Did ANYTHING else happen in the hockey world this week besides @Tone DeAngelo getting waived and the subsequent rumours and reports about the behind the scenes drama with the Rangers?
I mean I guess so but who can remember it when the Tony of it all is going on?
I’ll do my best to remind you of what else is happening, but don’t we all just want to know who really punched Tony D?
Leafs Lads
As always, we begin by focusing on our boys in blue, who have had a really great start to the season. They went on a 4 game winning streak and 5 game point streak, and Frederik Andersen is looking much more solid in net. Of course, we’re still dealing with some injuries, but Joe Thornton and Nicholas Robertson are back on the ice skating, which is a good sign!
#Leafs Ice Chips from @markhmasters: With the team not playing for a few days, Joe Thornton and Nick Robertson are skating and making progress in their recovery – https://t.co/qyLbP14xOO#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/EgXj4MW1vE
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) February 1, 2021
Of course, it is NOT great that Alexander Kerfoot did not take part in practice:
Alex Kerfoot is absent from #leafs practice, but skated early with Joe Thornton. Nic Petan has been called up to the practice group.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 2, 2021
Also – no sign of Jack Campbell yet.
Meanwhile, rumours continue to swirl following Matthew Tkachuk’s meltdown after Jake Muzzin flipped a puck at him.
Am I to believe that Matthew Tkachuk threw a hissy fit that no one stood up for him and called a team meeting? Is that what I just heard?
— Justin Fisher (@thejustinfisher) January 31, 2021
And finally, Justin Holl celebrated a birthday this past week. To help him celebrate, take a look at the many faces of Holl:
the many faces, and hairstyles, of justin holl pic.twitter.com/ndBfL7oZih
— 🐞🌈 (@oliveandmain) February 2, 2021
The Six Situation
Gotta check in on how our Toronto ladies are doing over in the Lake Placid NWHL Bubble. Oh, what’s that? They’re first seed right now?
I can’t get over @TheTorontoSix.
Brand new team. 7 practices with the whole roster. Lost their first 2 games.
And then what happened?
4 straight wins, first seed heading into the semifinals.
If you aren’t watching this team, why not?
— Mer (@MerOutLoud) February 1, 2021
That’s right they are! However, despite the Six’s strong season so far, there continues to be drama in the “Bubble” – as two teams have now left/pulled out:
The Metropolitan Riveters have withdrawn from the 2021 NWHL season after several members of the organization tested positive for COVID-19.
Press Release: https://t.co/D8b0kxYz5q
— NWHL (@NWHL) January 28, 2021
The NWHL has accepted the decision of the Connecticut Whale to forfeit their game scheduled for earlier tonight against Minnesota and to withdraw from the tournament.
— NWHL (@NWHL) February 2, 2021
It remains unclear why the Whale decided to pull out of the tournament, as it seems that lack of clarity around taxi squad and quarantining rules may have caused some discontent in the league.
Nonetheless, the semi-finals are a go, beginning tomorrow!
The @NWHL #IsobelCup semis are set for Thursday on NBCSN:@thebostonpride vs. @WhitecapsHockey @BuffaloBeauts vs. @TheTorontoSix
From @onherturf: https://t.co/hNRJczOpd6
— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) February 2, 2021
We can’t wait to cheer on The Toronto Six!
Sabres Seriously Discontent with Devils
Uh oh.
The Sabres’ game tonight is postponed because of COVID-19 protocols.
But the real story is what happened over the weekend.
“Buffalo is furious.” https://t.co/OwOxrGVoSI
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) February 2, 2021
According to The Athletic, the Sabres are seriously pissed off that their games are postponed due to COVID protocol. The team, it is being reported, believes they were not given all the information and were put in a dangerous situation when they played the Devils.
This COVID-impacted season is complicated in so many ways, and keeping everyone safe and healthy is proving to be a challenge.
Panic in Pittsburgh?
Jim Rutherford unexpectedly up and quit this week. Yep, he resigned, out of nowhere, citing personal reasons, though some believe the “personal reasons” are a strong difference of opinion with ownership on the direction of the team.
Jim Rutherford has resigned as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, citing personal reasons.
Patrik Allvin, the team’s assistant general manager, has been promoted to interim GM, and the search for a new GM will begin immediately.
Details: https://t.co/VMYNzYkXcX pic.twitter.com/d846dWrpIC
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 27, 2021
Ta Ta, Tony
And finally, the biiiiig story of the week. Tony DeAngelo was put on waivers, and unclaimed. That’s a story in and of itself, but there’s MORE. Rumours are swirling GALORE, but what seems to remain consistently reported is that Tony got into an altercation with a teammate (both Alexandar Georgiev and Chris Kreider have been suggested as the teammate), and that was considered the “last straw” by the Rangers, who have definitively said he will not play for the team again.
Nothing confirmed
(I’m trying to actually have journalistic integrity, if you follow me you know I’m a dummy)
But the leading rumors on Tony from around the league is
– Tony instigated an altercation after the game
– A “bigger” player retaliated
– NYR had enough
— Ryan Mead (@OhRyanMead) January 31, 2021
There are also rumours about Tony’s relationship with rookie K’Andre Miller, and though some of the stories have been officially denied, the bottom line is:
K’Andre Miller should never have had to be in a locker room with Tony DeAngelo but the Rangers showed from day one that Miller’s comfort or safety wasn’t a priority.
— Jashvina Shah (@icehockeystick) February 1, 2021
And now Darren Dreger is reporting “interest” in Tony around the league:
Per @DarrenDreger there is suddenly league-wide interest in Tony DeAngelo and a trade could be coming in a matter of days. Color me surprised. #NYR
— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) February 2, 2021
Which seems suspect, but I guess you never know…
And just as a brief reminder, Tony had issues before even making it to the NHL, and was suspended more than once for his behaviour, including calling a teammate a slur.
So, we’ll be watching closely to see what happens next.
That’s all for this week, folks. Stay tuned, and catch the NWHL playoffs starting tomorrow, on NBCSN in the USA and on Twitch in Canada and elsewhere!
