The Maple Leafs Have a New Logo

The Toronto Maple Leafs sit in the bottom half of the Atlantic Division and because people there feel like they will miss the playoffs again, the team is making a change to start the next season.

That's right: A new logo. Have a look to the left. That's going to be the new logo. Well, old logo, depending on how you look at it. The Maple Leafs had this an alternate logo a couple of years ago, but now it looks like Maple Leafs management is trying to bring some life back into Toronto and apparently, this logo change is the first step in that process.

The Leafs are already rebuilding as we know it. The logo is not a rebuild. I understand the idea of going back to the past and bringing back old things to help revitalize the organization, but this logo doesn't really get me as a way to bring things back to the way they were. Now, whether or not this logo stays past their 100th season is still to be determined, but for right now, I like the logo they're currently using. One is that it's very modernized and it shows how retro it is on a jersey. Who wouldn't want to wear that? Two is that it shows a commitment to Toronto. This logo has been used since 1970 and I would imagine fans would have grown to love it. Now, I'm not saying that the old logo is a good choice, but this is the logo that I've known through my life and have grown to love it, so maybe some fans share my opinion on this.

Logo changes are always hard to adapt to. I remember when the LA Kings changed from their crown logo to the one they currently have now, but when I got used to it, I realized it feels better than that old one. The Anaheim Ducks also changed their logo as well, getting rid of the words and leaving the Duck footprint. As a fan, I actually like the duck footprint by itself. But as for the Maple Leafs, maybe this change will be a good thing, maybe it won't. But either way, as a man who loves logos and retro stuff, I think the logo looks good the way it is, but if this is a way for the Maple Leafs to turn their fortunes around, then let it be done.

What The Return of Connor McDavid Means

The Edmonton Oilers are getting some good news coming out of the All-Star break.

Connor McDavid, who hasn't played since November 3, was back at practice Monday and says he is anxious to get back onto the ice. Last we saw him, he was ridden hard into the boards in the game against the Flyers and he hasn't been seen since. Well, now, Oilers fans might see him tonight when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

McDavid had spent most of last week with the Oilers' AHL team, the Bakersfield Condors, and had only rejoined the Oilers recently.

I think the Oilers should be thankful that they have Connor McDavid now. They sit in the bottom of the Pacific Division and it looks like they weren't going to go anywhere fast. Well, we still don't know if they're going to move anywhere fast even right now, but having Connor McDavid must feel like they have a chance. The only issue is the Pacific Division. If the Oilers want a chance to get into the playoffs and to make some noise, then Connor McDavid is gonna have to bring his A+ game every night they're on the ice, but even that's hard to do, especially in hockey.

Jordan Eberle, a teammate, says it may be easier for McDavid to readjust to the NHL, given that players are coming off the All-Star break. And while it may be true that players are coming off the break, it doesn't mean that they would end up in some kind of slump to start the second half of the season. Some players, like Patrick Kane or Drew Doughty or Alex Ovechkin, might get hot within the first minute. So it doesn't matter if you're coming off a break or not, Connor McDavid is going to have to play really well for this team and to compete with the big guys in the league. I don't know yet if he'll be able to do that, considering he's coming off injury. So my suggestion is to give this time and for the Oilers to hope that some teams in their division fall a little bit.

I still think Connor McDavid can be a factor in this league right now, but he's going to have to get hot right now and pull this team together to move past some people. That may be a little bit hard to believe considering where they are and where their recent history has put them, but things have happened. Look at the Kings' Stanley Cup win as an 8th seed. It's possible. Connor McDavid's return may mean something, but he's gonna have to prove it on the ice and against good teams in the league as well.

Free Agents: Brandon Prust or Mason Raymond?

Veteran players in the NHL are hitting the waiver wire.

There is a report hot off the press from Bleacher Report that both Mason Raymond of the Calgary Flames and Brandon Prust of the Vancouver Canucks have been waived by their respective teams. Both players have combined for more than 1,000 regular-season games and have 116 playoff games between them. Last season, Prust played all 82 games for the Canadiens, while Raymond in 2014 had 45 points. Sportsbet's Elliotte Friedman first broke the news about their releases.

The question now becomes: Who would be more likely to end up with a team? Prust or Raymond? To me, if you depend on who can help you get goals and help a team contribute, it would probably be Raymond. It would be Prust because of a contract issue, since his contract is expiring. The only season not to pick Prust is because he is a terrible five-on-five player for the Canucks, so I don't think you should expect him to help when it comes to scoring. But since he is a good fighter and could make for someone trying to look for an enforcer, it could make sense. For Raymond, although he is a good scorer, he has been a bit rusty at late, which is why the Flames sit near the bottom of the Pacific.

