Hello gossip friends. Apologies for the lengthy absence – sometimes real life gets in the way of hockey entertainment, but what can ya do? Alas, we have returned, and just in time for teams all over the place to start clinching playoff spots, while Leafs fans watch in envy. There’s other stuff to discuss, too. Let’s do it.
Leafs Land
So, about that playoff spot:
#Leafs can become first team in the North to clinch a playoff spot tonight. https://t.co/mo7roKlcaM
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 28, 2021
Come on, Ottawa, help us out. (Yes, I know the Leafs have to win, too. Sigh.) We’ll see what happens tonight, won’t we?
Elsewhere in Leaf-land, Mark Fraser is trying to impact change from the inside:
Mark Fraser hadn’t really seen allyship in hockey until John Tavares & Maple Leafs wore “Black Lives Matter” shirts.
That gesture impacted Fraser in such a way that he is now working for MLSE about making that allyship more commonplace. https://t.co/6z7hogCrW2
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) April 27, 2021
Nick Foligno continues to settle in nicely as a new Leaf, already making an impact on and off the ice:
Nick Foligno finally got some practice time in with the #Leafs, and that’s helping him feel even better ahead of regular season stretch run: “I think we have a chance to do something special here”https://t.co/PwliBfyedZ
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 27, 2021
Nick Foligno on his first week with #Leafs:
“They’ve been fantastic. Just the staff, the players, they’ve just made me feel welcome. Great group in here so I’m having a lot of fun getting to know guys and it’s pretty obvious why they’ve had so much success this year.”
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 27, 2021
And it looks like the Leafs goalie depth might be getting a bit deeper, with a healthier Frederik Andersen practicing again:
good morning from ~four~ #leafs goaltenders: andersen, campbell, hutchinson and rittich pic.twitter.com/bAKVxQzzy8
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 27, 2021
And just a little beard news to round things off:
Alex Kerfoot says his bushy beard was inspired by Joe Thornton and that “it’s horrible” but he’s keeping it anyway:
“I figured, middle of a pandemic, with Jumbo on the team, there’s no better time to let it go but I’m never going back to it after going through this.”
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 26, 2021
*shrug emoji*
Habs Health
An update from Montreal, on the status of Jonathan Drouin:
Forward Jonathan Drouin will take an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.
He was placed on long-term injured reserve by the club. We ask everyone to respect his privacy. pic.twitter.com/bfy5F7afY6
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 28, 2021
Whatever the reason for his leave, we wish him well. Hopefully, following Jonathan Toews similar leave from play this season, this signals a shift in culture to allow for putting mental health at the forefront and not brushing those issues aside.
Elvis Isn’t Impressed
Some news from Nick Foligno’s old homestead:
Elvis Merzlikins on the #CBJ winless skid, the embarrassment of it and the pain inside the Jackets’ locker room as they try their hardest to just win a game ->
“Like … it’s heavy. I don’t want to get, like, to Buffalo … I don’t want to get to that point like Buffalo.” pic.twitter.com/L9bQsMfVuI
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) April 23, 2021
Definitely don’t want to get to Buffalo status!
Also:
Merzlikins with an homage to Nick Foligno in his post win celebration. #SoloJumpHugs #CBJ pic.twitter.com/dWkJjAHCju
— Alison (@AlisonL) April 28, 2021
Awwwww.
Quick Hits
Some quick hits from around the league:
Taylor Hall is settling in nicely in Boston:
Taylor Hall in Buffalo vs. Taylor Hall in Boston pic.twitter.com/QuD0Cyb2AF
— Ian McLaren (@iancmclaren) April 28, 2021
The NHL has a new TV deal:
NHL reaches U.S. TV rights deal with Turner Sports, ending NBC run https://t.co/fsRZ5ROLVI pic.twitter.com/n7Ow9Xczpc
— CTV News (@CTVNews) April 27, 2021
The Panthers have got jokes:
Not the only ones to clinch with 69 points, @canes ? pic.twitter.com/MKWrO2RYM8
— x – Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 28, 2021
And finally:
At 44 years & 40 days, Zdeno Chara is the oldest player in NHL history to pick up a fighting major. @NHLonNBCSports research pic.twitter.com/boMhV4dxUQ
— Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) April 28, 2021
That’s all for now, folks. Catch ya next Wednesday!
