Fast Shifts: Kyle Dubas’s goaltending danger is trying sensible

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A fast mixture of the issues we gleaned from the week of hockey, severe and fewer so, and rolling 4 strains deep. Get nicely, Kris Letang.

1. By a rustic mile, probably the most dramatic, debated, and derided resolution of Kyle Dubas’s low season was his resolution to scrap each halves of his goaltending tandem and gamble on two prove-it guys with checkered damage and efficiency histories.

Effectively, 25 video games deep, not solely are Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov each concurrently wholesome, they’re buzzing on the prime of their recreation.

Samsonov’s good 6-0-0 house document to begin the yr ties him with Felix Potvin (1993-94) for the second-longest such run in Maple Leafs historical past, behind solely Bruce Gamble (9-0 in 1967-68).

Murray, who will get the nod in Saturday’s showcase revenge date in Tampa Bay, has not misplaced in regulation since getting back from his Week 1 adductor damage. He’s making high-danger probabilities look routine and reminding the hockey world of his Stanley Cup pedigree.

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Sure, each males have spent their weeks on injured reserve, however when accessible, they’ve exceeded expectations and stuffed a sock in critics’ mouths.

Mixed, the duo is 12-3-1.

Each rank among the many NHL’s prime six in save share. Murray is a .927. Samsonov is a .924.

All of the extra spectacular whenever you understand the NHL’s common save share has dipped to a 15-year low of .905.

Maple Leafs’ workforce save share has leapt from twenty first total in 2021-22 to fifth this season.

Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, the goalies Murray and Samsonov changed — on the expense of an personal rental and a commerce down in the course of the 2022 draft — have been disastrous of their new uniforms.

Campbell is a .872 with Edmonton and has misplaced his training-camp grasp of the No. 1 position. Mrazek has battled yet one more October damage to the tune of .878 in Chicago. These two are a mixed 8-11-1. Shedding them was value the price.

Rating one for the “goaltending is voodoo” crowd. But in addition rating one for Dubas and his odd-couple mixture of Smilin’ Sammy and the Murr Dawg, each of whom are certainly proving it below a cranked-up warmth lamp and behind a banged-up blue line. And making their GM look good within the course of.

For years, Toronto put all its eggs in a single basket and relied on one goalie, Frederik Andersen, to carrying all of the bodily and psychological load. It was an excessive amount of.

As different as their contracts, personalities and résumés are, Murray and Samsonov are on this collectively.

“We need to have each guys concerned. That’s the truth of the NHL, to start with. However in our state of affairs particularly, each guys have performed so nicely,” coach Sheldon Keefe says.

With the posh of two wholesome, reliable goaltenders at their disposal, the Maple Leafs have mapped out a secret plan for sharing begins.

“We received’t talk that to anybody, together with them, till we have to,” Keefe explains. “It’s vital to take every day as they arrive and go from there.”

Our December guess is a two-thirds break up: Murray will get Saturdays and Tuesdays. Samsonov will get thirsty for Thursdays.

Well being prepared, in fact.

2. One of many smoothest positional torch-passings in latest reminiscence was Lightning beginning goalie Ben Bishop progressively transferring the web to incumbent Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Is there a parallel rising in Central Florida with the No. 1 defenceman position?

Mikhail Sergachev, 24, has taken over the top-unit power-play duties from top-pair companion Victor Hedman, 31, he of annual Norris Trophy debates.

Sergachev has bust out the gates with 22 factors already, whereas Hedman has one objective and 10 factors.

Hedman (24:32) nonetheless has the sting on his younger companion (23:59) in ice time, however that hole has narrowed considerably — by 2:04 — yr over yr.

“Heddy’s our man,” Tampa coach Jon Cooper reasserted on Actual Kyper & Bourne Friday.

We received’t deny that. Hedman is a blueline demigod.

And but? We’re seeing the beginnings of a switch of energy and can’t deny it.

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3. Inside wage caps are as actual as a factor because the no-state-tax low cost.

Roope Hintz inked an eight-year extension at $8.45 million per season with the Dallas Stars this week. The deal helps GM Jim Nill dodge a probably testy RFA arbitration case, buys seven speedy UFA seasons, and has Hintz settling in at an equivalent AAV as prime defenceman Miro Heiskanen.

