Posts About "Ron Hainsey"
Leafs' Rielly Fulfilling Offensive Potential
November 15th, 2017 The Toronto Maple Leafs have been without a definite No. 1 NHL defenseman for quite some time. However, now that their rebuild is pretty much complete and they are ready to turn into a contender, do the Maple Leafs still have that same hole? What if I was to tell you that the Leafs have been developing that missing piece since the 2012...
The Maple Leafs' Achilles Heel
August 28th, 2017 The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the 2017-18 season with massively increased expectations after a miraculous run that was the 2016-17 campaign. Some are predicting an Atlantic Division title and a playoff run long into the spring, even going as far as calling the Leafs a true Stanley Cup contender. Let's stop and take a breath....
Maple Leafs Need Another Defenseman
August 21st, 2017 The Toronto Maple Leafs have made multiple roster changes this offseason via free agency. The Leafs signed forwards Dominic Moore and Patrick Marleau to one-year and three-year contracts respectively. They also decided to sign the dependable Ron Hainsey after choosing not to re-sign Matt Hunwick. Although these signings have...
Maple Leafs Round Table: Adding Marleau, Veterans Via Free Agency
July 6th, 2017 The offseason is upon us, which means news is starting to slow down a bit and rosters for the 2017-18 season are starting to take shape. While the Toronto Maple Leafs weren’t the biggest shoppers through the first couple of days of free agency, they did sign three unrestricted free agents (UFAs) that could play significant roles with...
Leafs Sign Dominic Moore and Ron Hainsey
July 1st, 2017 The Toronto Maple Leafs added two pieces on July 1. They signed veteran defenseman Ron Hainsey to a two-year $6 million contract and then added center Dominic Moore on a one-year $1 million deal. Neither player is expected to produce in the top part of their respective positions, but both are key adds from a depth and veteran leadership...
Penguins Bury Predators and It Wasn't Even Close
June 9th, 2017 How many times has a starting goaltender been pulled twice in a Stanley Cup Final? Pekka Renne must be cursed in Pittsburgh as he gave up three goals on nine shots and only played one period in Game 5. A lot of players scored for Pittsburgh, but it was Evgeni Malkin's goal in the waning seconds of the first period that put the Predators...
Should Penguins Ice 7 Defenders?
June 8th, 2017 April 5 was a dark day for Pittsburgh Penguins fans. You probably remember it; that was the day it was announced that Kris Letang, core of the Penguins’ defense, irreplaceable in everything from 5 on 5 play to special teams, would be out for four to six months with a herniated disc in his neck. Ever since that fateful day, the...
Hurricanes Fans Happy for Hainsey
May 31st, 2017 Ron Hainsey is a former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman. For three and a half years he was the anchor on the 'Canes blue line, often paired with All-Star, Justin Faulk. In many respects, he embodied the typical NHL defenseman, in that he came to work and took care of his business without fanfare or the desire to be in the spotlight....
Series Over? Malkin, Penguins Say 'No'
May 9th, 2017 Evgeni Malkin — in a roundabout way — made a guarantee following the Penguins' loss in Game 6 to a Capitals team that looks poised to eliminate Pittsburgh in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit and forcing a Game 7 at home. The concern isn't that Washington forced a Game 7, as this series was expected to be a...
Two Former Jets Survive Round One
April 24th, 2017 The playoffs began with six former Winnipeg Jets suiting up. Of those six former Jets, Montreal's Al Montoya, Boston's Drew Stafford, Chicago's Johnny Oduya and Calgary's Michael Frolik were eliminated in the first round and their seasons subsequently ended. The two former Jets that remain are New York's Tanner Glass and Pittsburgh's...
3 Reasons the Penguins Will Win Stanley Cup
April 12th, 2017 Repeating is never easy. The last team to repeat as champions in the NHL was the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. It's never been done in the salary cap era. Ironically, Detroit came closest of any team in the last 10 years to accomplishing the feat. But they fell in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup to the Pittsburgh...
Hainsey's Return Comes With Impeccable Timing
March 31st, 2017 Ron Hainsey is 36-years old and closing in on his final days as an NHL defenseman. While a very small number of players find work into their 40's, it's rare and not something you see very often. Hainsey understands this, and that's why his recent trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins was so special. "Not having a great opportunity like...
Penguins' Suddenly Aged Blue Line
March 12th, 2017 Earlier, I expressed some concern regarding who the Pittsburgh Penguins might have been targeting at the trade deadline. Many have lauded the acquisitions of Mark Streit and Ron Hainsey, and until now they've played well enough. But could that come to an abrupt end? Blue Line Suddenly Aging Prior to Streit (age 39) and Hainsey (age...
