skaters to not hang you out to dry. Did anybody on this list surprise you? I know I surprised myself with some of the names on this list.

Your 2025 Stanley Cup Winner

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For hockey players Summer lasts forever, at least for most. So when September rolls around and training camp gets underway the energy in the air is tangible. This goes for fans as well, the excitement of seeing your team’s newest acquisition is enough to supplement for… nevermind. You get the point though, September is the start of the hockey season and so comes the daydreams about where your team will be come June. Will they finally reach the top of the mountain and win the coveted Stanley Cup or will reality set in about how the year will look after the first five games. In any given season there are about four to seven realistic candidates to win that year’s Stanley Cup with two usually ahead of the pack. Today we’re looking at some of the front runners for this year’s Stanley Cup and who I ultimately think will raise the silver.

 

For organizational purposes I’ll be splitting these contenders up into A tier and B tier contenders but do keep in mind that any one of these teams, if hot at the right time could be the one to win it all. In the B tier is; Winnipeg, Washington, Toronto and Edmonton. In the A tier we have; Dallas and Florida. Starting with the B tier I’ll be focusing first on the Winnipeg Jets. If you’ve been following the standings this year you’ll see that the Jets sit atop the league and you’re probably asking; Why are they in the B tier if they have such a big lead for first. Well the simple answer is that it’s important not to read too deep into regular season standings. Aside from the usual injuries and cold streaks that can contribute to a teams rise or fall in the standings the pressure of the playoffs is a whole nother puck game. See what I did there? Playoff history matters greatly for a team when trying to predict their success as well as individual players’ playoff history. Justin Williams is a good example. Back in 2019 when the Hurricanes made it back into the playoffs they were severe underdogs against the reigning champ Washington Capitals, but they had an ace up their sleeve: Justin Williams. Dubbed Mister Game Seven, Williams always showed up and showed out in the playoffs for every team he played on. Even in the later years of his career he would always turn it up to another level come postseason. Additionally the Winnipeg Jets have had little success in the playoffs aside from a third round run back in 2018 nearly seven years ago. Hellebuyck has continuously had phenomenal regular seasons coupled with atrocious playoff series. I like to go off what I’ve seen when it comes to the playoffs and in short, I just don’t think Winnipeg has the experience or the history to make me believe that this club could go much further than round two.

 

Washington sits in a similar boat with Winnipeg as they are far and away the leaders in the Eastern Conference, yet I’m not buying into a deep playoff run. It’s not like they haven’t done it in somewhat recent history either, of course winning the 2018 Stanley Cup. Ovechkin has found a resurgence and the team is seemingly firing on all cylinders. So where does my hesitation stem from? Simply lack of experience. Aside from veterans Carlsson and Ovi, this is a relatively new look Caps team. It’s also a young team. I see Washoington as a team that can win a series or two and isn’t far off from being back as an A-tier contender, but just not this season.

 

 Next of the B-tier contenders is my favourite the Toronto Maple Leafs and no I don’t mean my cup favourite. The Leafs are one of the most peculiar cases on this list as for several years now they have been in this B-tier yet have just one series win under their belt. They’re always a serious contender, and still it’s difficult to take them seriously. If you looked at this roster on any other club it would be one of the scariest across the league with a backend consisting of Tanev, Carlo, McCabe playing for forwards Matthews, Marner, and Nylander. This in theory is a scary team to compete with. Call it a curse, call it lack of heart, this Leafs core has time and time again shown that they don’t have what it takes to get it done as they begin to age into their 30’s.  It feels like any year could be the one they break through and go all the way but until I see it, I no longer believe it. Toronto will not be your 2025 Stanley Cup Champions.

 

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The last of the B-tier contenders is the Edmonton Oilers. Last year’s Stanley Cup runner up has the best player in the world along with another top 5 player, this alone gives the club a boost. The team all around is relatively deep and they have a decently constructed roster. The team speaks for itself and the only reason that Edmonton sits in the B-tier is that the two remaining teams are just too good for the rest.