Right now, Prust is more likely to get signed because of his contract and the fact that it's expiring. Raymond is still in the middle of a three-year contract that the Flames gave him, and he still will get another $3.15 million, so I would expect that no one picks him up. Still, I think in terms of offense and helping a team, Raymond seems like the better choice. He has had some success this season playing alongside Mikael Backlund and had outscored opponents at a rate of close to 2-to-1.

Right now, in terms of contracts, Prust is the better choice. But if a team is out there looking for some offense and some help in scoring goals, then that falls to Mason Raymond. I like Mason Raymond and I wish he had some more success with the Flames, but they have been out of the playoff picture for some time, so maybe this is the wake-up call for the Flames. Either way, it's Raymond paying the price and I hope he finds some success elsewhere, maybe with a team in the middle of the pact, like Anaheim who definitely needs some help scoring or New Jersey, who's close to being in the playoff picture.

I don't know who will end up being signed, but the NHL teams interested need to look at this. If they are interested in picking a player just by their contract, then Prust would be the ideal choice. However, if a team really needs some offensive skill and a chance to help themselves get into the playoff picture, then I would say to take a chance on Raymond, despite his contract. We'll see who gets picked to be on another team but either way, these guys are on the market looking for work.

Another Stanley Cup For the Blackhawks?

The second half of the season is about to get underway, and already I talked about the LA Kings potentially going far and winning the Stanley Cup again. I also said that they will have to go through one team in order to get to the Stanley Cup: The Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are currently atop the Central Division with a 33-16-4 record and 70 points. Not far behind are the Dallas Stars with 67 points and the St. Louis Blues with 64 points. So, with that in mind, can we expect the Blackhawks to shake off these teams and win the Stanley Cup again?

Perhaps. But let's take a look at where they have come from and where they are going. The Blackhawks came into this season with a new look after offloading some of their best players, like Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp. But right now, they are capable of winning their fourth title in seven seasons. This season, Patrick Kane has become the best player in the NHL and the rookie Artemi Panarin has done an awesome job of helping to pick up this offense right where it left off. So I guess GM Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville is doing a fantastic job of helping to keep this championship hunger alive. Also, goaltender Corey Crawford has seven shutouts and is posting a .931 save percentage in the games he's played, probably his best season in the NHL. I wouldn't overlook him for a Vezina Trophy candidate because he's certainly in the mix.

Nobody should overlook the Chicago Blackhawks. NOBODY! Right now, they are the favorites to win it all because their pieces are clicking and helping them score early and often. So a word for all other NHL teams out there, the Blackhawks can beat you and can beat you in many ways, so don't underestimate what this team is capable of. Now, this all doesn't mean that they'll win the Cup when the time comes, but for right now, this team looks poised to have it come June.

Second Half Run for the LA Kings?

The LA Kings went into the All-Star break sitting atop the Pacific Division with 63 points. The Sharks are a close 56 points and the Kings would love nothing better than to extend that margin again. So, with the second half of the season starting tonight, can the LA Kings make a run in the second half to get back to the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup again?

Here are a couple of things to keep an eye on. They've won two Stanley Cups in the past four years and people say they now have as many championships as the Blackhawks. Well, no. The Blackhawks won three but if the Kings win another one, they could potentially be a more important team than the Blackhawks. Now, another thing that goes for on is that they can play offense on a daily basis. They are a scary team to play against because once they have the puck on their sticks, it seems almost as if nobody can stop them. At the beginning of the season, the Kings didn't have any offense and lost their first three games. Now, head coach Darryl Sutter has seemed to righted the ship and it's paying off with a place atop the Pacific Division.

Two players they have are goalie Jonathan Quick and defenseman Drew Doughty. Drew Doughty, in my mind, has proven himself to be an MVP this season because of the way he skates and plays defense to help Quick. Quick has already proven he can be a wall when it is most needed. The Kings will certainly need that when they go into the stretch come April. What Doughty has proven other than being an MVP candidate is that he's a leader and a winner. He has risen above all players on this team to say, "Hey look, I think we can win." (my words, not his) He is constantly the inspiration for why this team is a scary team to play against. You don't want to go up against this guy when it's a one-on-one situation because most of the time, he will probably beat you. Doughty can play at any position. He can score, he can play defense, and at times when Quick is out of the play, Doughty can be the goalie. Is there something this kid can't do already?

I think the Kings will keep their pace atop the Pacific Division and win it and they'll be back in the playoffs. Now, I won't say if they'll win the Stanley Cup again, because they will most likely have to face the Blackhawks down the road. But if they can keep up with the way they have played in the first half, I think no doubt they are a team to be reckoned with in the West. There is a saying that fear can be power and the fear that other teams have for them can be a motivator for this Kings team to potentially win it all.