Most Maple Leafs fans I’ve talked to agree: if Nazem Kadri wasn’t wearing blue and white, we’d probably hate him the way we hate guys like Matthew Tkachuk*. In the wake of Tkachuk’s one-game suspension for the childish nonsense he pulled on Matt Martin, Kadri was asked about the aforementioned nonsense, and didn’t mince words:
You can still play on the edge and play on that fine line, but you can’t be stupid, and that was just stupid.
Also, shoutout to the Toronto Sun editors for their formatting of “stop doing stupid (stuff)”, as if we don’t all know exactly what word Kadri said between those brackets. At least this gives me the opportunity to call Matthew Tkachuk a (stuff)weasel, the sanitized journalist-y version of PPP’s usual nickname for him.
The Leafs play the Penguins tonight at 7pm on Hockey Night in Canada. Check back later this morning for a preview.
*Just to be clear, we do not hate him. Naz is great but flawed, like all good heroes. If you disagree, go rent a barn, Burkie-style.
ICYMI
Maple Leafs by the Numbers: #9 Duff, Conacher, or Ullman? - Pension Plan Puppets
Two cup winners, and one has a trophy case full of awards that didn’t exist when he played, and one guy from the 70’s.
Stuff We Didn’t Write
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Penguins defenseman Matt Hunwick isn't keeping tabs on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hunwick spent the past two seasons with the Leafs and played a big ...
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He may not have had as memorable — or as long — a tenure in Pittsburgh as some of the other departures this offseason, but there’s an argument that Ron Hainsey was one of the most valuable players on the Penguins’ roster during last year’s Stanley Cup run.
Quick Shifts: Leafs dad Patrick Marleau adopts Matthews, Marner - Sportsnet.ca
Please read this, for your own sake, if just for the quotes about euchre.
NHL salary cap to rise next season, projected to be between $78 million and $82 million | Toronto Star
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement this morning as the board of governors wrapped up two days of meetings in Florida.
NHL pursuing revolutionary player-tracking systems
I believe they should microchip players at the Combine and be done with it. (Note: I do not actually believe this)
Ottawa Senators alumni game roster announced - Silver Seven
Yes, Alexei Yashin will be making an appearance
Winners and Losers in Tom Dundon’s Purchase of the Carolina Hurricanes - Canes Country
With a new name going up on the corner office nameplate in the near future, whose stock is rising and falling?
Jordan Subban traded as P.K. and Malcolm Subban face each other for the first time in the NHL | TheColorOfHockey
Change has been good for two Subbans. Will it be good for a third?
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