Mike Augello: Thoughts On Five Items From Opening Day Of Leafs Camp

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Go Leafs Go

Go Leafs Go
- Zezel

Always a bridesmaid…….

😀

Always a bridesmaid…….

😀
- mr.sir

So bust!!!!



frek that

IT"S CUP BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Always a bridesmaid…….

😀
- mr.sir

Pics?

Pics?
- Canada Cup

I really want to see Cowan pull a Point and force the team to keep him past nine games.

It's not likely perhaps, but weirder poop happens.

So Berube is gonna start with the top 9 looking like this???

Knies, Matthews, Marner
Patches, Tavares, Cowan
McMann, Nylander, Domi


Edit: I can't see that working out too well.

Lily, Robertson and Jarnkrok are out for a 2RW if Nylander is at 3C. If Nylander hits the wing again, I can see them still going for a 3C or 2LW if Patches ain't right.

I see it ending up like this:

Knies, Matthews, Domi (Matthews is good defensively for this line)
Nylander, Tavares, Marner (Marner is good defensively for this line)
Patches, NEW 3C, Cowan
McMann, Kampf, Lorentz/Reaver

So Berube is gonna start with the top 9 looking like this???

Knies, Matthews, Marner
Patches, Tavares, Cowan
McMann, Nylander, Domi
- underhill14

that 2nd line looks like it will be to slow for Cowan

Oh man I made a peach mango pumpkin spice Carolina reaper sauce. Drizzled that onto some pralines and cream ice cream.

Go Leafs Go

Rumor has it that there is no Hockeybuzz fantasy this year.

Anybody have an alternative?

So Berube is gonna start with the top 9 looking like this???

Knies, Matthews, Marner
Patches, Tavares, Cowan
McMann, Nylander, Domi


Edit: I can't see that working out too well.

Lily, Robertson and Jarnkrok are out for a 2RW if Nylander is at 3C. If Nylander hits the wing again, I can see them still going for a 3C or 2LW if Patches ain't right.

I see it ending up like this:

Knies, Matthews, Domi (Matthews is good defensively for this line)
Nylander, Tavares, Marner (Marner is good defensively for this line)
Patches, NEW 3C, Cowan
McMann, Kampf, Lorentz/Reaver
- underhill14

Its the first day of camp, we're gonna see a lot of different line combos over the next several weeks.
Berube likes to roll his top three line, so it would benefit them if Willie could play 2C. Have matthews, willie and JT down the center in the top line would be awesome.

But we'll see.

Oh man I made a peach mango pumpkin spice Carolina reaper sauce. Drizzled that onto some pralines and cream ice cream.

Go Leafs Go
- Zezel

Carolina Reaper is one of the few hot peppers that actually has a nice flavor to it, IMO.

Some of the others just scorch your mouth and don't seem to have any flavor of their own.

Carolina Reaper is one of the few hot peppers that actually has a nice flavor to it, IMO.

Some of the others just scorch your mouth and don't seem to have any flavor of their own.
- GalacticStone

I was in Pepper Palace last year and trying out some different sauces, and really loved the Ghost in the Darkness - which is Ghost Pepper based. It's solidly hot but has a bit of sweetness to it to offset it. It's really pleasant for a hot sauce.

https://pepperpalace.com/...s=10&_fid=bc10785c6&_ss=c

I will say, though, that I tried to order some (and maybe it's because of the Canada thing) and they confirmed the order but then, without a word, refunded my money a week later and never said a word.

If you are in Tampa, I can tell you that the closest one is in Countryside Mall in Clearwater.

We did the hot ones challenge last year and a few people bailed surprisingly early but most of us didn't find the sauces even got hot until around the 7th one - but to your point, we had Beyond Insanity - which was hot, but fine - but we also had Da Bomb's Final Answer and Ground Zero sauces. Final Answer was awful. It was just hot for the sake of hot with little flavour. Is pain a flavour? We had one to do after it and those of us who continued didn't even taste the last one because the Final Answer one basically just took away the ability to taste anything. Granted I do think it should have been last - like it's rated at 1.5m scoville units and we didn't have the Last Dab, so I believe it was the hottest thing we did have.

