Dawson signs to boot, Rockets sign winner
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
Don’t toss this rag away to soon – it’s the last hockey related column I will write for a couple of months. Promise. (Sort of).
I was not going to scribble on about anymore hockey for a while, however I had so many Leaf fans (or non-fans) comment or ask for comment since the Leafs tumbled from the tree that I had little choice,
I’d concluded, following my disastrous prediction results last month that I may have to re-evaluate my childhood fantasy of becoming an NHL general manager or coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, I think I discovered the problem with the Leafs.
The Leafs.
The team that’s not won the Stanley Cup since 1967 managed to choke the Ottawa Senators out in the first round, showing great potential to go all the way. In the second round Toronto looked ready to move through the returning champion Florida Panthers but when their top goalie Anthony Stolarz went down due to a cheap, dirty hit by Sam Bennett (that should have been major), they took their foot off Florida’s throat.
Meanwhile the Panthers sharpened their claws and showed no intention of going down without a fight. My heart broke as I watched the boys in blue lose their focus. Mitch Marner, Auston Mathews, and William Nylander all seemed to lose their skating skills and focus. Even the dependable veteran leader John Tavares seem to hit the tank.
I admit putting a lot of this collapse on coaching decisions as well, which I rarely do with playoff games. Some bad decisions as to benching a few players such as Nick Robertson, early time outs, benching Domi…
Like many Canadian hockey fans I held hope out that if the good ole’ Leafs failed again that at least Winnipeg or Edmonton might pull through. However not even those studs on skates succeeded. Connor Hellebuyck did win the Vezina Trophy for his goaltending even though his club never survived the second round.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will have a lot of angry fans to deal with in Edmonton, though having a healthy Zack Hyman playing with them would have certainly helped.
Management may pay the price in the summer if the Oil management fail to add depth at goaltending position. Even a messiah needs a rest.
A few managers and coaches will likely relocate this summer, and a few major players find new uniforms. Foolish as it sounds I would like the Leafs to somehow keep Marner, Nylander and Nyes.
I also firmly believe that Montreal is off to a tremendous rebuild with rookie of the year Calder trophy winner Lane Hutson back on the blue line.
Who better than the Montreal Canadians to pull off a hockey miracle? Watch for their 18-year-old Russian rookie to turn the hockey world on his head during his first month in North America.
When it comes to miracles on ice it looks like our own Kelowna Rockets will pick the top of the CHL import draft for the first time in our franchise history. Sports guru Wayne Moore of Castanet tells us the “Rockets secured the Number 1 overall pick Monday in a deal with the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Rockets sent the Warriors their second-round import pick along with a 2026 first round and 2027 third round pick in the WHL prospects draft. With the deal, the Rockets now hold the first, seventh and 132nd overall selections
“The deal will give the Rockets an opportunity to grab two top European players as they build up the roster for the 2026 Memorial Cup which they will host. CHL teams will be allowed to carry three non-North American imports next season. The import draft will be held Wednesday, July 2.”
Thanks Wayne
I may have to change my fantasy to becoming a football coach if my hockey record does not clean up.
Or perhaps I simply did not pick up the right family gene way back. Regardless my nephew Dawson Hodge just recently scribbled his name on a piece of paper with the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team making him their official kicker. In addition to that great news Dawson was picture was placed on the 2024 Wall of Fame as Coquitlam’s University as Male Athlete of the year. Dawson played football for Laurier University and had a great season that included playing in the national Vanier Cup.
My cousin, Craig Hodge, attended the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame Induction event as both a city councillor and a proud parent. Congratulations to my cousin and my nephew!
