Episode 61 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 8-4-2023

Episode 61 Of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics Include-

#1. The Arizona Coyotes are looking to extend the contract of head coach Andre Tourigny.

#2. The arbitration process has now kicked into full gear as Toronto Maple Leaf’s goaltender Ilya Samsonov has been awarded a one-year contract worth $3.55 million, after significantly being apart with the club who was offering 2.4 million and the play side wanting 4.9 million. This at least gives stability to the goal tending position this upcoming season. However, one has to wonder if Samsonov will decide to move on from Toronto after the 2023/2024 season has concluded.

#3. It’s been confirmed that defenseman Erik Karlsson’s agent has had contact with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leaf’s. In the case of the Carolina Hurricanes, it just doesn’t seem like a good fit. In the case of the Pittsburgh Penguins, it would seem to an all for one, one for all send off for Crosby, Malkin and Latang to win one more Stanley Cup before ripping the team apart and down to its foundation in an all-out rebuild. which can clearly be seen coming very soon in Pittsburgh. Salery cap issues in Toronto would have to kill that option, so in the end Seattle might be his best option as he could a young teams defense and have a lot more freedom than anywhere else, or he stays put in San Jose and is untradable.

#4. Kyle Dubas must love pressure. Although there was always a lot in Toronto, wait until the Sydney Crosby era officially ends. From that day forward, the weight of the world will be upon his shoulders, as both the Lemieux and Crosby era’s will both be in the rearview mirror, and there is no one in the waiting unless Pittsburgh gets extremely lucky again like they did in in 2005 when they drafted Crosby.

#5. It’s been a very interesting offseason for the Toronto Maple Leaf’s starting with the very emotional end of year conference held by Kyle Dubas and his dispatching, followed by the hiring of Brad Treliving as the new G.M., A New Assistant G.M. in Derek Clancy newly added assistant coaches Guy Boucher and Mike Van Ryn, the addition of Max Domi Coming, Tyler Bertuzzi, John Klingberg, Dylan Gambrell, Ryan Reeves, William Lagesson, Max Lajoie, Marshall Rifai w and Goalie prospect Artur Akhtyamov who has been playing in Russia and was a 4^th round pick in the 2020 draft by the Maple Leaf’s all being added to the roster and the contracts of Austin Matthews and William Nylander that still remain.

#6. Jim Nill, general Manager of the Dallas Stars, has signed a 2-year contract extension.