The NHL of the 1970's - by Moses

      In 1972 the NHL sent their best players to play the U.S.S.R in an 8 game Summit Series.  Canada won on a late goal scored by Paul Henderson in game 8.  However, did anything really change after the series?  The Russians still weren't allowed to play in the NHL based on their heritage. It was John Ziegler as Commissioner, Alan Eagleson as counsel to the players association, and owner Harold Ballard who denied the NHLPA the clout to organize with foreign nations' players.  This played a large part in players in the NHL in the seventies being screwed out of millions of dollars.  As well, it preserved a protectionist view to only have players from Canada play in the NHL.  While things eventually evolved in the players favour, it was still an anti-union sentiment being spewed across the NHL in the seventies and we saw an influx of fighting in the NHL of the seventies as a result to accommodate American interests.  Had Harold Ballard honoured the Summit Series of 1972 Toronto would have gone out and brought in a couple of Russian Hockey players to play for the Leafs.  The team U.S.S.R of 1972 was as talented as our Canadian players.  While the tournament did open doors for international superstars such as Borje Salming, Kent Nilsson, Anders Hedberg, and Ulf Nilsson (from Sweden) and Peter Stastny, Anton Stastny, and Marian Stastny (from Czechoslovakia) among others, the doors of accepting any view with socialism involved were still nil.  This killed the idea of ensuring skilled players from a worldwide market.  Even though the World Hockey Association was established just after the 1972 Summit Series and accommodated the signing of players' from Europe and beyond, they were still considered the lesser of the two leagues in comparison to the NHL.

  Has anyone noticed how good the level of Hockey has become.  Every team has at least two superstars on them.  The players from the U.S.A, Europe, and Russia has increased infinitely in number in the last 30 years.  This is testament to the league taking a global approach.  Likewise this is true of the talent in the League being on such an upswing.  What I'd like to know is this; If a Portuguese-Canadian is told 'We can't play you because you're Portuguese.'  Is this mantra of never hire outside of Canada (that was employed before the '72 Summit Series) ever going to resurface?  If it does then you can count me out of negotiation for my Nation of Canada. 

Proposed Toronto Maple Leafs Trade - by Moses

Trade

From the Toronto Maple Leafs - William Nylander to the Philadelphia Flyers for Wayne Simmonds.

As a result here is the Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the Post-Season;

Goalies

1.  Frederik Andersen
2.  Garret Sparks
3.  Michael Hutchinson

Defencemen

1.  Morgan Rielly
2.  Jake Muzzin
3.  Jake Gardiner
4.  Ron Hainsey
5.  Nikita Zaitsev
6.  Travis Demott
7.  Igor Ozhiganov
8.  Calle Rosen *

Forward Lines

              LW                                        C                                          RW

1.  Andreas Johnsson            Auston Matthews               Wayne Simmonds

2.  Zach Hyman                        John Tavares                       Mitch Marner

3.  Patrick Marleau                 Nazem Kadri                     Kasperi Kapanen

4.  Trevor Moore                   Frederik Gauthier                 Connor Brown

The 2018/19 Toronto Maple Leafs - by Moses

  The verdict is in, our Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas has made a deal and landed Jake Muzzin as our new number two defenceman.  We parted with our 2019 1st round pick and two top prospects to pick up Muzzin, who now teams with Morgan Rielly as our number 1 defence pairing.  To back them we have Jake Gardiner playing with Nikita Zaitsev on our second pairing and Ron Hainsey moves to the third pairing to help youngster Travis Dermott's progress.  This deal will probably secure the Leafs advancement into at least the third round of this years' playoffs by this writer's account.

  This is the Leafs team at this point (barring a move to possibly pick up a tough winger like a Wayne Simmonds);

Head Coach - Mike Babcock

Goalies

1.  Frederik Andersen
2.  Garret Sparks
3.  Michael Hutchinson

Defencemen

1.  Morgan Rielly
2.  Jake Muzzin
3.  Jake Gardiner
4.  Ron Hainsey
5.  Nikita Zaitsev
6.  Travis Dermott
7.  Igor Ozhiganov
8.  Calle Rosen *
9.  Justin Holl *

Forwards

1.  Mitch Marner
2.  Auston Matthews
3.  John Tavares
4.  Kasperi Kapanen
5.  Nazem Kadri
6.  Patrick Marleau
7.  William Nylander
8.  Zach Hyman
9.  Andreas Johnsson
10.Connor Brown
11.Trevor Moore
12.Frederik Gauthier

The Canadian Contingent of the NHL - by Moses

  This year of 2018/19 there are seven Canadian Teams in the NHL.  The Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadians, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and the Ottawa Senators.  The best of the bunch this writers' opinion is in order; 1) Toronto Maple Leafs 2) Winnipeg Jets 3) Calgary Flames 4) Montreal Canadians 5) Edmonton Oilers 6) Vancouver Canucks 7) Ottawa Senators.

  Each team has a strong core.  Toronto has John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, and Frederik Andersen to lead the way.  Winnipeg has Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, and Patrik Laine.  We're probably going to see Winnipeg vs Calgary in the Western Conference Finals.  Calgary is another powerhouse with studs Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Giordano, Matthew Tkachuk, Elias Lindholm, and Sean Monahan. Montreal has a good young core in Max Domi, Jonathan Drouin and Thomas Tatar, and strong leadership with Shea Weber and Carey Price.
  
  Wouldn't it be justice to Canada to see an all four Canadian team Semi-Finals this year.  It's achievable.  Toronto vs Montreal in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Winnipeg vs Calgary in the Western Finals.  Canadians bring their heart and souls to every Hockey game in our home court.  What's missing from the game from the American contingent is the passion for the game that we have here.  Are we to believe that the people in Nashville, Columbus, Carolina, Las Vegas, Arizona, (and soon to be Seattle) really give a shit about their Hockey teams and their players?  All they want is the to say they are the best, the American way.  Do they really know the micro of the game of Hockey itself (like we do in Canada) ?  How many times do we have to see Canadian Markets being sidestepped in the name of making the game of Hockey a money maker and appeasing American interests.  This game of Hockey is a Canadian thing.

  Let's analyze the remaining Canadian teams;  Edmonton still has a shot at making the playoffs, led by Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl among others they are top heavy in offence and would benefit from better Goaltending.  Having already fired McLellan and their General Manager they are definitely serious about success.  Hitchcock is a winner having already hoisted the prized Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars.

  Vancouver and Ottawa are teams for the future.  The Canucks have standouts Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser.  Ottawa likewise with Thomas Chabot, Matt Duchesne, and Mark Stone.  They may be out of the playoffs this year, but look out in a few years...

  It still stands to reason that Gary Betteman will eventually be taken out of power with a Canadian brought in to govern the owners.  This would provide the NHL with four more teams in Canada, namely Quebec City, Quebec, Markham, Ontario, Regina, Saskatchewan, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

  The reality is that Canadians deserve a sounding board and drive to Hockey.  We live it here.  We play it, go to the games, watch the games, and buy Hockey cards.  We commemorate to the World Juniors each and every year, watch the Olympics with our hearts on the line, and live through the Stanley Cup Finals every year.  Is the current NHL the vision as to how Gordie Howe envisioned the League to be upon his passing?