OFFSIDE HOCKEY TALK (aka James from Offside)

Poisoned Well - Maple Leafs Locked Down (Let's Go @MapleLeafs fans lets have a chat) #LeafsForever x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

If Mr. @DaveAMcCarthy leans into the insider role I hope we get “Breaking From Estate” when news roles in. Cheers good sir

@TicTacTOmar Not a bad choice

Bo Groulx, it’s time to win the Calder Cup

@P_A_double_P @TorontoMarlies @MapleLeafs Like the call Ed !! Watch it be Pezetta

@OFFSIDETALK @TorontoMarlies @MapleLeafs I’m going with Letteri or Cowboy

I think it’s Cowboy or Quillan who will win for the @TorontoMarlies what do you think ?! #Marlies #Mapleleafs #Leafsforever #NHL @MapleLeafs

It feels like a championship kinda night eh @TorontoMarlies

Just thinking maybe the Leafs shouldn’t trade a 23-year-old, 6’3”, 230-pound power forward with a good AAV with term

@JeffVeillette It is absolutely funny when access is blocked how Poison the Well becomes towards the Maple leafs

League mortified, outraged by Leafs changing the trade difficulty setting from Easy to Medium

Thoughts on Jim Hiller… Bruce Cassidy has Stanley Cup pedigree. Joe Pavelski is a beloved, recently retired player with parallels to Martin St. Louis. David Carle is an up-and-coming, next gen coach who has been dominating the college ranks. Patrick Roy’s an experienced hall of famer with a larger than life personality. People found some reason to get excited about every candidate that emerged - albeit, entirely different reasons for each candidate. The feel-good narrative behind Jim Hiller doesn’t come as naturally. No low hanging fruit. That being said, most of the basis hype around a lot of the other candidates was largely superficial and irrelevant to their chance at success. I’ve never seen so much advocacy for multiple coaching candidates who don’t have a single game behind an NHL bench under their belt. The first thing that jumps out with Jim Hiller is that he’s been here before. In Toronto, that is. He knows Toronto’s best players. And they know him. Safe to assume these relationships worked in Hiller’s favour. Second is his experience. He’s been coaching ever since he stopped playing - well over 20 years, more than half of that in the NHL. Third, he’s not married to a system or style of play. He said as much in his presser. He plans to be versatile and calibrate to the team’s strengths. He plans to experiment. Right out of the gate, he’s alleviated concerns about square pegs and round holes. I haven’t followed Hiller closely in LA or anywhere else. I’ve got a lot of reading, watching, and all-around catching up to do. As it stands, I can’t tell you Hiller’s the guy. I can’t tell you he was the best available choice. I can’t tell you he wasn’t, either. I can only tell you that I’m very intrigued to see him emerge as the successful candidate from a deep pool of talent - Chayka & Sundin had some excellent options - and also that it seems he’s brought in with support from Matthews & Nylander, who know him well. Omission of Rielly is deliberate - not sure where he stands in the org at the moment. Don’t knock the hire just because you don’t understand it or because it seems easier to knock than to support, simply because he’s not the sexy hire. I’ve seen quite a few negative, impulse reactions. Toronto’s chased the sexy hire for years. It feels like this time, they’re serious about vetting for wife material. This much, I support. More to come.

Man oh man does well feel poisoned … let’s chat @MapleLeafs fans pull up a chair it feels like it’s been #Leafsforever since we’ve checked in Brought to you by @boxingrockbeer @FreshPrintsHFX

I’m sure I’ll be reasonable tonight @MapleLeafs fans

@JimBiringer Love the Roddy analogy, listen I’ve long said if you need a few clicks add the @MapleLeafs to the pile and bam it makes it more interesting

One thing we need to learn and i was told by a mentor of mine lots of misinformation out there. Leafs going Roddy Piper just when you think you have the answers they change the questions

@thegoldenmuzzy That’s a solid get for the show. Looking forward to hearing this one.

Jim Hiller was on Barry Trotz's staff with the Islanders. Looking forward to catching up with Trotzy tomorrow!

@CFellinator @MapleLeafs Couldn’t agree more

@OFFSIDETALK @MapleLeafs The media has been having a collective temper tantrum since Chayka was hired. If any other GM hired Hiller, they would be celebrating the decision. The last few weeks have been really eye opening

Tell me I’m wrong here @MapleLeafs fans but it sure seems like a ton of well poisoning going on because those who used to be in the know aren’t anymore so best way to control narrative is have the machine churn out the negative wether it’s about a player being traded, coach, GM or the guy punching your tickets. Sad look. #Leafsforever

Until it’s comes from the @MapleLeafs at this point I wouldn’t buy anything anyone is selling as gospel. #Leafsforever

It feels that way since Chayka showed up and was blasted by all. The list is : - Chayka won’t be able to work with any GMs team is doomed - Matthews is leaving / wants out - Knies was almost traded at the deadline / now will / could be dealt Probably more these are just the obvious

@OFFSIDETALK @MapleLeafs Dude. You’ve never nailed it so hard.

@clarkmunroe_ @MapleLeafs He wants to be the Stephen A Smith of Canada. Sorry just tired of it.

@OFFSIDETALK @MapleLeafs Respect for Sid being what it is… he literally shit on every option that was brought up. Older guy? Recycled. Pavelski? No experience can’t possibly take that gamble. Yet here’s Hiller, who’s had success with this team before on staff, has experience elsewhere, still bad.

Can’t wait to revisit this when the @MapleLeafs are kicking ass next season and Sid is saying he knew it all along

@jpolly22 Well @jpolly22 the fact is they most likely aren’t but because Chayka has basically locked down all leaks you need to create smoke where there isn’t fire.

It the reports are true, why are the Maple Leafs so eager to trade Matthew Knies?

To me this speaks volumes. This team will thrive this year