Rodion Amirov and the Russian team are licking their wounds today after getting shutout by the Czechs. The Czech goalie put on a show and their team came back well from the 7-1 stomping at the hands of Sweden on Saturday.
The Czechs were helped out by some questionable decisions by the Russian players.
Having 4 players at the blue line and one guy at the net is an interesting strategy. I’m genuinely confused as to why you would do this...it’s so easy to defend. pic.twitter.com/P4bHR6teUG
— Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) December 28, 2020
Some good news is that we now have new pool photographer photos of Amirov. Yay! We don’t have to keep reusing that one single photo from a year ago.
There are no Leafs prospects playing today as both Russia and Finland have the day off, however there was one prospect on the move outside of the tournament.
Confirmed: Vladislav Kara (F) | Severstal Cherepovets -> Spartak Moskva | https://t.co/RCYMrHMtT7 #KHL
— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) December 27, 2020
ICYMI
Arvind and Fulemin released their latest episode of Back to Excited yesterday. They set the bar for a “successful Leafs season” and talk about the World Juniors so far.
Related
Back to Excited Episode 125: Preseason Ramblings
Other News
The Blues finally pulled the trigger and signed big name free agent Mike Hoffman to a... try-out contract?
Blues sign Hoffman to a professional tryout - St. Louis Game Time
Mike Hoffman will be with the team to start training camp next week.
This tweet explains what is going on.
It appears what the Blues are doing is waiting until the start of the season to sign Hoffman, which would allow them to wait to put Tarasenko and Steen on Long-Term Injury Reserve, allowing them to maximize their LTIR money. This points to Hoffman joining the Blues. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) December 28, 2020
The Senators did all kinds of things yesterday which amounted to shedding some bad contracts, and in return getting bodies that can actually play hockey to at least some degree.
Arizona Coyotes trade Derek Stepan to Ottawa - Five For Howling
The team acquired a second-round pick and cap space for the veteran center.
Stuetzle Signs ELC With Sens - Silver Seven
The Ottawa Senators have finally locked up their third overall selection from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, signing 18 year-old Tim Stuetzle to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Sens Add Coburn, Paquette, 2022 2nd From Bolts - Silver Seven
Deal sends Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson the other way.
For #Sens, they now get back a 2nd round pick they traded to ARI for Stepan yesterday.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 28, 2020
In other words, in 24 hrs: Sens acquired veteran depth help in Stepan, Paquette and Coburn for ... two players that weren’t going to play this season, now whom they won’t have to pay, either.
Braden Schneider earns one-game suspension - Blueshirt Banter
Schneider’s high hit costs him a game.
Penguins received nearly $5M in COVID loan money - PensBurgh
Reports say that the team is the only one of 123 "Big Four" professional sports teams to do so.
Gallant enjoying time off as he awaits next NHL coaching opportunity - CBC News
Eleven months after he was fired by the Golden Knights and with a new NHL season set to start next month, there’s still one thing missing from Gerard Gallant’s life — a coaching job.
Everyone is getting in on the neon green on black uniforms, even in Finland.
Our favorite thing on holidays?@jokerithc's Christmas jerseys. pic.twitter.com/T9Ks2Zfbwc
— KHL (@khl_eng) December 27, 2020
Brady Leavold: The Road to Recovery - The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated
Brady Leavold was flying high as a hockey player in more ways than one. His on-ice success masked a drug problem that took over his life and resulted in a decade-long spiral of addiction, prison and homelessness. This is his story.
