In the old days, sure. The Nike Sundin classic, et cetera. But there's no comparable spots with Matthews et al yet. There's some weeeaaak, cheap commercials. Like why do I care if Marner is on screen in this insurance commercial. (frank) you, clouds! In my day they made (frank)ing rad Leaf commercials
- Zezel

Yes, I am Morgan Rielly

I like that one.

I guess we finally found the problem.
- Scabeh

We might have to put that bum matthews on the 4th line when he comes back.

Sorry boys but that's utter BS Reaves gets major, tossed from game and a suspension for 5 games and the hit on Knies gets absolutely nothing. This was my issue with Reaves suspension. Not that it wasn't warranted, or hurts our team with him out, but how the league always throws the book at our guys and never touches the other player when it's our guy hurt with a questionable play. It's almost like the League uses hits our guys make as a message or example to the league to show they take hits seriously, but with the shoe on the other foot, they let things slide to not give the image of Toronto favoritism.
- systemtool

In trying to be objective about it - the Reaves hit is, in my opinion, unquestionably worse and shouldn't be used as a comparison. The reason is that Reaves skates straight through Nurse's head. In this clip at the 12 second mark or so, there's a slower replay https://x.com/i/status/1858256853681213483 and you can see that Reaves not only connects directly and solely to the head but he has already skated halfway past Nurse's body before any body contact is made. It's a brutal and concussive hit and has always been a suspension.

I am a firm believer that the Whitecloud hit on Knies should also be a headshot and out of the game of hockey - it is in every other league considered a headshot - but in the NHL, run by oldschool thinking that has paid little to no attention to the ramifications of losing their court case on CTE, it isn't. My opinion is pointless though and this is how they see it: https://x.com/i/status/1859416084383780905 Whitecloud is allowed to make a hit there and he is engaged to do so. The NHL doesn't care about the feet leaving the ice _after_ contact nor do they typically care that a player propelled themselves upwards and into someone - unless it results in a severe injury or media backlash. Look at just about every hit that Jacob Trouba lays - predatory and to the head, and they are rarely penalized and never result in a suspension.

It's a problem that they continue to refuse to address - but when the next CTE settlement (which was only $20m last time - although they spent another $70m on lawyers) is $1b because they refuse to do nothing about it, maybe they'll make some new optical changes that are ill conceived and poorly executed.

Yes, I am Morgan Rielly

I like that one.
- systemtool

The Mats Sundin 'one bad apple' roller blading commercial where he pastes the jerk into the glass is an all-time great. The goalies of course were good.

The recent road hockey one for JP Wiser with Gilmour and Smyth had potential to be excellent - but missed the mark.

In trying to be objective about it - the Reaves hit is, in my opinion, unquestionably worse and shouldn't be used as a comparison. The reason is that Reaves skates straight through Nurse's head. In this clip at the 12 second mark or so, there's a slower replay https://x.com/i/status/1858256853681213483 and you can see that Reaves not only connects directly and solely to the head but he has already skated halfway past Nurse's body before any body contact is made. It's a brutal and concussive hit and has always been a suspension.

I am a firm believer that the Whitecloud hit on Knies should also be a headshot and out of the game of hockey - it is in every other league considered a headshot - but in the NHL, run by oldschool thinking that has paid little to no attention to the ramifications of losing their court case on CTE, it isn't. My opinion is pointless though and this is how they see it: https://x.com/i/status/1859416084383780905 Whitecloud is allowed to make a hit there and he is engaged to do so. The NHL doesn't care about the feet leaving the ice _after_ contact nor do they typically care that a player propelled themselves upwards and into someone - unless it results in a severe injury or media backlash. Look at just about every hit that Jacob Trouba lays - predatory and to the head, and they are rarely penalized and never result in a suspension.