 

Our first team in the A-tier is the reigning champions the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have continued to get better acquiring highly touted defenseman Seth Jones prior to the deadline before picking up backup goalie Vitek Vanecek and forward Brad Marchand from Boston. My only hesitation with Florida is the injury to Matthew Tkachuck. He may be out into the playoffs with a lower body injury, however the addition of Marchand should be enough to fill the gap. All in all when you look at Florida they are the scariest, nastiest, and meanest team in the league and have somehow found a way to improve their roster after winning a Stanley Cup. Anything other than a finals appearance would be falling short for this club and don’t be surprised to see another Florida parade.

 

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Finally my favourite to be your 2025 Stanley Cup champion: the Dallas Stars. The Stars are such a good team top to bottom they have a star defenceman in Miro Heiskanen, a star goalie in Jake Oettinger, and now a star forward in MIKKO FRICKEN RANTANEN. The stars are a wagon with young superstars at every position. When players like Roberton, Johnson, and Lyndell are considered your “depth” you’re in a pretty damn good position. Dallas has shown they can go on deep playoff runs, having made it to round 3 or 4 often for half a decade now. Dallas is the team to beat in the west and will ultimately win this year’s Stanley Cup.

 

It’s an exciting time of year with the trade deadline having just passed and the playoffs under 20 games away. Any team that gets hot at the right time has a fighting chance, maybe even one of the teams you least expect it from. Vancouver hello?? Who do you think will win this year’s Stanley Cup Championship?

 

Top 5 Current NHL Centers

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The Center is arguably the most crucial position in all of hockey. Most on-ice traffic flows through them and each play begins with a faceoff. When you think of the greats like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemiuex, Messier, what they all have in common is that they were centers. It is the cornerstone for building a championship team. Today we’re going to be looking at my top five centers playing in the NHL today.

 

Because of how similar most people’s lists would be and in an attempt to be less redundant I’m going to be showing off my counting skills from one to five because of the variety factor the further we move up the list and definitely not because I want to show you I can count. Starting with the number one center in the NHL, of course it is Connor McDavid. Do I really need to sell you on this? McDavid’s resume speaks for itself. The man has won at every level excluding a Stanley Cup and he has done so in dominating fashion. The man is a three time Hart Memorial trophy winner for league MVP, a five time Art Ross winner for leading the league in points, a Maurice Richard winner for the most goals in a season, a four time Ted Lindsay winner voted as the most outstanding player as well as a Conn Smythe winner having not even won the Stanley Cup! What I’m getting at is the guy is inhuman and must be from another planet because absolutely nobody can touch him.. He is miles better than the second best and it really is a wonderful time to be a hockey fan getting to watch someone with this level of skill compete night in and night out.  He just turned 28 years old and is in the midst of his prime, however good we think he is, it’s safe to assume that he’ll still only get even better.

 

At number two, no it’s not McDavid’s Oiler counterpart, we’re talking about Nathan MacKinnon. NateDog has shown that he really does have that dog in him over the last couple of seasons. Since being drafted first overall in 2013 he has consistently been a great player, and only got better in the 2018 season where he put up over 90 points. Mackinnon is in the heat of his prime turning 30 later this year and is coming off a career best 140 point season! He’s shown that he can get it done at the top level having just won the 4 Nations faceoff earlier this month where he was named tournament MVP in addition to his 2022 Stanley Cup victory. Nate Mac also finally got his individual awards last season winning MVP along with being voted as the most outstanding player by the NHLPA. He still has good years ahead of him and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him win another MVP potentially with another cup if all goes right for him.

 

At number three is another Oilers forward in Leon Draisaitl. The German center has already established himself as the greatest German born hockey player of all time and he’s still getting better. Playing alongside Connor McDavid, Leon has already posted four 100 plus point seasons and is currently on pace to add a fifth to his resume while he leads the NHL in goals by a sizable margin. He swept the 2020 awards walking away with the scoring title, MVP and most outstanding player in the season cut short by Covid and is still at the peak of his game. One of the only things to elude him so far aside from a Stanley Cup is International success. Unfortunately Germany is still considered a developing hockey nation and although he’s had the honour of representing his homeland at smaller competitions like the world championship he is unlikely to ever win any substantial International competitions. The Stanley Cup on the other hand? Well let’s see where he’s at this coming May. 

