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Page 6ix Wednesday, October 7th: Free Agent Frenzy And More
Hello, gossip/drama lovers. Welcome to yet another busy week in the world of hockey soap operas. As the draft approached and free agency drew nearer, there seemed to be a ton of drama dust kicked up. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Leafs Land
This week was a relatively quiet one in the world of the Leafs, save for the draft. As you likely know, with their first round pick (acquired in the @Kasperi Kapanen trade), the Leafs drafted 19 year old Russian winger, Rodion Amirov. (I was pulling for the first round goalie, but this adorable kitten-saving Russian will do.) This choice predictably divided Leafs nation, but the details of that division are best saved for another post.
However, there was some fun to be had, as beloved Maple Leafs @Mitch Marner and @Morgan Rielly were on hand to announce the pick, and Mo was rocking quite the magical mustache.
Could the inclusion of these two players signal a deeper message, perhaps about the loyalty the front office feels to them, with constant chatter about who might be traded? And where was captain @John Tavares?
Free Agency Fun
Elsewhere, the St. Louis Blues are apparently displeased with the depth of the rumour mill surrounding captain @Alex Pietrangelo, so much so that they’re considering filing tampering charges!
The Blues are so convinced Pietrangelo's leaving to Vegas they're ready to file tampering charges 😭
Speaking of Vegas, word is they have other interests as well:
FWIW: I’ve had a couple sources mention Vegas has shown interest in Stamkos. How much interest? I’m honestly not sure. But @CraigCustance also mentions Vegas in this piece. Stamkos, Pietrangelo, Lundqvist, who’s next? That’s a lot of salary cap gymnastics....
Latest for @TheAthleticNHL: On Stamkos, Duchene, OEL, Strome and more 👇 theathletic.com/2119741/2020/1…
And, in an expected but fascinating update to the Vegas goalie drama, the team signed @Robin Lehner to a contract, but where does that leave @Marc-Andre Fleury?
Goaltender Robin Lehner has put pen to paper and signed a 5-year, $25 million extension to stay with the Vegas @GoldenKnights. Announcement expected later today. Lehner was No. 5 on #TSNHockey’s Top 75 free agents list. #FreeAgentFrenzy
Bits and Pieces
A couple other items to keep an eye on in the gossip world, including this little situation in L.A.:
The @LAKings have terminated the employment of Tim Smith, who portrayed their mascot Bailey. "We are not in a position to provide further details or comments on this matter due to pending litigation.” (first reported by @reallisa) Earlier story here: espn.com/nhl/story?id=2…
And then there was Gary Bettman’s response to the Bubble Confidential story:
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman shared these thoughts on @TSN1040 regarding ESPN's "bubble confidential" story, by yours truly and @emilymkaplan. As a reminder, the NHL banned journalists -- "so-called" or otherwise -- from its bubble, while the NBA had a rotating group of 20+.
Finally, a bit of good news. Congratulations to @Dylan Strome and his girlfriend on their pending new arrival:
Dylan Strome and his girlfriend Tayler McMahon announce they are expecting a baby girl! Congratulations to the couple 🍾 #Blackhawks
That’s all for now. Tune in next week, which should be chock full of free agency fallout. Check out our Twitter for daily gossip and hockey thoughts.
Breaking News
- Gerard Gallant expresses interest in Toronto job: Leafs Morning Take
- Maple Leafs Draft 2026: The recent history of the 60th overall pick
- Maple Leafs shouldn’t be picky with trade return for Morgan Rielly
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- Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky dives into process behind recruiting Gavin McKenna