It's a problem that they continue to refuse to address - but when the next CTE settlement (which was only $20m last time - although they spent another $70m on lawyers) is $1b because they refuse to do nothing about it, maybe they'll make some new optical changes that are ill conceived and poorly executed.
- Monkeypunk

Fair observation but I found both to be clean hits with bad results, two guys with their heads down or unaware of their surroundings, with a big player finishing a check. But if you're gonna call one dirty I can't see a case being made where the other isn't.

In trying to be objective about it - the Reaves hit is, in my opinion, unquestionably worse and shouldn't be used as a comparison. The reason is that Reaves skates straight through Nurse's head. In this clip at the 12 second mark or so, there's a slower replay https://x.com/i/status/1858256853681213483 and you can see that Reaves not only connects directly and solely to the head but he has already skated halfway past Nurse's body before any body contact is made. It's a brutal and concussive hit and has always been a suspension.

I am a firm believer that the Whitecloud hit on Knies should also be a headshot and out of the game of hockey - it is in every other league considered a headshot - but in the NHL, run by oldschool thinking that has paid little to no attention to the ramifications of losing their court case on CTE, it isn't. My opinion is pointless though and this is how they see it: https://x.com/i/status/1859416084383780905 Whitecloud is allowed to make a hit there and he is engaged to do so. The NHL doesn't care about the feet leaving the ice _after_ contact nor do they typically care that a player propelled themselves upwards and into someone - unless it results in a severe injury or media backlash. Look at just about every hit that Jacob Trouba lays - predatory and to the head, and they are rarely penalized and never result in a suspension.

It's a problem that they continue to refuse to address - but when the next CTE settlement (which was only $20m last time - although they spent another $70m on lawyers) is $1b because they refuse to do nothing about it, maybe they'll make some new optical changes that are ill conceived and poorly executed.
- Monkeypunk

I completely agree.

It's stupid that this hit isn't considered a hit to the head, the NHL managed to turn a very black and white situation into a whole spectrum of grey.

I think it SHOULD be a suspension, I doubt it will be.

Similar hits to Slafkovsky didn't result in anything, all we ever got out of it were people claiming he needs to "protect himself". Don't get me wrong, he needed to, but it shouldn't excuse other players hitting a player's head, just like in Knies's case.

Missed the game as I had hockey at 730 and then beers and wings post game to celebrate a 4-0 shut out win - booya!

I PVR'd the game and watched it and WTF was that BS with the hit on Knies not only not being 5 + a game and a suspension but in fact not even a penalty AND the Leafs being short handed because of it? Jesus H that's bad.

Anyone who wants to say leaf fans whine about officiating more than they should or disagree that the league and DOPS treat the Leafs differently can just look at the Reeves hit on Sat and this one and then can drop to their knees and lick my taint.

Shanny should be bombarding the league today demanding an explanation good lord.

Great win regardless and I love Grebenkin more after this than I did already. lol

Grebenkin
Backcheck, forecheck, and paycheck

https://bsky.app/profile/...social/post/3lbgkacvf222v

I completely agree.

It's stupid that this hit isn't considered a hit to the head, the NHL managed to turn a very black and white situation into a whole spectrum of grey.

I think it SHOULD be a suspension, I doubt it will be.

Similar hits to Slafkovsky didn't result in anything, all we ever got out of it were people claiming he needs to "protect himself". Don't get me wrong, he needed to, but it shouldn't excuse other players hitting a player's head, just like in Knies's case.
- Scabeh

Well said. All 3 hits, Nurse Knies Slaf, guys unaware of their surroundings or head down, but be consistent. Don't pick and choose which head shots are allowed.

In one game Minten has more goals than domi and Kampf

And the same amount of goals as Holmberg and…best 1st overall pick bustkovsky

In one game Minten has more goals than domi and Kampf

And the same amount of goals as Holmberg and…best 1st overall pick bustkovsky
- Santo_44

Minten at least scored with a goalie in the net, sorry Holmberg

The Mats Sundin 'one bad apple' roller blading commercial where he pastes the jerk into the glass is an all-time great. The goalies of course were good.