 

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Coming in at number four having dropped a few spots from where he may have been in previous years is Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs forward has been a generational goal scorer since entering the league back in September 2016 and currently sits at fifth all time in goals per game ahead of a name like Alex Ovechkin. Papi scored 40 goals in his rookie season and has never looked back having never scored less than 30 goals in a season and that number would be 40 if it weren’t for injury problems. Matthews was scoring at a generational rate since his first game where he became the first player in NHL history to have a four goal debut. More than that he did it in just two periods. Matthews just last year scored 69 goals on the season, the most of the past two eras and that’s not even his first 60 goal season. He recently took sole possession for second in goals all time for the Maple Leafs franchise and by the finale of his career will be well ahead for first. Additionally Matthews is a two way beast and is renowned league wide for his ability to defend in his own end and transition the puck up ice. At 6’ 3, 215 pounds he’s a big body that can throw his weight around to go with the skill he brings on a nightly basis. Although he hasn’t found playoff success it’s safe to assume that it will come sooner rather than later. 

 

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The last player on this list at number 5 is the man who captained team Finland just last week, Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers captain has been one of the most elite two way centers of his era and feathered his cap this past summer with a Stanley Cup. Drafted second overall behind MacKinnon in 2013, Barkov has been the one bright spot for Florida through good and bad times over the last decade.  He is a consistent over point per game number one center while manning the cat’s PK, and being an unstoppable stick in the defensive zone. He has been recognized for his defensive ability having won the Selke for best defensive forward two times in his career, one of which being last season. As he also is in the heat of his prime he has a decent chance of gaining a second cup under his belt this season in hopes of going back to back. 

 

The top five centers in the NHL usually are pretty locked in as the same on any given year however the order in which they’re placed is often subject to change. Is there anyone that you think should have made the top five? How different do you think this list will look by the end of next season?

This is The NHL’s Toxic Relationship

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We’ve all had a toxic relationship at some point whether it’s been with a friend, family member, or significant other. I know I sure have. But what about when two NHL teams have such a bizarre back and forth every time they meet that it becomes an entire league’s toxic relationship. Today we’re looking at the confusing, strange, and nasty history between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

 

The Hurricanes were relocated in the summer of 1997 from Hartford Connecticut and although having a Stanley Cup from 2006 under their belt (no not literally under their belt) they have had a rather lackluster history since the relocation. They spent the better part of a decade hovering around the playoff line along with the Maple Leafs where they would often play important games against each other looking for that final Eastern playoff spot. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary between these teams however, that was until they both got good again at the same time. On December 23rd 2019 the Hurricanes and Leafs met in an afternoon faceoff for Toronto’s annual Next Generation game, and right off puck drop it was obvious that there was weirdness in the air. Toronto jumped out to an early lead just 30 seconds in from a goal by Jason Spezza before extending the lead to 3-0 by five minutes into the game. Carolina would score two before the end of the first resulting in a five goal first period and this was just the beginning. Late in the second frame, Carolina would have a three goal flurry in just over a minute for five straight tallies and would take a five goal lead heading into the third. To open the third Matthews got one back for Toronto before the Canes took it back regaining the two goal lead, up 6-4. This is where the game gets even more nuts where at 11:01 into the third Marner buries a shot off a beautiful spin-o-rama pass from Matthews cutting the lead to 1. Just 53 seconds later Barrie would tie the game for toronto off a sweet dish from Marner, and just like that we have the oh so rare 6-6 game. If that wasn’t crazy enough, off the faceoff following the goal Marner stripped the puck off former teammate JVR’s brother Trevor Van Riemsdyk and buried it, regaining the Leaf lead 7-6. Blatant disregard for the bro code from Marner, you don’t do a buddies brother like that. Two goals in 11 seconds was enough to get the Toronto crowd on their feet and propel the team to victory with an eventual empty net goal from Pierre Engvall for an 8-6 Leafs final. But wait… it gets better.

