In the world of hockey, there are always plenty of things to talk about. From serious issues to the more lighthearted stories, there’s always something worth discussing. Here are a few highlights from the past week.
First up, there’s been a lot of speculation about Auston Matthews and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With his full no-move clause kicking in on July 1, there’s been plenty of talk about whether or not he’ll re-sign with the team. While Matthews has said that his intention is to stay with the Maple Leafs, there’s no rush on his part, and he’s waiting to see what the team’s plan is for the future.
Next, there’s been some talk about Matthews’ shooting percentage this past season, which was a career low. While some have attributed it to the hand injury he played through, it’s not entirely clear what caused the dip in his performance.
There’s also been some discussion about the future of the core players on the Maple Leafs roster in the wake of Kyle Dubas’ firing as general manager. While team president Brendan Shanahan has reached out to reassure the players, there’s been no firm guarantee that they’ll all be back with the team next season.
Looking beyond the Maple Leafs, there’s been some talk about the coaching staffs of the teams still in contention for the Stanley Cup. Coaches like Paul Maurice, Peter DeBoer, and Bruce Cassidy have all been around the league for a long time and are certainly deserving of a shot at winning hockey’s ultimate prize.
Finally, there’s been some speculation about the goaltending market this offseason. While there are some quality UFAs available, like Tristan Jarry and Frederik Andersen, the best bet for a team looking to upgrade their netminding may be to make a trade for Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck.
Overall, this past week has seen plenty of interesting storylines emerge in the world of hockey. It’ll be interesting to see how these stories develop and what new topics come up in the weeks to come.
