TLN Roundtable: Favorite In-Game Moment of the Season?
By Shawn Reis
8 years agoThe Leafs mission is almost over. They took the ice for one reason this year, and one reason only: to secure 30th place, and give themselves a better chance than anybody else at landing Auston Matthews with the first overall pick come June’s draft.
Okay, maybe there was a bit more to the year than that. But for the fans, aside from the recent youth movement, that’s largely what the focus has been on for the year.
But even so – even though the season was long, daunting, and oftentimes downright boring – there were actually some pretty good moments sprinkled in there. And we here at TLN are optimists – well, most of us anyways. So without further ado, let’s take a look back at the year that was. Today’s question posed to our esteemed staff of writers was, “What was your favorite in-game moment of the 2015-2016 Leafs season?”.
BOBBY CAPPUCCINO
Nothing defined this season as much as the
mass call-up of kids post-trade deadline. And no moment from those kids
was better than the first career goal from their top prospect. That’s
right, Nikita Soshnikov’s first career goal was incredible – an elite
shot sent top shelf. While he was used as a fourth liner in the AHL, his
skill level is clearly that of a top 6 forward. He just so happens to
be a workhorse and a pest, too. It’s that combination that made him an
instant fan favourite. It’s worth mentioning that I was Soshnikov’s
biggest fan at TLN at the beginning of the season, and his success at
the NHL level proves what we all know – I am always right.
mass call-up of kids post-trade deadline. And no moment from those kids
was better than the first career goal from their top prospect. That’s
right, Nikita Soshnikov’s first career goal was incredible – an elite
shot sent top shelf. While he was used as a fourth liner in the AHL, his
skill level is clearly that of a top 6 forward. He just so happens to
be a workhorse and a pest, too. It’s that combination that made him an
instant fan favourite. It’s worth mentioning that I was Soshnikov’s
biggest fan at TLN at the beginning of the season, and his success at
the NHL level proves what we all know – I am always right.
JON STEITZER
I
mean, there were pretty goals, first goals, and a whole lot of feel
good stories that come with 10 players making their NHL debuts, but I
prefer to focus on the moment that really felt like it defined Nazem
Kadri as player.
Kadri had a rough October, and early November as he
was slow out of the gate on the score sheet when the team looked to him
to be a top line player. He got by on doing the little things, and by
peppering the league’s goaltenders with as many shots as possible in an
attempt to get things going for himself.
Some of those little things
were actually pretty big, like drawing penalties, and creating
turnovers, and by the time his season ended we had the complete picture
on Kadri. He’s transformed into a solid top six player who adds value at
each end of the ice, and he’s become one of the games top agitators.
mean, there were pretty goals, first goals, and a whole lot of feel
good stories that come with 10 players making their NHL debuts, but I
prefer to focus on the moment that really felt like it defined Nazem
Kadri as player.
Kadri had a rough October, and early November as he
was slow out of the gate on the score sheet when the team looked to him
to be a top line player. He got by on doing the little things, and by
peppering the league’s goaltenders with as many shots as possible in an
attempt to get things going for himself.
Some of those little things
were actually pretty big, like drawing penalties, and creating
turnovers, and by the time his season ended we had the complete picture
on Kadri. He’s transformed into a solid top six player who adds value at
each end of the ice, and he’s become one of the games top agitators.
What
better moment to capture Kadri’s evolution into that player than his
crushing hit on the game’s biggest pest. A sound defensive zone play in
its own right, it was one of the few plays this year that had me up out
of seat cheering for the Leafs as one the most hated players on the team
I hate most was taken to the ice on a clean hit.
better moment to capture Kadri’s evolution into that player than his
crushing hit on the game’s biggest pest. A sound defensive zone play in
its own right, it was one of the few plays this year that had me up out
of seat cheering for the Leafs as one the most hated players on the team
I hate most was taken to the ice on a clean hit.
TOM HUNTER
While he’s seen as a bit of a goon and a guy
that really shouldn’t be in the NHL, Rich Clune seems to genuinely love
playing the game of hockey and won’t take himself too seriously when
doing so. After conquering a number of personal demons, Clune was given a
second chance and he’s making the most of it. He’s an AHL depth guy
that got called up to fill a hole on a very bad team and yet Rich Clune
gave us one of the best in-game moments of a very painful season.
that really shouldn’t be in the NHL, Rich Clune seems to genuinely love
playing the game of hockey and won’t take himself too seriously when
doing so. After conquering a number of personal demons, Clune was given a
second chance and he’s making the most of it. He’s an AHL depth guy
that got called up to fill a hole on a very bad team and yet Rich Clune
gave us one of the best in-game moments of a very painful season.
In a
game against his former Nashville teammates, Clune took the opportunity
of an intermission interview with Mark Masters to cut a WWE-style promo
that had everyone laughing. He took a hilarious shot at long time AHL
rival Cody Bass during a time that is usually nothing more than
monotonous clichés. While the focus afterward was the levity he brought
to the interview, in a moment of vulnerability Clune might have let us
all in on how grateful he truly is to have this second chance, “I just
like playing against anybody”. There were a number of great highlights
skill on the ice this season, but it was this 45 seconds from Clune that
helped to remind us that these are guys playing a game, and it should
be fun for both them and the fans.
game against his former Nashville teammates, Clune took the opportunity
of an intermission interview with Mark Masters to cut a WWE-style promo
that had everyone laughing. He took a hilarious shot at long time AHL
rival Cody Bass during a time that is usually nothing more than
monotonous clichés. While the focus afterward was the levity he brought
to the interview, in a moment of vulnerability Clune might have let us
all in on how grateful he truly is to have this second chance, “I just
like playing against anybody”. There were a number of great highlights
skill on the ice this season, but it was this 45 seconds from Clune that
helped to remind us that these are guys playing a game, and it should
be fun for both them and the fans.
