FTB: Maple Leafs getting ready for a long road trip

It was a close one, but the Maple Leafs managed to pull off a win against the Senators last night.

Related

Recap: Leafs beat the Senators 5-4 in a weird, sloppy game

Tonight will be one of the busiest nights on the NHL calendar, with 28 teams playing, but the Leafs will not be one of them. Instead, they will start preparing for a six game road trip which begins Saturday in Montreal, then moves to New York on Sunday, and then makes a long tour of the US South-West.

ICYMI
Here’s what we wrote about yesterday.

Women’s Hockey: Angela James legacy, Black History Month - nafio and Annie
Other stories this week: the Beanpot and the NWHL All-Star Game

The Matthews contract is a team-friendly deal for the Maple Leafs - Katya
But it’s not a discount.

The problem with the Auston Matthews contract - Fulemin
I’m sure this will be one of my most beloved articles.

Marner, his Agent, the Star reporter and Twitter: one tangled web - Katya
On the heels of the Auston Matthews contract, the Star ran a story with some pretty hot quotes from Mitchell Marner’s agent. Then it got interesting.

Other News

LOL

Melnyk “reiterated that the Senators’ current rebuild is a blueprint on how to bring the Stanley Cup home to its rightful place in Ottawa.” 4/4

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 7, 2019

Gramma Dubas has some thoughts on OHL officiating.

It's time for the @ OHL Ontario Hockey League to have a good look at what they are sending out to try to officiate.The game tonight between the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds @OHLHoundPower and Sudbury Wolves was sad to watch what these two misfits were doing or not doing.

— Marietta Dubas (@grammadubie) February 7, 2019

Matthews’ new contract could be a step toward a better NHL - Raw Charge
Auston Matthews sets a new standard for star player contracts.

Predators Re-Acquire McLeod from Rangers - On the Forecheck
Cody McLeod has been one of the least effective skaters in the NHL this season by almost any metric.

Oduya to play in Thailand’s Siam Hockey League - Second City Hockey
Two-time Stanley Cup winner Johnny Oduya played in the Siam Hockey League during the last NHL lockout.

The Why of Wennberg - The Cannon
How does the slumping Alexander Wennberg compare to similar players by the stats?

If the Oilers are committed to Koskinen, why continue to start Talbot? - The Copper & Blue
The Oilers plan on starting Cam Talbot tomorrow in Minnesota.

Elias Lindholm for Selke - Matchsticks and Gasoline
Elias Lindholm might have a better case than you think.

No woman in hockey has won more than @wick_22: 5 Olympic gold medals, 7 #WomensWorlds with @HC_Women. And recently she was hired by the @MapleLeafs as assistant director of player development. Welcome to the IIHF Hall of Fame, Hayley Wickenheiser! https://t.co/JRqnY6JVHJ pic.twitter.com/rBLZJuWe5B

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 6, 2019