The recent road hockey one for JP Wiser with Gilmour and Smyth had potential to be excellent - but missed the mark.
- Monkeypunk

I missed the Wisers one

Sorry boys but that's utter BS Reaves gets major, tossed from game and a suspension for 5 games and the hit on Knies gets absolutely nothing. This was my issue with Reaves suspension. Not that it wasn't warranted, or hurts our team with him out, but how the league always throws the book at our guys and never touches the other player when it's our guy hurt with a questionable play. It's almost like the League uses hits our guys make as a message or example to the league to show they take hits seriously, but with the shoe on the other foot, they let things slide to not give the image of Toronto favoritism.
- systemtool

I think you nailed it Tool. The league tries very hard to try to not favour Toronto. The suspension numbers don't lie. Clearly the Leafs have been f'd over for many years now.

Fair observation but I found both to be clean hits with bad results, two guys with their heads down or unaware of their surroundings, with a big player finishing a check. But if you're gonna call one dirty I can't see a case being made where the other isn't.
- systemtool

This, This 1000000 times this.

Be consistent, if a hit where the head is the principle point of contact is a penalty then so be it and call it every (frank)ing time.

I'd actually be fine if they didn't call it or called it all the time but the way this rule seems to be applied is far too inconsistent IMO and makes the game and league look like a joke.

Imagine a person new to hockey watched both games and them asking you to explain why Sat night's hit was worth 5 and a game AND a 5 game suspension and last nights hit wasn't even a 2 min minor?

Just say if the head is the principle point of contact it's a 5 min penalty to start and then the other factors like intent can be assessed and applied - full stop.

They do this already for high sticking - if it's accidental or not it's a penalty. They do it in international hockey and you see way less injuries from head hits in IIHL hockey so it works. The NHL just can't get out of their own way on so many things and are a joke because of it.

Nikita Grebenkin on his NHL debut:

"Nice day ... I enjoy team win. I enjoy. Thank you team. Thank you general manager. Thank you Toronto Maple Leafs give me chance. Yeah, fun day."


Rooting for this kid

I think you nailed it Tool. The league tries very hard to not try to not favour Toronto. The suspension numbers don't lie. Clearly the Leafs have been f'd over for many years now.
- Aetherial

The media does the same poop. Nobody wants to be labeled a Toronto Homer so they just go along with it instead of questioning the refs and league.

Nikita Grebenkin on his NHL debut:

"Nice day ... I enjoy team win. I enjoy. Thank you team. Thank you general manager. Thank you Toronto Maple Leafs give me chance. Yeah, fun day."


Rooting for this kid
- bryant

He seems so loveable how can you not root for him? lol

It is pretty awesome to see a young player so excited and appreciative when they get their shot vs the ones who are too cool for school and play it off all casual.

Grebenkin
Backcheck, forecheck, and paycheck

https://bsky.app/profile/...social/post/3lbgkacvf222v
- senstroll

Yeah I love this kid already.

Fire Robbie into the sun, put up a statue already for Grebbie.

I completely agree.

It's stupid that this hit isn't considered a hit to the head, the NHL managed to turn a very black and white situation into a whole spectrum of grey.

I think it SHOULD be a suspension, I doubt it will be.

Similar hits to Slafkovsky didn't result in anything, all we ever got out of it were people claiming he needs to "protect himself". Don't get me wrong, he needed to, but it shouldn't excuse other players hitting a player's head, just like in Knies's case.
- Scabeh

I hate the "blame the victim" narrative. Believe it or not, sometimes you need to look down, or bend down or reach for a puck... Someone is still blasting you in the head.

He seems so loveable how can you not root for him? lol

It is pretty awesome to see a young player so excited and appreciative when they get their shot vs the ones who are too cool for school and play it off all casual.
- Cush29

He was an absolute animal out there too, grade A puck hound, ran Hill a bit too, which I always enjoy because I'm a sick old (frank).

I completely agree.

It's stupid that this hit isn't considered a hit to the head, the NHL managed to turn a very black and white situation into a whole spectrum of grey.

I think it SHOULD be a suspension, I doubt it will be.