 

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Almost two months to the day later on February 22nd 2020 the Leafs and Hurricanes would meet yet again in Toronto where more on ice madness would occur. Just three minutes into this one with Matthews circling the net puck on stick, Zach Hyman would crash Hurricanes defender Jaccob Slavin into his own goalie. Reimer would be slow to get up and leave the game, Peter Mrazek would come in relief and the game would continue. With the Hurricanes up 3-1 in the second period a second tragedy would strike as now backup Peter Mrazek had fallen to injury, leaving emergency backup David Ayres to man the net for Carolina. Ayres worked as Toronto’s minor league affiliate, the Marlies zamboni driver and came to the game with a Maple Leafs shirt on. Getting on the ice was the last thing he expected on this night. Sadly despite screaming from my living room for it to be me, the Canes still went with Ayres. The 42 year old now NHL goalie came out sporting a Marlies mask and pads, ironically wearing his now opposing team’s colours. After being granted a short warm up the game was under way and on a Carolina power play the puck would be dumped into Hurricane ice where Ayres would start the play sending it around the boards for an activating defenseman. The play would go up the ice resulting in a Hurricane goal, going up 4-1 in the second period and granting the Ebug a memory he surely wouldn’t forget. Reality began to set in when the Leafs finally entered the zone and Tavares off a rather weak wrister from the point buried it to bring Toronto within two. Just minutes later off a shot that was blocked by bodies in front, Pierre Engvall would finish a rebound making it a 4-3 game heading into the third. Ayres began to settle in at the start of the third, with lots of help from his teammates minimizing Toronto shots on net. The Canes would go out and score a few more for their emergency goalie and this time around would take the game with a 6-3 final. Ayres deservingly received first star and so started the meme that Toronto couldn’t beat their own zamboni driver.

 

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Aside from regularly high scoring affairs between the teams not much was too out of the norm when they would clash, until this February. Five years to the day from David Ayres wacky adventures Toronto and Carolina would meet again last night for the first showdown since the 4 Nations conclusion. Toronto jumped out to an early 4-0 first period lead and locked the game down, slowing the pace in what seemed like another uneventful game between the two, leaving the epic clashes of past days, well just there… in the past. Seemingly sparked by the words of Chris Cuthbert who referred to the Fins late flurry against Canada just minutes prior, the Hurricanes finally got one on the board cutting the lead to three. Minutes later Svechnikov would score followed by a Jaccob Slavin goal off a bizarre bounce seconds later and just like that it was a 4-3 game with a little under five minutes to go. Although the Hurricanes gave a strong push at the end, Toronto managed to hold down the fort long enough for Auston Matthews to seal the game with an empty net goal putting him at second all time in goals for the Maple Leafs franchise. Toronto would bury another insurance marker before the finale as the Leafs would take the game 6-3 in yet another barn burner between the two clubs.

 

The recent wild track meets between the teams get even more peculiar when you realize that there is a lot of roster overlap between the clubs. The teams have taken on players from both sides, with Carolina goaltender Freddie Andersen now having been on both sides of this smorgasbord rivalry. With the craziness seemingly having been resparked be on the lookout of what could happen next time the two meet and if this toxic relationship will ever really be put to bed.

Passing of The Canadian Torch

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With the 4 Nations Faceoff now done and in the books we can look back in almost realtime at how the torch has been passed in Canadian hockey history from Sidney Crosby to the next generation that will be led by Connor McDavid. The Oilers franchise player is the current frontrunner to captain team Canada at the Olympics next year in Milan, Italy and going into this tournament we were all aware that this was likely Crosby’s last time leading what was truly in every sense of it’s meaning an unstoppable generation of Canadian hockey.

