(NOT SO) Deep thoughts
A few random thoughts for National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day (that’s true, so load up) ...
$6.25 MILLION FOR GOLF ... The Leafs aren’t done yet — unless you waited until Sunday morning to read your paper, in which case they might be — but it’s probably worth pointing out here that if they lose to Boston, that’ll be five years since head coach Mike Babcock won a single playoff series.
That wouldn’t always be newsworthy but when you’re the league’s highest-paid coach it starts to become noticeable.
STILL WAITING
Speaking of playoff droughts, everyone knows 1967 was the last year the Leafs won the Cup. Which puts them in a tie with St. Louis for longest time without a sip from the goblet. But if they lose to Boston it will have been 14 seasons since they even won a playoff series.
How brutal is that? Every other NHL team has won at least one in that time except Winnipeg, and they’re poised to do that soon. Vegas hasn’t even been in the league a full season and it’s won one. Chicago and Pittsburgh have won three Cups in that time.
Meaning the Leafs now lead in two too-long-without-success-inthe-playoffs categories.
The passion that unites us all, indeed.
HOCKEY’S WORST FACE SALAD
Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine is a heck of a goal scorer. Nobody’s going to argue that. But good golly, is that beard of his ever ugly. Seriously, it looks like a billy goat and a leprechaun had a love child and raised it Mennonite.
Most players grow a playoff beard. He should absolutely start a new tradition by shaving his.
MISGUIDED PERHAPS
Former Hamilton Bulldogs coach Sylvain Lefebvre was fired as coach of the Montreal Canadiens’ farm team this week. The 50-year-old finished his six seasons with the club with a record of 188-210-58 — which really means 188 wins and 268 losses — while missing the playoffs five times and winning just a lone playoff game. Here in Hamilton, he was 106-132 and was never close to making the playoffs.
During the team’s final year here, Montreal GM Marc Bergevin said he was happy with Lefebvre’s work, explaining that he was required to play the same system Michel Therrien was using with the Canadiens.
“Maybe Sylvain has other ideas how to (coach) but he doesn’t have much of a choice,” Bergevin said.
If that was the case and he truly was a seen as a talented coach whose hands were tied, forcing
him into a losing situation, perhaps the wrong guy was just fired.
WHO BUYS A ZUCCARELLO?
You might be surprised who’s at the top of the list of best-selling NHL sweaters this year.
According to the league, Auston Matthews is No. 1 — which is a bit of a surprise — followed by Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. So far, so reasonable, right? But the next names on the top-10 list? Marc-Andre Fleury, Henrik Lundqvist, Alex Ovechkin, Matt Zuccarello, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Vladimir Tarasenko.
THE B’S ARE BACK IN TOWN
After five years in Ancaster, the Jr. B Avalanche are leaving Morgan Firestone Arena and relocating to the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena to become the Hamilton Kilty B’s.
The Kilty B’s operated in this city from 1977 to 2003, for the first 16 years as a junior B team and then for 10 as a provincial junior A team. In 2003, the name was changed to the Hamilton Red Wings which remained until the team moved to Markham in 2015. Of course, the name moved with the team. It has been purchased back from the owner of the Markham team, Stu Hyman.
He, being the father of Toronto Maple Leaf forward, Zach.
DANGEROUS DUO
Going into Friday night’s Game 2 of the OHL semifinal series against Kingston, two Hamilton players had the longest active point streaks in the league. Nicholas Caamano had collected points in 11 straight games and Ryan Moore had found his way onto the scoresheet in 10.
The pair was acquired together in a trade with Flint back in November.
NOT AGAIN
The Bulldogs are not just playing against Kingston right now but against a bit of history, too.
The last two times the Bulldogs made it to the semifinals — both as a member of the American Hockey League — they lost those series in seven games. In 2010 (with Guy Boucher as head coach) they fell to the Texas Stars, and in 2011 they lost to the Houston Aeros.
TIME FOR SOME SADNESS
Again, the Leafs aren’t done yet even though it appears they soon will be. And if they do fall to the Bruins, it’ll simply add another chapter to a lengthy list of gut-punch disappointments delivered to sports fans in this area. The worst for each team around here ...
Hamilton Tiger Cats
A 90-yard Brandon Banks punt return touchdown that would’ve won the Ticats the Grey Cup is called back for an illegal block. Cats lose to Calgary.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Up by three with 11 minutes to play in Game 7 of a first-round series in 2013, the Leafs collapsed. Then lost the game — and the series — in OT.
Toronto Blue Jays
After Jose Bautista hit that home run against Texas, the powerhouse 2015 Jays looked like shoo-ins for the World Series. Only to lose in six to Kansas City.
Hamilton Bulldogs
Game 7 of the AHL semifinals in 2012 ended when a Houston Aeros player controversially slid feet-first toward the Bulldogs net, driving the goalie and the puck across the line for the winner.
Toronto Raptors
A good Toronto team was humiliated as it was swept 4-0 by Paul Pierce and a mediocre Washington Wizards team in the first round in 2015.
TFC
The best team in MLS lost the 2016 championship in penalties at home to a Seattle team that didn’t take a single shot on net during regulation and extra time.
YUCK. YUCK. YUCK.
Athletes who switch teams always want to have a strong start to make a good first impression with their teammates and new fans.
Carlos Santana went from Cleveland to Philadelphia and has started the season hitting .141. That’s third-worst in the Major Leagues. Randal Grichuk came from St. Louis to Toronto and has launched his Blue Jays’ career batting .088 with just five hits in his first 57 at bats.
But pity poor Logan Morrison. After signing with Minnesota following two years in Tampa, he’s begun his Twins’ career going 3-44 with just two RBI and a .068 batting average. Which is dead last in the bigs.
COMING HOME
Might want to circle June 19 and 20 on your baseball calendar. Those are the days the Atlanta Braves visit Toronto to play the Jays. If things go according to plan, that’ll be the day Bautista returns to the Rogers Centre with his new team.
It is still impossible not to smile and get goosebumps watching the Bat Flip home run. Which might get a viewing or two on the Jumbotron that series.