Michael Traikos

LATEST STORIES BY MICHAEL TRAIKOS

Expect William Nylander to fire at least three shots on net against the depleted Habs

William Nylander scored 34 goals last season. Much of that is because he ranked second on the Toronto Maple Leafs with 256 shots.

October 12, 2022 NHL Betting

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander addresses the media about the upcoming season on Wednesday September 21, 2022.

Leafs and Capitals should have no problem combining for seven goals on Thursday night

With the winners of the past three Rocket Richard Trophies going head-to-head on Thursday, it’s no wonder that the over/under for total goals between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals has been set at 6.5.

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October 12, 2022 NHL Betting

Apr 24, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) chases in the third period at Capital One Arena.

TRAIKOS: As they enter their fourth year together, Nylander and Tavares still striving for a higher level of consistency

William Nylander was sitting in his dressing room stall and talking about consistency and how he’s made an effort to not let a bad game spiral into a bad week — or even a bad month — when the conversation shifted towards his longest-serving linemate and why he and John Tavares enjoyed so much success last year.

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October 12, 2022 Toronto Maple Leafs

Feb 12, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) and forward William Nylander (88) react after losing to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.

Toronto's Matt Murray and other Canadian goalies are considered long shots to win the Vezina Trophy

Matt Murray, who is the opening-night starter for the Toronto Maple Leafs, enters the season with the third-best odds of any Canadian-born goalie of winning the Vezina Trophy.

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October 11, 2022 NHL Betting

Sep 28, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray (30) makes a save against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period at Scotiabank Arena.

The odds of Montreal's Juraj Slafkovsky winning rookie of the year depend on whether he plays past the nine-game mark

Juraj Slafkovsky is expected to be in the lineup when the Montreal Canadiens start the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. But whether he remains with the club beyond the nine-game mark and uses up a year of his entry-level contract is still up for debate.

October 11, 2022 NHL Betting

Sep 28, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

TRAIKOS: For the first time in a long time, several Canadian teams are favoured to win the Stanley Cup

If you believe that top-end talent wins championships — and Colorado and Tampa Bay did nothing to challenge this belief — then one, two or three of the seven Canadian teams has to be considered a favourite to win the Stanley Cup this year.

October 11, 2022 Hockey

Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs head into the season with big expectations.

TRAIKOS: Matthews, McDavid or Makar — who will be this year's MVP?

It was during a conversation last month about whether he wanted to win the Hart Trophy, when Nathan MacKinnon expressed frustration that has no doubt affected several players over the years.

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October 10, 2022 NHL

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers battles for the puck against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

TRAIKOS: 20 burning questions heading into the NHL regular season

I’m picking Edmonton to win the Stanley Cup this year. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the Oilers end up beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the final.

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October 10, 2022 NHL

Jan 5, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Cody Ceci (5) tries to control the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) closes in during the first period at Scotiabank Arena.

Arizona, Chicago and Montreal among the teams that should be tanking hard for Connor Bedard

Tank hard for Connor Bedard? Or play soft for Matvei Michkov?

October 7, 2022 NHL Betting

Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard in the regular season home opener against the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Brandt Centre on Friday, September 23, 2022 in Regina.

The odds are that the Habs are worse — not better — after drafting Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick

It is way too early to call Juraj Slafkovsky a first-round bust. But despite landing the No. 1 overall pick — and adding Kirby Dach, Sean Monahan and Michael Matheson to the up-and-coming roster — the Montreal Canadiens remain no closer to becoming a playoff team.

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October 6, 2022 NHL Betting

Michael Traikos

LATEST STORIES BY MICHAEL TRAIKOS

Expect William Nylander to fire at least three shots on net against the depleted Habs

Leafs and Capitals should have no problem combining for seven goals on Thursday night

TRAIKOS: As they enter their fourth year together, Nylander and Tavares still striving for a higher level of consistency

Toronto's Matt Murray and other Canadian goalies are considered long shots to win the Vezina Trophy

The odds of Montreal's Juraj Slafkovsky winning rookie of the year depend on whether he plays past the nine-game mark

TRAIKOS: For the first time in a long time, several Canadian teams are favoured to win the Stanley Cup

TRAIKOS: Matthews, McDavid or Makar — who will be this year's MVP?

TRAIKOS: 20 burning questions heading into the NHL regular season

Arizona, Chicago and Montreal among the teams that should be tanking hard for Connor Bedard

The odds are that the Habs are worse — not better — after drafting Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick

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