 

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The Canadians led by Crosby seldomly ever lost in best on best competition since he took leadership of the men’s hockey team in 2010. In 15 years as captain of the team the Canadians have lost a total of three games all of which were to the Americans, yet none of them were in meaningful games. Whenever Canada has matched the US in a game with stakes Canada has come out on top; the 2010 Olympic gold medal game, and the 2025 4 Nations Face Off final. Canada has backed up their claims of ice hockey being their sport and that is in big part thanks to Sidney Crosby who has held the torch and locked the fort down for Canada for a decade and a half. Despite the widespread consensus being that McDavid is likely to take the leadership going forward, the two really had a passing of the torch official type moment in this past tournament, where like Connor’s predecessor did 15 years ago, he too scored a “golden goal” for Canada winning them the 4 Nations and if there was any doubt cementing what should be a McDavid led Canada team this coming year.

 

However McDavid shouldn’t just be the captain because of his name and him scoring the golden goal. No no no, there is so much more as to why he’s the man to lead Canada going forward. Firstly he has proven time and time again that when he steps onto the ice he IS the most electrifying player on the planet. His speed and skill is absolutely game breaking and unparalleled to anything ever seen in the sport before. He is exceptional at stepping to the plate when he’s needed most, even having gone to the Stanley Cup final and almost pulling off the biggest upset in final history this past June. He possesses a long list of accolades including multiple MVP’s and Art Ross trophies along with Ted Lindsay for his exceptional play. His leadership ability goes beyond all this though. Playing for the Oilers he’s no stranger to the high pressure atmosphere, and has captained the Oilers since he was 19 years old when he was named the youngest captain in NHL history. He better than anyone knows what it’s like to be on the biggest stages and have a magnifying glass pointed at his play. 

 

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Similar to his predecessor, McDavid also elevates the play of those around him. There are several fantastic players in the NHL but not all of them have the ability to truly raise and elevate their teammates the way that Sid and Connor do. His relentless work ethic and dedication to the game is few and far between even among the NHL’s best and it’s exactly what you’re looking for to lead International hockey’s most storied team. It’s also worth noting that this past tournament was far from McDavid’s first time playing at the International level, having captained team North America up against Canada at the 2016 World Cup of hockey. Additionally he played for Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championships after a long line of experience playing for the under World Junior club. Time and time again Connor has shown that he has what it takes to not only take the reins from Crosby at the International level and even build off what’s already been done for Canada in these competitions. 

 

McDavid has been constantly praised by hockey’s best players around him.. Following the 4 Nations both Crosby and MacKinnon had nothing but great things to say about the generational talent, stating “he does so much for this team and this league” before going on to talk about how humble and great of a leader he truly is.  He’s been known to be an excellent teammate having oftentimes been told that he’s the best player that most have ever played with. Teammates of both past and present  have also gone on to say that he leads by example, he doesn’t take games or nights off and is always putting in maximum effort whether it’s for a game or even practice. Hockey is what Connor lives and breathes. Off the ice he’s just as good of a person having been widely acknowledged as a global ambassador for hockey and his never ending involvement with different charity organizations and community projects. This is not just the kind of player but person that Canada needs following in the footsteps of one of the best role models the sport has ever seen in Sidney Crosby. The two parallel in many ways to the point that it’s almost uncanny. The way they carry themselves in the media are extremely similar, never showing too much personality one way or another while having almost nobody with anything bad to say about the two. They both went first overall teen years apart and were similar numbers. Both were deemed the one to save their franchise from turmoil succeeding Gretzky and Lemieux as the next great in franchise history.

 

The honour of being a nation’s captain comes down to so much more than just who has the most talent. It’s about which players embody the spirit of their country, and who is willing to leave it all out on the ice and bleed their countries’ colours. Hopefully not literally. Canada will be naming McDavid captain because not only is he the greatest, but he embodies what Canadian hockey is all about. He exemplifies qualities of dominance, sportsmanship, relentlessness, even unity. McDavid bears it all on the ice for whatever team he is playing for and you know he’ll do it ten fold when he puts the maple leaf on next year and goes out to capture gold for Canada with the C on his chest.