I was in Pepper Palace last year and trying out some different sauces, and really loved the Ghost in the Darkness - which is Ghost Pepper based. It's solidly hot but has a bit of sweetness to it to offset it. It's really pleasant for a hot sauce.

https://pepperpalace.com/...s=10&_fid=bc10785c6&_ss=c

I will say, though, that I tried to order some (and maybe it's because of the Canada thing) and they confirmed the order but then, without a word, refunded my money a week later and never said a word.

If you are in Tampa, I can tell you that the closest one is in Countryside Mall in Clearwater.

We did the hot ones challenge last year and a few people bailed surprisingly early but most of us didn't find the sauces even got hot until around the 7th one - but to your point, we had Beyond Insanity - which was hot, but fine - but we also had Da Bomb's Final Answer and Ground Zero sauces. Final Answer was awful. It was just hot for the sake of hot with little flavour. Is pain a flavour? We had one to do after it and those of us who continued didn't even taste the last one because the Final Answer one basically just took away the ability to taste anything. Granted I do think it should have been last - like it's rated at 1.5m scoville units and we didn't have the Last Dab, so I believe it was the hottest thing we did have.
- Monkeypunk

I'm just north of Tampa, but rarely set foot in malls. I'll check it out next time I find myself in there.

My soninlaw got the hot sauce challenge kit as a gift a couple of years ago, so we sat down around the kitchen table and did it. My SIL, me, and my grandson who was about 12 or 13 at the time.

Like you said, the first handful didn't even seem hot. More like "spicy", but not "hot".

I remember the Carolina Reaper sauce being the first one that I would consider hot and even that wasn't the eye-watering variety. It had a nice sweet-ish almost jalapeno-like flavor to it. (I love Jalapenos). I remember that none of us had any issues until the second to last one - it wasn't overwhelming, but it was a warning shot across the bow about what was coming with that Bomb sauce. The Bomb sauce was BRUTAL. It was just pure pain in a bottle with no discernible flavor of it's own. It could have been napalm and I wouldn't have known the difference.

My grandson hung in there like a champ and actually handled that last one better than I did.

The SIL still orders the Carolina Reaper sauce from that kit.

Its the first day of camp, we're gonna see a lot of different line combos over the next several weeks.
Berube likes to roll his top three line, so it would benefit them if Willie could play 2C. Have matthews, willie and JT down the center in the top line would be awesome.

But we'll see.
- Fakepartofme

Call me crazy, but I have a weird good feeling about Berube and the Leafs this year. I feel a deep run coming. I'm not going to get nuts and say plan the parade, but I genuinely believe the Leafs will get past the second round this year.

And honestly, if the Leafs and Bolts square off again in the playoffs, for the first time in my life I will be rooting for the opposition. I'm still salty about the Stamkos thing and I've grown to love the Leafs in a way that transcends geographic boundaries.

I like Canada. I like Toronto. I like the team. I like some of the players. I like the coach. I can no longer say all of those things about the Lightning.

GO MOTHER(frank)ING LEAFS GO.

The leafs pick their team yet?

I will honestly say this… I think people are thinking a little too strongly that a guy with no professional experience, Cowan, will make this team.

Does he have a rough chance? Sure. Is it likely? No. The leafs need defence from the forwards, not more offence.

The leafs pick their team yet?

I will honestly say this… I think people are thinking a little too strongly that a guy with no professional experience, Cowan, will make this team.

Does he have a rough chance? Sure. Is it likely? No. The leafs need defence from the forwards, not more offence.
- Dozzer

I watched Cowan in the rookie games vs the Habs.

I thought he's the one who stood out the most for the Leafs, he's not blowing past anyone with speed or skill but he feels like a pretty complete player and was a notch above the other rookies on his team.

I don't think he's obviously making the team, in fact the odds are probably against him, but he certainly has a chance.

I watched Cowan in the rookie games vs the Habs.

I thought he's the one who stood out the most for the Leafs, he's not blowing past anyone with speed or skill but he feels like a pretty complete player and was a notch above the other rookies on his team.

