With the Canadiens set to open a new season Thursday in Buffalo, an anonymous fan took out a full-page ad in the Montreal Gazette to publicly renounce their season tickets in light of this past offseason's decision to trade P.K. Subban.
The letter writer thanks Subban for what he did on and off the ice, while refusing to support general manager Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien any further.
Look for this fan to attend only one game this season: March 2, 2017 against the Nashville Predators, of course.
Following a two-goal, three-point opening-night performance of his own, Connor McDavid gave due respect to the four-goal outburst by Toronto Maple Leafs star rookie Auston Matthews earlier Wednesday night.
McDavid's first game with the Edmonton Oilers was, in fact, rather nondescript; he failed to record a point while firing two shots on goal in 18 minutes of play against St Louis.
It took McDavid seven games to hit the four-goal mark, and he finished his injury-shortened rookie season with 16 goals in 45 games. The missed time hindered his ability to win the Calder Trophy despite averaging over a point per game.
Matthews' debut performance not only blew McDavid's out of the water, it put him in prime position to take home rookie of the year honors at season's end.
But don't sleep on McDavid, who could very well end up the NHL's highest scorer as early as this season, thereby resetting the bar.
Following a two-goal, three-point opening-night performance of his own, Connor McDavid gave due respect to the four-goal outburst by Toronto Maple Leafs star rookie Auston Matthews earlier Wednesday night.
McDavid's first game with the Edmonton Oilers was, in fact, rather nondescript; he failed to record a point while firing two shots on goal in 18 minutes of play against St Louis.
It took McDavid seven games to hit the four-goal mark, and he finished his injury-shortened rookie season with 16 goals in 45 games. The missed time hindered his ability to win the Calder Trophy despite averaging over a point per game.
Matthews' debut performance not only blew McDavid's out of the water, it put him in prime position to take home rookie of the year honors at season's end.
But don't sleep on McDavid, who could very well end up the NHL's highest scorer as early as this season, thereby resetting the bar.
Puljujarvi's first NHL goal, a power-play marker, puts a bow on a solid debut. He's shown some solid puck pursuit and caused trouble for the Flames' defense on a line with Patrick Maroon and Leon Draisaitl.
Kings general manager Dean Lombardi didn't delve into specifics, but when asked about the lower-body ailment Quick suffered - which prevented him from coming out for the second period in Wednesday's season opener - he told Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider that his starter could be out "a while."
Quick made a league-high 68 starts last year, winning 40 games and recording five shutouts. He made 72 appearances the season prior.
Lombardi has invested an inappreciable portion of his payroll into his backup, Jeff Zatkoff, in large part likely because his starter traditionally takes on such a substantial workload.
Jack Campbell, Peter Budaj, and Tom McCollum are also in the system.
It's unlikely there will ever be a debut quite like Auston Matthews'.
Four goals. In two periods. In his first NHL game. At 19 years old.
It was remarkable to watch.
Here are three takeaways from one of the most memorable Toronto Maple Leafs season openers ever:
More than 1 game
The haters - and there are and will be many of them - will be out in full force after Matthews' performance, and their battle cry will be: It's one game.
Thing is, it's not.
Matthews spent his draft year playing against men in Switzerland and scored 24 goals in 36 games. He had seven goals in seven games at the World Junior Hockey Championship, and six goals in 10 games at the World Championship. He also scored twice in Toronto in three games at the World Cup.
This is what Matthews does. He scores goals. And if Wednesday night was any indication, he's going to score a lot of them. All of them.
No. 1 center
Somewhere, hopefully, Mats Sundin was watching. The greatest and most productive player in club history, he left Toronto in 2008 but finally has an heir apparent.
Matthews has all the tools to be a legitimate No. 1 center in the NHL, and he proved it again Wednesday.
The kid's first goal - on his first shot - came off a scramble in front of the net.
His second was a stunning display of his talents, both his hands and his skating ability. He dangled around two Senators in the neutral zone by putting the puck through each's legs. Matthews then used his lower-body strength to fight off a check from Mike Hoffman, but lost the puck in the process. No worries, though, all he did was pick two-time Norris Trophy winner and last year's runner-up Erik Karlsson's pocket by lifting his stick and stealing the puck. He wasn't done, obviously. He went to the net and slid the puck on the ice past Craig Anderson from a bad angle. It. Was. Brilliant.
Matthews' third goal was a snipe from the slot, the puck hardly on his stick for a second. And he finished off a sweet saucer pass from William Nylander on a two-on-one to make history.
In other words, Matthews can - and will - beat you any which way.
Matthews' mates
Make no mistake, Matthews was the story in Ottawa - in hockey - on Wednesday. He scored four goals in his first NHL game. Say it out loud. The Arizona product is the future of the Maple Leafs, and for once that future isn't the abyss.
But what was also encouraging was the play of Matthews' teammates, including his rookie linemate Nylander, who assisted on two of No. 34's goals. Zach Hyman, another rookie playing on the line, finished with an assist.
Matthews' performance also overshadowed - and rightfully so - a sublime first NHL game for Mitch Marner. Another 19-year-old, Marner looked as dangerous as Matthews, and both finished with six shots. Marner hit one post, and Matthews had all the puck luck - it was his night, after all.
Marner had a dominant first shift, showing off his offensive talents in tight quarters in the Ottawa zone, while also displaying his backchecking ability. He showed remarkable patience, confidence, and poise with the puck, and clearly possesses above-average vision, as evidenced by a wicked cross-ice pass in the slot to James van Riemsdyk in the second period.
Matthews played 17:37 and Marner 17:36. Matthews finished with a 72.5 percent Corsi For rating, and Marner 63.16 percent. The kids want the puck, and they know what to do with it when they have it.
There's more: Nikita Zaitsev made his NHL debut on the blue line, and swallowed minutes after Matt Hunwick left the game in the first period with an injury. Zaitsev played 23:57, second-most on the club behind Morgan Rielly.
The Maple Leafs are Matthews' team. That's clear already. But it looks like he's going to have some help. And that may be the most encouraging sign, because as good as the kid may end up, he's not scoring four goals every night.
Connor McDavid scored his second goal and third point in the curtain raiser at his new barn, Rogers Arena, with a conversion in tight on Brian Elliott with his penalty shot in the second period Wednesday versus the Calgary Flames.
With his deadly deke and multi-point effort, the Edmonton Oilers captain's done his part in an opening night that has showcased the future of the NHL in a big, big way. The reigning No. 1 pick, Auston Matthews, scored four goals in his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first half of the all-Canadian double-header.
