I want to make this entire post about Gord Miller taking on Barstool, but I suppose there are other things I can discuss from this past week in hockey, too. If I have to. So we’ll get to Gord shortly. First – let’s take a look at what else happened around the hockey world this week, though it won’t be anywhere near as fun!
Leafs Lads
Remember Saturday’s Leafs game against the Jets? It sucked, and was awful. But at the end of the game when the Leafs took a ridiculous penalty, coach Sheldon Keefe went off! We had not yet seen Keefe unleashed, but now we have. I am weirdly good at reading lips, so below I translate exactly what it was Sheldon yelled that got him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty:
“Graham. GRAHAM. That happens 50 times a game! That happens 50 times a game and you fucking call it now? Fuck you, Graham!” https://t.co/1jyk7ddIf8
— Mer (@MerOutLoud) March 14, 2021
Meanwhile, the tweet below is fake and Sheldon was not fined, but I honestly would not have minded if he was:
Leafs' coach Sheldon Keefe fined $25,000. https://t.co/MdVJWrueMJ pic.twitter.com/h6yPE9Tx70
— Leafs Tweets 🤖 (@LeafsTweetBot) March 14, 2021
Graham went on to officiate the following Leafs game, too, and Twitter had a lot of fun with it:
I kinda wanna see if we can get #FuckYouGraham trending.
— Mer (@MerOutLoud) March 14, 2021
Anyways. The Leafs are in a slump, it sucks, but LOOK AT Morgan Rielly, TESSA VIRTUE, AND THEIR PUPPY:
Is it weird that Tessa, Morgan, and Zoë are my favorite Leafs family? pic.twitter.com/WlfjQERwQ0
— Mer (@MerOutLoud) March 16, 2021
Kyle Dubas had media availability yesterday where he stoked the rumour flames:
Thinks prices will come way down because ultimately there are more sellers than buyers.
CJ says he doesn't see any good players on Ottawa or Vancouver*.
*Who are rentals that the Leafs would covet
— J (@Account4hockey) March 17, 2021
Kyle Dubas, asked if he's willing to trade a top prospect before this deadline: "Yes."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 16, 2021
And of course, in VERY EXCITING NEWS, Jack Campbell is off LTIR, and the Leafs made some roster moves that could signal Wayne Simmonds is on his way back, as well:
Kyle Dubas says Jimmy Vesey was placed on waivers to increase roster flexibility. The #leafs have been squeezed since Jack Campbell came off LTIR.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 16, 2021
Forward Alexander Barabanov, forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenceman Timothy Liljegren have been reassigned to the @MapleLeafs taxi squad.
Forward Kenny Agostino and defenceman Calle Rosén have been reassigned to the @TorontoMarlies.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) March 17, 2021
Who’s excited??
***LATE BREAKING NEWS***
As we prepared to post this column, some Leafs happenings happened:
VAN claims Vesey
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 17, 2021
Wayne Simmonds appears to be joining the Leafs for practice today. Steps onto the ice in a white practice jersey (reserved for bottom 6 F)
— David Alter (@dalter) March 17, 2021
Moments after Jimmy Vesey departs via waivers, Alex Galchenyuk steps on the ice at #leafs practice in a regular (non-taxi squad) sweater.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 17, 2021
Well. Goodbye Jimmy Vesey. Thanks for….some stuff. Hello Wayne and Alex Galchenyuk!
Tampering in Tampa?
Well, people have some ~thoughts~ on this:
BriseBois said Nikita Kucherov is “right on track” and expected to make full recovery and ready for playoffs. Started skating this week.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) March 12, 2021
Nikita Kucherov is on the ice as the #Bolts set to start morning skate. Skated on his own for over an hour before rest of team came out. He’s remaining on the ice for practice.
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) March 13, 2021
For example:
Nikita Kucherov on the eve of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/xIvQuxlXTS
— Rob Wong (@WongSN590) March 13, 2021
So what say you? Are the Bolts tampering with the cap by keeping a healthy @Nikita Kucherov on LTIR until the playoffs?
Bits and Hits
Let’s do some rapid fire around the league fun stuff.
Well then,
Placed on Waivers
Jake Gardiner (LD) | CAR#LetsGoCaneshttps://t.co/NAf5xepPxS— CapFriendly Transactions (@CF_Transactions) March 13, 2021
El oh El
LMAO DID PEARSON ACTUALLY FOOL WHITE BY CALLING HIS NAME FOR THE PASS??#Canucks
6/ pic.twitter.com/MNRqDhsiiZ— Chicken Parmesevertsan (@CodySevertson) March 15, 2021
Talk about chirps:
“Why don’t you score more goals? You’re the most overpaid guy in the world.” #NJDevils Nate Bastian to Jeff Skinner 😅 #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/otcyhdEzCL
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 17, 2021
In Gord We Trust
Gord Miller tweeted this yesterday during an AMA:
I like those guys a lot, but anything to do with Barstool is a no-go for me. https://t.co/W5l3IjmgIC
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) March 16, 2021
Predictably, he got a lot of responses about it. But what did Gord do? Well, he doubled RIGHT DOWN:
(Read the whole thread)
My comment today about not wanting to associate with Barstool Sports has prompted a lot of texts/emails/calls. The response has been incredibly positive, especially from female/BIPOC colleagues who have been afraid to speak out about their issues with Barstool (and sites like it)
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) March 17, 2021
The Stoolies and their prez had what to say about that, and so on goes Gord:
Thanks to the many people who expressed support for my comments about Barstool yesterday, and to those who were worries that I would be “destroyed” online, don’t be. My mentions remain locked, the account is monitored, and anything threatening is reported to @twitter.
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) March 17, 2021
If @stoolpresidente wants to point out where I lied about incidents of misogyny, racism, xenophobia and condoning non-consensual sex at Barstool, I’ll be happy to retract what I said. However, I did do my research, and there is plenty of evidence to back me up in each case. https://t.co/EGhR3x5zmI
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) March 17, 2021
Anyways, we are resoundingly Team Gord on this one. Go for it, Gord.
Sad News
Unfortunately we end today’s column with some tragic news:
Dynamo Saint Petersburg defenceman and team captain Timur Faizutdinov has passed away after getting hit in the head with a puck during a game. He was 19. pic.twitter.com/nJJTadSWZU
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 16, 2021
At times we can almost forget that these incredible athletes are someone’s child, sibling, cousin, parent, friend. This is an absolutely devastating loss and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Timur’s loved ones and teammates.
That’s all for this week, folks! See you next Wednesday, when I will be recovering from my second dose of the COVID Vacine!