Rick Westhead

@rwesthead
Several team execs, sponsors and player agents tell me they are bracing for the NHL's possible release of an investigation report re an alleged sexual assault involving as many as eight players on Canada's 2018 world juniors team.
If NHL names and suspends players allegedly involved, affected players would likely appeal any sanctions to an arbitrator, as per CBA, and may pursue defamation lawsuits vs league, said agent of one player who attended 2018 Hockey Canada gala.
(While an investigating officer in October wrote in court documents he believes there are grounds to charge at least five players, police in London continue to decline comment other than to say an investigation is ongoing.)
10:38 AM · Jul 13, 2023
- Symba007

Suing for defamation would be a bold strategy

new blog everyone

- Skalapy

There totally is a try, Yoda was just (frank)ing with Luke there.

I think the baseline for the DeBrincat trade is probably a decent framework for value - a top-6F or top-4D with a prospect and a 1st round pick. The quality of that player could improve incrementally depending the contract situation with the player in question and so on (the allusion here is to one of the Calgary players).

The problem with value is that it's mired in so many factors - interest, need and so on. Right now with the dead cap for the past 4 years, most "have" teams don't have space.

The guys who could take Nylander on right now are: Nashville, Detroit, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Seattle, Arizona, Chicago and Anaheim. The guys who could probably make room for him via trade or expiring deals are Buffalo, San Jose, Calgary, and then some guys like Philadelphia and Florida could make it happen.

Like in theory anyone could make it happen, but most teams aren't going to blow up portions of the roster for one guy or sacrifice next year's assets for that. I mean . . .hey . . . Vegas would have, but now they are fresh out of $9m spots on the roster!

When I look at those teams, Seattle, Calgary and . . . maybe Detroit if they are trying to fast track . . . .could be interested. But Seattle doesn't seem like they want to imbalance their payroll and Calgary and Detroit would be contingent upon extensions!
- Monkeypunk

Thanks Monkey. Can always count on you for a thorough and informative response. Always much appreciated!

In the Leafs blog you infer and passive aggressively do it as we are seeing today with your comments about 40 goals being scored and getting your back up when a Leafs fan countered with a negative comment about your beloved Bruins.

Yet in the other blogs you yap about the Leafs negatively a lot & then come back here pretending you are just here to 'talk hockey' and don't troll.

You can deny it but I've read it many times.
- Cush29

I have a different opinion about what constitutes a "40 goal scorer". How is that a big deal.

When the response to my different opinion is pot-shots at the Bruins, I shoot back. I never started one of those negative "fights". But you are free to search back and prove me wrong.