Episode 66 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 9-7-2023

If your a hockey fan, don't miss Episode 66 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast.

#1. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have signed coach Sheldon Keefe to a multiyear contract.

#2. The Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL have signed former NHL coach Bill Peters as their new head coach.

#3. Left Winger Carl Hagelin has announced his retirement due to an eye injury.

#4. Get off Jonathan Drouin’s back. He’s gone, it’s time to move on and get over it.

#5. What’s with the naysayers that just can’t except sophomore players succeeding, is it jealousy?

#6. Arber Xhekaj is far more than the resident tough guy. He was the MVP of the team last season from the 1st game he played right up to the point of his injury, it would be catastrophic to send him down to Laval. Cole Caufield better have a heck of a career insurance policy in place!

#7. The definition of a role model. Arber Xhekaj was an undrafted and unsigned walk both at the OHL and NHL levels, he has a perseverance, drive, desire, commitment, expectation, and demand within him that can not be taught or instilled, it’s innate.

#8. What is with the insane critiquing of prospects Juraj Slafkovsky who has only played 39 NHL games and 7 international games and David Reinbacher who was just drafted in June 2023 NHL draft. They are 19- and 18-year kids respectively.

#9. Juraj Slafkovsky, David Jiricek Simon Nemec and Logan Cooley from the 2022 draft, and David Reinbacher amongst others from the 2023 draft are all elite level talents, unless injuries alter their careers.

#10. Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel are solid players, BUT THEY ARE NOT Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby or Conner McDavid.

#11. There are 2 options regarding Josh Anderson. Option #1 is to leverage and trade him to a team that he fits exactly into to maximize the return for Montreal. Option #2 is the exact roster spot with the perfect linemates from the moment the puck drops in pre-season, then into the 2023/2024 regular season and right up to the week before the 2023/2024 trade deadline and see how he does lining up with Kirby Dach at Center and Juraj Slafkovsky on left wing every single shift in every game. If Anderson can’t hit 30 plus goals and 70 or more points per season at that point, the time has arrived too him and his 5.5 million per season contract.

#12. 2023/2024 offensive line combinations for the Montreal Canadiens Line #1 Alex Newhook at RW, Nick Suzuki at C and Cole Caufield at LW. Line #2. Josh Anderson at RW, Kirby Dach at C and Juraj Slafkovsky at LW. Line #3. Brendan Gallagher at RW, Sean Monahan at C and Rapheal Harvey-Pinard at LW. Line #4. Jake Evans at RW, Christian Dvorak at C and Michael Pezzetta at LW, and Joel Armia is the 13th forward. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave any open offensive roster spots for any other rookies to fight for, but it also sets up Laval with a great roster for an excellent season.