A pair notes on the Hintz pact.

• His increase will make early Hart Trophy candidate Jason Robertson the membership’s fourth-highest-paid ahead and fifth-highest-paid participant beginning 2023-24. What a steal that child is.

• Nill was subjected to hypothesis over his job safety not so way back.

However the veteran GM’s latest work — from the hiring of Peter DeBoer to his sequence of future-core extensions of prime-aged gamers — is arising roses.

No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger, 23, is within the fold by 2025.

No. 1 ahead Robertson, 23, is on the books by 2026.

No. 1 D-man Heiskanen, 23, is locked in by 2029.

And now No. 1 centre Hintz, 26, is safe by 2031.

By which era, certainly the Stars can have one other Cup Remaining look — and we’ll have flying vehicles.

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4. Jack Hughes was requested what he was aiming for Saturday, when he deposited the second of his hat-trick targets within the coin slot between Washington goalie Charlie Lindgren’s proper ear and the close to publish.

“Simply the web, child. Simply the web,” Hughes smiled. “Easy recreation. Purpose for the web.”

Hughes later conceded that he’s labored on that sharp-angle snipe a bunch.

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Hughes is stirring buzz foremost together with his on-ice efficiency (he leads the juggernaut Devils with 12 targets and 28 factors) and, secondarily, together with his breezy strategy to hockey interviews.

“He tiptoes that line [between] assured and cocky very well. If you understand him, he’s an incredible child. He needs to take action nicely, and he is aware of he can do nicely,” says teammate Miles Wooden. “So when he does dangerous, he’s OK with transferring ahead and doing nicely for us. I do know he needs to be that man. He takes a number of pleasure in being that man for us. His skillset, I feel, speaks for itself.”

Coach Lindy Ruff says Hughes’s recreation has improved “in all places.” Sure, his launch has refined, his playmaking is extra exact, however Hughes’s dedication to being on the defensive aspect of the puck has seen the best leap, based on Ruff.

Hughes was a profession minus-45 skater heading into this season. He’s a plus-10 in 2022-23.

The budding celebrity is placing that steadiness between enjoying a mode coaches belief and one which ignites followers.

“At any time when we’re enjoying a workforce that’s man-on-man defence, I feel between him and [Jesper] Bratt, they’re in all probability licking their chops to take guys one-on-one. Me, not a lot,” Wooden says.

“You see the best way they decide up pucks off the partitions and switch round corners. Only a few guys play like that.”

5. Is it me, or did the hockey world not kick up sufficient ruckus over Alex Ovechkin busting Wayne Gretzky’s NHL document for all-time highway targets?

Ovechkin has additionally handed Gordie Howe for many targets for a single franchise in league historical past and tied Jaromir Jagr for many game-opening strikes. He might hit be part of the über-exclusive 800 Membership by Christmas.

Are we merely taking his age-defying feats without any consideration? Or is his house nation’s invasion of Ukraine casting a shadow over the protection of Ovechkin’s astronomical athletic feats?

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6. Within the identify of old school leisure and Rock ’Em Sock ’Em hockey, I’m high quality with Jordan Binnington attempting to put this hit.

But when a skater can get penalized for checking an out-of-crease goaltender, why is the goalie allowed free reign?

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7. The Vancouver Canucks have retired the numbers of three franchise icons — Stan Smyl, Markus Naslund, and Trevor Linden — who are usually not within the Hockey Corridor of Fame.

Roberto Luongo is within the Corridor, proper alongside Daniel and Henrik Sedin, whose numbers additionally dangle from the Rogers Enviornment rafters.

But Luongo’s Number one (beforehand worn by Canucks goalie Kirk MacLean) is not going to be retired. As a substitute, the membership introduced, it would rejoice Luongo by inducting him into the Ring of Honour.

Feels incorrect that the franchise chief in wins and shutouts, a heart-and-soul Canuck who gave his finest years to the group, will get slapped with a lower-tier acknowledgement.

Luongo already has his quantity retired in Florida, with whom he registered fewer begins, fewer wins. However not Vancouver, the place he performed his finest and most vital hockey.

The lovable legend has taken the excessive highway, naturally, however he deserves higher.

If his contributions aren’t nice sufficient, perhaps Vancouver by no means hangs a rafter for a goalie.