SHAWN REIS
There’s not much to remember this largely forgetful season by. It’s been a miserable year, one where the fate of the team seemed sealed before the skates even hit the ice. What’s there to cherish about a team that’s on the verge of finishing dead last in the league?
Easy: the Garret Sparks shutout. We all remember it. The Leafs were going through a rash of injuries in net and the Leafs called up the kid to make his NHL debut. A prospect making his NHL debut is always a little exciting. But I don’t think many expected the 7th-rounder that spent most of the previous year in the ECHL to become the first ever goalie in the entire history of the Leafs to post a shutout in his NHL debut.
Watch, remember, and cry, as we relive what is, for me, the moment above all others to remember the 2015-2016 Leafs by:
CAT SILVERMAN
Last year, if Mark Arcobello had scored two
goals in rapid succession on the 2014-15 Leafs roster, that would have
hands-down been my favorite moment of the year. This year, though, I’ll
call it my favorite moment out of sentimental attachment to the guy
who’s an American hero – but man, it’s close. The
Leafs actually gave me a ton of moments this year that I loved. The
Arcobello goals came while I was at a Panthers game in Florida, and I
actually stepped out into the hall to rewatch them a few times, ignoring
my first game seeing Roberto Luongo live in almost six years. The
Sparks shutout debut was great as well, though – would have loved to
have known what was going through his head when he realized he’d made
history. Maybe one day I’ll get to find out; that could easily push that
moment to my favorite of the year. Watching
Brad Boyes score his first goal as a Leaf was great. Seeing how loud
the team made the ACC at times was incredible; the Toronto native in me
couldn’t have wished for a better time to see the fans finally renew
some hope in the team. It would take forever to go through all the
moments this year that made me smile – which is new for the Leafs. But hey – you all know me. The best in-game moment was the Marcobello goals. Fight me on it, I dare you.
goals in rapid succession on the 2014-15 Leafs roster, that would have
hands-down been my favorite moment of the year. This year, though, I’ll
call it my favorite moment out of sentimental attachment to the guy
who’s an American hero – but man, it’s close. The
Leafs actually gave me a ton of moments this year that I loved. The
Arcobello goals came while I was at a Panthers game in Florida, and I
actually stepped out into the hall to rewatch them a few times, ignoring
my first game seeing Roberto Luongo live in almost six years. The
Sparks shutout debut was great as well, though – would have loved to
have known what was going through his head when he realized he’d made
history. Maybe one day I’ll get to find out; that could easily push that
moment to my favorite of the year. Watching
Brad Boyes score his first goal as a Leaf was great. Seeing how loud
the team made the ACC at times was incredible; the Toronto native in me
couldn’t have wished for a better time to see the fans finally renew
some hope in the team. It would take forever to go through all the
moments this year that made me smile – which is new for the Leafs. But hey – you all know me. The best in-game moment was the Marcobello goals. Fight me on it, I dare you.
ANTONELLA LOMBARDI
I’m struck by how difficult it is to choose
my favourite moment of the season, because I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a
single second of it. When the season kicked off, I couldn’t have been
any less engaged. Cut to February 29th, when William Nylander, Kasperi
Kapanen and Nikita Soshnikov made their NHL debut. Although there were
many amazing moments since the day the baby Leafs bounced on the scene,
it was a game against the New York Islanders on March 9th that cemented
my excitement for the next generation, as well as the rest of the
season. I was sitting in the 300s at the ACC when the Islanders were up
by one with 1:13 left of play in the game when Nylander tied it up with a
rebound. It wasn’t a pretty one by any means, but it was a good
reminder that he could turn into the guy who can come up big when the
chips are down. A few minutes later in OT, it was Soshnikov who scored
the goal that won the game for the boys in blue. It was a game where the
kids (Hyman also had a helper) were the difference makers. Maybe I was a
bit buzzed on $12 beers, but it was the most fun I’ve had watching a
Leafs game in a long-ass time.
What, no love for William Nylander’s first NHL goal? Or Connor Brown’s late-game heroics against the Ducks? What was your favorite in-game moment of the 2015-2016 Leafs season? Let us know in the comments.
my favourite moment of the season, because I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a
single second of it. When the season kicked off, I couldn’t have been
any less engaged. Cut to February 29th, when William Nylander, Kasperi
Kapanen and Nikita Soshnikov made their NHL debut. Although there were
many amazing moments since the day the baby Leafs bounced on the scene,
it was a game against the New York Islanders on March 9th that cemented
my excitement for the next generation, as well as the rest of the
season. I was sitting in the 300s at the ACC when the Islanders were up
by one with 1:13 left of play in the game when Nylander tied it up with a
rebound. It wasn’t a pretty one by any means, but it was a good
reminder that he could turn into the guy who can come up big when the
chips are down. A few minutes later in OT, it was Soshnikov who scored
the goal that won the game for the boys in blue. It was a game where the
kids (Hyman also had a helper) were the difference makers. Maybe I was a
bit buzzed on $12 beers, but it was the most fun I’ve had watching a
Leafs game in a long-ass time.
What, no love for William Nylander’s first NHL goal? Or Connor Brown’s late-game heroics against the Ducks? What was your favorite in-game moment of the 2015-2016 Leafs season? Let us know in the comments.
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