I don't think he's obviously making the team, in fact the odds are probably against him, but he certainly has a chance.
- Scabeh

Oh his game is great, and will develop into something nicely in a year or two, but the leafs see themselves as cup contenders and not many teams who see themselves that way plunk in 19 year old wingers with no professional experience in their top 6. Even Tre’s comments prove the team sees him like I do. He either proves he can play through the roof not only offensively, but defensively, and physically as well, without any slumps too since they can’t drop him to the marlies. It’s Knights or Leafs for him, and I’m guessing he’ll be back in London this year. Maybe he’ll get the 9 games but I’m not even sure about that.

Oh his game is great, and will develop into something nicely in a year or two, but the leafs see themselves as cup contenders and not many teams who see themselves that way plunk in 19 year old wingers with no professional experience in their top 6. Even Tre’s comments prove the team sees him like I do. He either proves he can play through the roof not only offensively, but defensively, and physically as well, without any slumps too since they can’t drop him to the marlies. It’s Knights or Leafs for him, and I’m guessing he’ll be back in London this year. Maybe he’ll get the 9 games but I’m not even sure about that.
- Dozzer

You're probably right. I agree with you.

Although I was impressed by how physical he was. He didn't flinch even when battling vs a big guy like Mailloux who may very well play in the NHL this season. I don't think that part of his game will prevent him to play this season.

The leafs pick their team yet?

I will honestly say this… I think people are thinking a little too strongly that a guy with no professional experience, Cowan, will make this team.

Does he have a rough chance? Sure. Is it likely? No. The leafs need defence from the forwards, not more offence.
- Dozzer

Obviously it's a projection and nothing more, but the Athletic, if you add up their projections, has the Leafs scoring 1 more goal than last season and giving up 40 fewer - and doing this with both Woll and Stolarz posting rather moderate.910 save percentages. For reference the league average last year was .903, and the league average for goalies with at least 35 starts was .905.

The Leafs have improved their back-end simply by replacing Brodie with Tanev and not having Samsonov in net. I don't think OEL will be the tire fire that Klingberg is - but he is still a below average defender. Assuming Hakanpaa stands up, he is an improvement over either of Edmundson or Lyubushkin.

Marner is small but defensively very good, and Matthews is also defensively exceptional. We know that Nylander, Domi and Tavares aren't the most reliable.

I am expecting good things from Knies this year - not huge points, I don't think - maybe 55ish with around 25 goals, but a more rounded game and more defensive attention to detail. Especially if he can stick with Matthews.

The locks have to be: Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Domi and Knies - that's it. Kampf, Jarnkrok, McMann, Dewar, Holmberg, Reaves and Robertson are all probable based on their contract status - but I wouldn't call any of them locks.

To your point, in that group Robertson is weak defensively as is Reaves, but the others are all responsible enough. But what does a guy like Cowan add to the bottom-6? I suppose you could say if Cowan beats out Robertson at camp - and by a significant margin - then maybe you have a harder decision to make, but otherwise the team seems like it's not moving too many pieces around. This also doesn't address how well Lorentz and Pacioretty may fare at camp and if they force any hands, too. I think Treliving really wants Pacioretty on this team so Robertson, Holmberg, Dewar and Jarnkrok better impress in the next two weeks.

- dmnted

Is that Kamala Harris in the white dress?

You're probably right. I agree with you.

Although I was impressed by how physical he was. He didn't flinch even when battling vs a big guy like Mailloux who may very well play in the NHL this season. I don't think that part of his game will prevent him to play this season.
- Scabeh

Depends… experienced NHLers are typically a lot tougher than young guys. They know when and how to hit far better.

I love Cowan don’t get me wrong, he’s a Mt Brydges kid and I’m a Strathroy boy, we both went to highschool in Strath, hell, my gf lived in Brydges back when we were teens and worked in the pizza place there. I’m also a long time friend with his Aunt, who lives across the street from where my band rehearses and has come over to chat a notable amount of times (she’s super proud of the kid that’s for sure 👍). So yeah I’m rooting for the kid big time but it’s also why I don’t want him pushed too quickly. Also, I live in London anyways so if he doesn’t make the leafs I’ll get to see him play anyways lol 👍