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8. Pat Maroon’s response to Jack Edwards’s “uncalled for” commentary (Maroon’s phrase) is without delay useful and savage.

“I wasn’t even on the ice, and I don’t perceive why he stated it. I’m a much bigger man. I do know that. There’s occasions we joke across the locker; guys chirp me on the ice. However when somebody’s asserting the sport and doing one thing like that in entrance of tens of millions of followers and tens of millions of listeners and simply just about you place me right down to the bottom, it’s by no means enjoyable to listen to that,” Maroon advised reporters.

“I’m an expert athlete, I can take some stuff. I’m a humorous man. You possibly can joke with me all you need. However that was very pointless.”

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9. L.A. Kings coach Todd MacLellan was requested by an area reporter if Cal Petersen’s demotion to the farm — in 12 months 1 of a backloaded three-year, $15-million contract — can ship a message to the remainder of the workforce?

“It rattling nicely ought to. As a result of we share in that transaction. All of us do,” the coach responded.

It must also ship a message to different well-compensated goalies who’re vastly underperforming.

Petersen is one in all 10(!) netminders with no less than eight appearances and a sub-.890 save share.

The others: Elvis Merzlinkins, Jack Campbell, Sergei Bobrovsky, Petr Mrazek, Alex Nedeljkovic, Thatcher Demko, Kaapo Kahkonen, Eric Comrie, and Petersen’s tandem mate, Jonathan Fast.

Yikes, that’s a protracted listing.

10. Mitchell Marner can prolong his level streak to 19 video games Saturday in Tampa, leaping forward of Darryl Sittler and Eddie Olcyzk for sole possession of the franchise document. Each Sittler and Olcyzk blew up Marner’s cellphone with congratulatory postgame textual content messages.

“Keep f—– sizzling!” piped goalie Ilya Samsonov, who assured that Marner would tie the document previous to puck drop Wednesday.

“I do know. I do know. I look into the long run,” Samsonov smiled post-win.

How lengthy can Marner hold this factor buzzing?

“We’ll see. Nearly 50, yeah. I imagine so.”

For these scoring at house, the NHL’s longest level streak belongs to Wayne Gretzky, who scored 61 targets and 153 factors throughout his 51-gamer in 1983-84. Foolish.

The longest within the cap period and by an energetic participant is owned by Marner comparable Patrick Kane (40 factors over 26 straight video games in 2015-16).

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11. Though it’s too early to dive deep into debate over particular person trophies, I did discover the train of taking part in Greg Wyshynski’s NHL Awards Watch voter survey — and the outcomes — fascinating.

With the caveat that I’m totally ready to change my picks because the video games roll on, listed below are my Dec. 1 decisions.

Hart Trophy: Jason Robertson (by a nostril over Connor McDavid)
Norris Trophy: Erik Karlsson (Cale Makar is simply warming up)
Calder Trophy: Logan Thompson (getting hunted by division rival Matty Beniers)
Selke Trophy: Nico Hischier (maybe taking Patrice Bergeron’s dominance without any consideration)
Vezina Trophy: Ilya Sorokin (he’s doing it with much less run assist than Linus Ullmark)
Jack Adams: Jim Montgomery (sorry, Lindy)

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12. Shout out to Wayne Simmonds.

To assist Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, the younger man bullied by Mitchell Miller, rejoice his twenty first birthday, Simmonds met up with Meyer-Crothers and hung out with him whereas the Maple Leafs spent a pair nights in Detroit this week.

Simmonds needs to let his actions do the speaking and declined to elaborate on the gesture.

“There’s no must. Simply one thing that wanted to be accomplished. Simply wanted to hang around with him, you understand? That’s about it. Nothing main,” Simmonds stated.

Class act.

“Great. It exhibits the kind of particular person he’s. Simply the significance of the affect he can have on any individual, particularly any individual who’s been by one thing extraordinarily tough that nobody ought to ever must undergo,” John Tavares says.

“These are conversations we’ve had on that aspect of that recreation that we’re attempting to enhance, attempting to alter. He’s been very influential in that and great right here with us in setting an incredible instance that approach, serving to us be taught and perceive and evolve issues to get to a greater place.

“It speaks volumes of him.”

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