Leafs active at deadline

RIB’S RAMBLINGS

By Mark Ribble

The NHL trade deadline came and went with more of a whimper than a bang on Monday.

Sure, there were some players who changed teams, but nothing like in past years where blockbusters were the theme of the day.

The pandemic-shortened season may have had something to do with it.

Often-maligned ex-Spitfire, Taylor Hall went to the Boston Bruins, as the lowly Buffalo Sabres let him out of the cellar to move on to a contender.

Hall had disappointed in Buffalo, where he signed a huge contract last summer. The former Hart Trophy winner had just two goals so far this season. Here’s hoping he does better with the change of scenery.

My Maple Leafs made a medium-sized splash, going after left winger Nick Foligno and goalie David Rittich.

Foligno’s story is intriguing, mostly due to his father, Mike, spending parts of four seasons in Toronto in the twilight of his career.

Mike Foligno was a fan favourite in the early 1990s when he wore number 71 for the Leafs. The former Red Wing had experienced some great years in Detroit and Buffalo before coming to the Leafs, where he didn’t light the lamp as often as they’d hoped, but he was sure entertaining to watch.

His son is built very much like him and plays a similar game, so Leaf fans are either salivating that they have another Foligno in the fold, or stomping their feet that the aforementioned Taylor Hall isn’t coming to Toronto.

Either way, I think the Leafs have a gritty player with some upside, who gave them fits last summer when they played the Columbus Blue Jackets in the playoff bubble.

Foligno was one of the reasons why the Leafs lost that series, so let’s hope he can provide what is needed for a playoff run.

As the naysayers will remind us — every day for 54 years — the Leafs have been in this position before, with hope and promise in their back pocket.

Well, hope and promise doesn’t get you very far in the NHL playoffs, where you’ll need great goaltending, physicality and the right scoring touch.

Speaking of goaltending, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another ex-Spitfire in Jack Campbell. He is now the NHL record holder for most consecutive games won to start a season, with 11 wins-in-a-row. Of course, he lost Monday night, but the record still stands.

And of course, former Leamington Flyers defenceman, T.J. Brodie, is having a stellar year on the blueline for Toronto, which is a pleasant surprise for me. I expected Tyson Barrie 2.0 and so far, Brodie has been so much better defensively.

Time will tell, and I’ll likely be disappointed once again in May, but things are looking up (a little) for my team.