13 musings: The mirages are former Maple Leafs in the desert sun

LAS VEGAS Caught up with Golden Knights Ben Hutton, who you may keep in mind was ever so briefly with the Maple Leafs.

Hutton landed with the Leafs on the commerce deadline final yr, and believed a Stanley Cup might need been in his future. Although he solely performed 4 video games, and none within the too-short playoffs, he rapidly felt a part of a staff appeared to be constructing one thing particular.

“You would simply sense the sensation across the locker room,” he mentioned. “The fellows knew that they had such a superb group. I used to be solely there for a brief interval, however everybody actually cared for not solely the remainder of staff however they wished to win the Cup. Everybody’s mindset was to win the Cup.”

In fact, that didn’t occur.

“That’s hockey. We ran right into a sizzling goalie,” Hutton mentioned. “I went in there and I had a good time. They handled me with nothing however respect. First-class group and the fellows had been nice within the locker room. So I’ll look again on the Leafs as a enjoyable time that was lower quick due to a sizzling goalie.”

Because of Hutton, there’s a little bit of a where-are-they-now feeling to this week’s 13 Musings. As at all times, in case you have a query, e mail me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I’ll reply it within the subsequent Mailbag.

1. Nick Foligno, the Leafs’ greatest commerce deadline acquisition final yr, has a aim and 5 assists in 23 video games in Boston and is battling a leg damage. He’s 34 with a cap hit of $3.8 million (U.S.) a yr. Bullet dodged.

2. The Leafs will be capable of renew acquaintances with Alex Galchenyuk on Wednesday once they face the Coyotes. (Phil Kessel and Travis Boyd, too.) Galchenyuk has no objectives and three assists in 15 video games with Arizona.

3. Michael Bunting will get to play in opposition to his former staff in Arizona. In some methods, Bunting is to the Leafs what Carter Verhaeghe is to the Florida Panthers. The staff that drafted him missed out on a late bloomer. Focus on.

4. Talking of reclamation tasks, don’t count on the Leafs to get in on Evander Kane. They’ve scouted him, after all, however you may’t learn into that they’re . Scouts scout. Finish of story.

5. In studying all of the hypothesis about the place Kane will land (after the grievance is settled, presumably), I stumbled throughout an previous Atlanta Thrashers roster. It was full of former Leafs, together with Nik Antropov, who's again with Toronto as a abilities growth advisor. Others on that Thrashers staff with Kane who additionally performed in Toronto: Colby Armstrong, Ron Hainsey, Zach Bogosian, Pavel Kubina, Tim Stapleton and Fredrik Modin. How’s that for a blast out of your previous.

6. Ex-Thrashers who stay energetic within the NHL: Kane, Bogosian, Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler. A bunch extra stay energetic in Europe and Russia.

7. It at all times amazed me that the Thrashers moved within the quiet of the night time, given the blessing of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman across the similar the time the Coyotes, because of BlackBerry inventor Jim Balsillie, had been having all types of get-out-of-town points. Bettman put his foot down on any tried transfer out of Arizona (if Balsillie had gained possession in chapter court docket) however was silent on the Thrashers (who had been run by a really disinterested possession group).

8. True story. Again then, we had a giant dialogue within the Star sports activities newsroom of how we'd cowl two NHL groups in Toronto, and the challenges that will pose from a journey and price range perspective. Would we cowl each on a regular basis? Lean on the one which’s profitable,? Or would Leafs protection nonetheless prevail, as a result of even when the Leafs are unhealthy, as they had been then, they’re a compelling learn.

9. It looks as if that Coyotes saga merely by no means ends. They’re getting kicked out of Glendale, to the west of Phoenix, following this season. Now it seems to be as if their plan to construct a rink in Tempe, to the east, is in jeopardy. Metropolis council there may be having second ideas.

10. Their attendance points could possibly be solved in the event that they merely performed downtown. Central places are at all times higher, throughout the board. Return to sharing an enviornment with the NBA staff.

11. My cash is on them enjoying in Houston.

12. Been in Vegas for a number of days, and I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen the place emptier. The casinos and shops I’ve been in definitely are taking masking significantly. I want they’d take smoking simply as significantly. You'll be able to smoke in these locations. That’s extra annoying. (Sorry people who smoke, however you realize what I’m speaking about.)

13. My greatest concern isn’t getting sick from the virus. I’m vaxxed and topped up and really cautious. My concern is testing optimistic earlier than a flight house and getting caught someplace. Perhaps I ought to turn into the Star’s roving U.S. hockey correspondent.