Have fun today @CountingDown. I wish we could’ve attended!
And, in one of the least surprising bits of sports news ever, on Sunday Rafael Nadal won another French Open, defeating, it seemed, someone from the Washington Generals. Then, on Monday, there was nothing but mid-season baseball. I felt drained.
Not the Stanley Cup but our Marlies won the Calder Cup last night in game 7 of the AHL finals. It was a very exciting night even though the game was one-sided with a 6-1 victory. Many of these AHL teams have a challenging season because so many of the players are up and down with their NHL teams. Several of these kids played often for the Leafs this season and it’s nice for them to have this experience of winning the championship.
The team has come close in previous years, finishing first in their division five times in the past seven years and second in the other two. With all the great young talent currently on the Leafs, it’s a bonus to have even more waiting in the wings.
I saw video of Pete Flagler, the assistant equipment manager, celebrating with the Marlies. Congrats to all of them on a great season!
Hershey is our AHL team and there are usually a fair number of callups to the Caps. Makes it tough on the AHL players to work as cohesive lines, so winning the championship is quite an accomplishment!
@CountingDown Yes, Pete was thrilled! He’s such a sweet kid and everyone loves him. It’s especially nice to see him with Connor Brown who plays with the Leafs. They went to high school together.
Lots of hockey excitement in Toronto today when John Tavares signs with the Leafs!! The biggest free agency signing in recent NHL history. Here’s hoping that next spring’s Stanley Cup thread has the Leafs going further. 
Jay Beagle was traded from the Caps to Vancouver. Much sadness over him leaving, but happy that he’s going to get PAID and that he got a good term. BMGM has been doing some great things this offseason (though I liked Trotz).
Beagle wasn’t traded, he was an unrestricted free agent. Vancouver can use a veteran with all the younguns they have and with the retirement of the Sundins. A fourth line centre who is good on the penalty kill is a good add for them.
Yes, he was a free agent – sorry. As soon as I mentioned it, even DH, who is not into sports AT ALL, pointed that out. Couldn’t edit in time, though! I’d heard through various reports on Fri. that VAN’s offer was initially lower, but that Beagle was getting a lot of interest.
Beagle’s a big loss for the Caps—seriously, I’m convinced that at least half the reason they beat the Lightning was that Beagle starting just owning them on faceoffs.
Yes, the younger guys will have to step up. Caps also got Nic Dowd (formerly of VAN) today; expected to be a 4th line center. Only a one-year contract. His faceoff win percentage was 50.9 last year. Beagle was a faceoff specialist, and yes, they will miss him for that. Agree that he saved our bacon many times in the playoffs.
I agree that the Caps will miss Beagle. He has developed into a very valuable team asset. Early in his career, he took far too many penalties but he learned how to control those impulses and was focused on being a good contributor wherever he was inserted into the game. I always admire a player who stays with his original team for as long as he has. A player I know thinks that he made the decision to be closer to his and his wife’s family at this stage of their lives. That can be a strong draw.
Yes, it was reported yesterday that another baby Beagle is on the way! Glad he’ll be closer to his family and that he’s getting a good contract.
$12 million for 4 years to a 32 year old - that’s more than the Caps could justify for a 4th line center, even though Beagle was a key contributor in their Stanley Cup push. His maturity and faceoff skills will be missed, but he’s cashing in a bit after the Cup and not worth what he’s getting.
@“Cardinal Fang” The first thing I thought about when I heard about the Karlsson trade was how luck you are to be able to watch him this season! Way to go Sharks.