Back to Excited Hockey Podcast

Today we discuss: The Leafs’ poor numbers [0:45] The depth forwards [13:45] The depth defensemen [45:54]

Today we discuss: Calgary game - 2:08 Can we clone Zach Hyman - 5:08 The trouble with Jimmy Vesey - 9:43 How should we arrange the top two lines with Thornton out - 12:01 The Leafs offense/defense tradeoff - 16:12 The Rielly / Brodie pairing and their bad numbers - 30:01 Laine / Dubois trade - 39:30.

Topics include: Recapping the first three games [0:20] Our initial takeaways [10:20] Discussing the forwards [14:02] Discussing the defence [39:01] Is there a goalie controversy? (No) [57:58] Audio note: There is some feedback on Arvind's track which results in some light beeping; sorry for the annoyance. We think there’s something wrong with his microphone, which will be fixed for next week. Our...

Today we discuss the Leafs forward lines and defence pairings: Thornton - Matthews - Marner: 3:18 Vesey - Tavares - Nylander: 20:52 Mikheyev - Kerfoot/Engvall - Hyman: 35:10 Barabanov - Spezza - Simmonds: 49:30 Rielly - Brodie: 57:48 Muzzin - Holl: 1:02:40 Lehtonen - Bogosian: 1:04:52

Today we have some assorted preseason ramblings, including: What a successful season looks like for the Leafs The World Juniors, and our impressions of Leafs prospects Ottawa’s trade for Derek Stepan

Today we chat about some topics that have been on our mind recently. This includes: Whether McDavid is still the best player in the world [1:01] Sportsnet’s list of the best centres and wingers on Canadian teams [33:38] Travis Dermott, again [1:02:01] The Canadian division and how it impacts the Leafs [1:09:51]

Today we discuss the second half of the league in our Around the NHL series. Timestamps are: Montreal Canadiens [1:30] Nashville Predators [18:00] New Jersey Devils [29:46] New York Islanders [35:58] New York Rangers [47:13] Ottawa Senators [51:41] Philadelphia Flyers [59:54] Pittsburgh Penguins [1:05:24] San Jose Sharks [1:10:44] St. Louis Blues [1:13:19] Tampa Bay Lightning [1:19:47] Vancouver C...

Today we discuss half the NHL and their offseasons, including: Anaheim Ducks [3:00] Arizona Coyotes [11:53] Boston Bruins [32:36] Buffalo Sabres [39:41] Calgary Flames [52:38] Carolina Hurricanes [58:41] Chicago Blackhawks [1:03:47] Colorado Avalanche [1:08:50] Columbus Blue Jackets [1:12:37] Dallas Stars [1:16:10] Detroit Red Wings [1:19:46] Edmonton Oilers [1:21:48] Florida Panthers [1:28;30] Lo...

Episode 121 - Leafs Depth Signings and Front Office Hires by Arvind, Acting the Fulemin

Episode 120 - Leafs Free Agency + Draft Recap by Arvind, Acting the Fulemin

Episode 119 - Cup Final Lessons & Alex Pietrangelo by Arvind, Acting the Fulemin

Mailbag time!

Today we discuss: The trade [0:48] Fulemin rains on our parade (which we JUST planned) [1:44] What the Leafs gave up in Kasperi Kapanen [6:18] What the Leafs got back in Evan Rodrigues [16:30], Filip Hallander [26:54], and the 15th overall pick [39:07]. Should the Leafs trade or keep the pick [41:15]

Today we discuss: Whether the Leafs are actually capped out (they are) [2:24] Whether Cody Ceci is actually good defensively [9:03] The leave-Britney-alone routine Dubas pulls to defend Mitch Marner [21:11] How good is the Leafs core and is there reason to doubt them [53:22] Where Dubas goes from here [1:10:40]

Today, we go 90 minutes deep on the Leafs series against Columbus and break it all down, discussing what went wrong, the Leafs overall level of play, and the questions it raises going forward.

We chat about the craziness of Games 3 and 4, and Jim Hughson’s no-good, very bad call.

We discuss the Leafs dominant Game 2 win over the Blue Jackets and Jake Muzzin's injury

We react to the disappointing Game 1 result for the Leafs.

Today, we’re discussing: The Leafs’ exhibition win over the Canadiens - 0:35 Our impressions of Nick Robertson’s (sort of) NHL debut - 3:30 Our continued frustration with Tyson Barrie - 9:25 The Columbus Blue Jackets, and how we think the series will go - 18:30 The ongoing John Chayka saga in Arizona - 49:00 Bad takes of the week - 56:00

Today we discuss: NHL RTP - 0:25 Line combos - 5:43 Nick Robertson and whether he'll make the Leafs roster - 21:44 CBJ defence - 30:52 Sandin vs Robertson - 47:41 Marner vs Nylander - 50:01

Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited. Today we discuss: The NHL Draft lottery - 0:59 Hub cities - 4:49 NHL awards including the Hart (12:25), Norris (22:04), Calder (29:10), Vezina (33:07) and Selke (37:30) We also have some fake awards to discuss, such as Worst Under-30 Contract (42:11), Worst GM Move In The Past Year (53:20) and Player Who Used To Be Underrated But Isn’t Anymore(59:14)

Today, we welcome Shawn Ferris (@shawnferris98) and Olivia Lin (@oliviaylin) onto the podcast to talk about the Leafs power play and how it has changed over the last two seasons. Shawn and Olivia co-wrote an excellent analysis of this idea and it’s worth checking out for the level of detail and effort that went into it, including tracking information, shot assist patterns, and shot location patter...

Today we discuss: Black Lives Matter, systemic injustice, and hockey [0:28] Comparing the NHL and NBA’s plans to return to play [47:42] The PPP Top 25 Under 25 [57:53] If you’re looking to help: Various ways to donate your time / effort to BLM (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/) A Toronto-specific template to email your elected official to discuss the police budget (https://docs.google.com/docum...

Today, we discuss: Adam Brooks’ new deal [1:00] The proposed (and tentatively accepted) 24 team NHL playoff structure [9:31] The Columbus Blue Jackets (the expected Leafs opponent in the play-in round) [27:35] Does it make sense to call Nick Robertson up for the playoffs [35:59]

Today we discuss: The Mikko Lehtonen signing [4:34] Arvind revisits Esa Lindell theory [33:39] Paul McFarland leaving the Leafs, and their PP [40:15]