Similar hits to Slafkovsky didn't result in anything, all we ever got out of it were people claiming he needs to "protect himself". Don't get me wrong, he needed to, but it shouldn't excuse other players hitting a player's head, just like in Knies's case.
- Scabeh

This, This 1000000 times this.

Be consistent, if a hit where the head is the principle point of contact is a penalty then so be it and call it every (frank)ing time.

I'd actually be fine if they didn't call it or called it all the time but the way this rule seems to be applied is far too inconsistent IMO and makes the game and league look like a joke.

Imagine a person new to hockey watched both games and them asking you to explain why Sat night's hit was worth 5 and a game AND a 5 game suspension and last nights hit wasn't even a 2 min minor?

Just say if the head is the principle point of contact it's a 5 min penalty to start and then the other factors like intent can be assessed and applied - full stop.

They do this already for high sticking - if it's accidental or not it's a penalty. They do it in international hockey and you see way less injuries from head hits in IIHL hockey so it works. The NHL just can't get out of their own way on so many things and are a joke because of it.
- Cush29

You make a solid point about the high sticking, well said.

I'd like to see a good Auston Matthews commercial. They don't even try with Leaf stars. Just put them in a poop commercial. Why do anything more, just insert a Leaf.
- Zezel

I have a friend who you have likely seen in some commercials who was in a cancelled Skip ad with Mitch Marner who apparently was a giant female genitalia to him after he made a bad attempt at humour over his mustache at the time.

Missed 2/3rds of the game due to crappy streams and superstition. I never turn a game back on after I have turned it off if my team is pitching a shutout. Every time I do that, the opposing team scores within seconds. So, I resisted the urge, took the dog out for an evening walk, and then came back and went to bed early. I didn't see the end result until this morning.

BRICK (frank)ING WOLL

MINTY FRESH

WILLIE NYE THE GOAL GUY

HOLMBERG DOES SOMETHING USEFUL

I am starting to understand what you guys have been shouting for years about the officials and the Leafs. I used to think the same thing about Tampa a long time ago, and I even DM'ed Paul Stewart about it and he replied - he was very nice, but disagreed that a particular team is targeted by a certain official(s). The more time goes on and the more this poop happens, the more I am thinking like Toolsie and it seems personal against the Leafs. It's Leafy as (frank).

FWIW, I think that hit happens even if Reaver is in the lineup. Leafs have other guys who can throw hands, so it's not like the entire lineup is soft any more - Berubae made them grow chest hair. It should have been a major and a hearing with the league.

Last nights picks :

VGK - TOR : TOR - correct
CAR - PHI : CAR - correct
SJS - DAL : DAL - correct
NAS - SEA : NAS - wrong
BUF - LAK : LAK - wrong

Record : 36 - 21 (.631%)

This, This 1000000 times this.

Be consistent, if a hit where the head is the principle point of contact is a penalty then so be it and call it every (frank)ing time.

I'd actually be fine if they didn't call it or called it all the time but the way this rule seems to be applied is far too inconsistent IMO and makes the game and league look like a joke.

Imagine a person new to hockey watched both games and them asking you to explain why Sat night's hit was worth 5 and a game AND a 5 game suspension and last nights hit wasn't even a 2 min minor?

Just say if the head is the principle point of contact it's a 5 min penalty to start and then the other factors like intent can be assessed and applied - full stop.

They do this already for high sticking - if it's accidental or not it's a penalty. They do it in international hockey and you see way less injuries from head hits in IIHL hockey so it works. The NHL just can't get out of their own way on so many things and are a joke because of it.
- Cush29

Yup and high-sticking, with the visors nowadays, are pretty low risk as far as long-term injury goes. Yeah, you could lose a few teeth, but it's pretty hard to get a stick up into the eye area if you're hockeying.

Headshots are always going to carry a long-term CTE risk. I have a buddy who can't even play turf soccer 20 years after his hockey career ended, because the hard surface running rattles his noggin too much and gives him headaches.