The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Nick Alberga Ahead of the Leafs Season Opener

Episode Date: October 8, 2025

Nick Alberga joins the show to preview the Toronto Maple Leafs’ home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, including Easton Cowan’s healthy scratch, the addition of Sammy Blais, and what life looks like without Mitch Marner. Jeff and producer Zack also touch on the Rangers’ and Kings’ new third jerseys, expectations for the Canadiens, and Patrick Laine’s uncertain role moving forward.Shout out to our sponsors!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Simply Spiked: https://www.simplyspiked.ca/en-CA👍🏼Shark Ninja: https://www.sharkninja.ca/ninja-crispi-4-in-1-portable-glass-air-fryer-cooking-system/FN101CGY.html?utm_source=Better+Collective&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=H2+Air+Fryer&utm_content=EN👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/ca👍🏼Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/salp/nhl/ref=dvm_ass_acm_xx_mf_s_imp_9e9590d5Na2ce11f09d4bf71dc0ec8a1Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Flames_Nation🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey friends, it's Nikaela from the podcast Side Hustle Pro. I'm always looking for ways to keep my kids entertained without screens. And the Yoto Mini has been a total lifesaver. My kids started using it right away and haven't stopped since. Hours of stories, music, podcasts, and more. And no screens or ads. Yoto is a screen-free audio player where kids just pop in a card and listen. With hundreds of options for ages 0 to 12, it's the perfect gift they'll go back to again

and again. I was kind of enjoying the sort of countdown and the prelude to Conna McDavid joining the Toronto Maple Leafs from Nick Alberg, a host of Leaves Morning Take, and that all came crashing down the other day as a discount of all discounts was signed by Connor McDavid. But nonetheless, how are you feeling before we get into the Maple Leafs? Great hat, by the way. Before we get into the Maple Leafs and their game tonight against a Montreal Canaan

and the rest of the season, etc. How did you handle the news? Merrick, I thought this was brilliant by Jed Moldaver, Connor McDavid. He just devises exit plan out of Edmonton. That's effectively what he did here. Okay. So my countdown has gone from 269 days to now 997 days when Zach Wrenz he's going to be a free agent, when Austin Matthews is going to be a free agent, when McDavid's going to be a free agent.

Honestly, like I'm not shocked. I actually credit McDavid quite a bit. I mean, that's pretty surreal stuff. Like, imagine that room. When you find out that cap hit the best player in the world, and then you look at Kirill Caprizov. Guys are going to have been an island for a couple of years now. I understand you did the same thing in your talks with the Nation Network as well.

To make one for Rosie, you came in at the deep, deep discount to make room for Jay. Is that true? Want to confirm or deny that one here? No, I will confirm that. I'm a team player and I want complementary pieces around me. It's, you know, similar to beer league. I'm only good if I have a good center like Zach Phillips on my team, and that's when I tuck, so I can confirm.

Listen, when you talk about being a team player, here's what you have to understand. And always remember this saying. You hear team player with sports teams, specifically hockey, obviously. There's no I-N team, Nick, but there's two eyes and invoice. Always remember that. There's two eyes. There's me, too.

And there's a team. And there's a me. All right. What do you think of this year's edition of the Maple Leafs and not to bias the jury? But I look at this year's team and I say they're not going to be as flashy and put up the points like the team has done

while Marner was part of the power play, but they are, much like the Buffalo Sabres in some extent after the Paturka deal, a more balanced team. Does it feel that way to you? I'm wearing our playoff teas right now and I'm getting a lot of heat in our chat. People are like, let's move on, let's move on. I got a new slogan, Merrick,

just for you to unveil here on the sheet. Addition by subtraction. I think you know where I'm going with that. I love this team, okay? I think there's a lot more depth. I think it's unfortunate. Scotty Lawton's banged up to start this year. I just like the fact of having that fourth line

with the potential of Lorenz Lawton and Easton-Cowen on it. I think it's going to be a work in progress. Anytime you bring in that many new pieces and you take out one big monster piece who's now in Vegas, it's going to take some time to mesh. That's a big question for me heading into the opener, Austin Matthews, Matthew Nyes, Matthias Michelli, what's that going to look like in the small bits we saw in the preseason

pretty decent, but obviously it's a transition period for Nyes and Matthews. Like, I mean, Machiel is a good player, but he's not Mitch Marner. But all in all, like considering what they had to deal with, them being the Maple Leafs this past summer, I think they were efficient with their cap space and we'll see how it looks. It's an interesting team And all eyes are always on the team Where the sun shines the brightest, I suppose.

What are the expectations for this squad? Like for the longest time, we've looked at teams like Toronto And you say to yourself, The regular season in a lot of ways is meaningless Because all the answers are in the postseason. But now in a universe without Mitch Marner, are there regular season questions again about the Maple Leafs? Because for the longest time under the Core 4 era,

Regular season was just, let's get through the 82 games and then be done with it because all the answers are in the postseason. Do we still say that? Or are there questions that you have about the regular season with this team? Personally, I don't think there are. I think a lot of people out there wondering if the Maple Leafs are going to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Newsflash, they're going to make the playoffs. I understand the questioning. You take 100 and 100 plus points, whatever it was out of this lineup and try to insert it elsewhere.

It's going to be difficult. But I think they got the same crease, albeit, I mean, some uncertainty right now with Joseph Wall. So I understand that. I like the blue line. I think find me a team the last time a team brought back all six of their D. Like, that's pretty crazy stuff. I know Craig Ruby was asked about that the other day. But I think it was really, really solidified with the Brandon Carlo edition.

And up front, I think they have more depth. I think for 10 years now, we've been talking about the Maple Leaf being a top six heavy team, everything there. I think there's more depth, especially now once Scott Lawton comes back to the line up, maybe Easton Cowne finds his footing. I think they're going to be a harder team to play against. I know it's cliche to say that, but I think up front is the last place they wanted to solidify in terms of gaining depth. Like they've done that, I mean, credit to Brad Tree Living, the blue line, the crease,

and now up front. You know, I always like to bring this up. When the Blues and Craig Ruby won the Stanley Cup, Alex Dean was on their fourth line. And you can tell right away that's exactly what Ruby's trying to do here in Toronto is spread the wealth and have depth and believe in all four of his lines, right? Who's the sleeper here? Like who's the one player on this roster that you say everyone's sleeping on this guy? Who's that guy?

So funny enough, like last year was Max Petruetti, who, I mean, Zach could tell you I was vouching for this guy day one at camp and I thought he was just really, really important. I'm going to go along those lines since you brought this question to my attention. Dakota Joshua intrigues the hell out of me. I think he can play that Max Patcheretti role this season. Nobody's really talking about him. He can be a physical guy. He could have dropped the gloves now and again.

I think he can score. He's obviously going to start in the third line here in that type of look. You know, who knows if he gets promoted up the lineup of bits and pieces throughout the season. But he's just a guy who intrigues me because last summer, if you recall, everybody was talking about Dakota Joshua, Vancouver. Can't let this guy go. Everybody's interested. and then just it was a difficult season starting with with the cancer scare and all that and then coming back you're up against you're chasing the season and so that's why I think

Dakota Joshua is going to have a bounce back year I think it's a really good fit in that lineup and again I just like that there's familiarity as well with Craig Ruby he knows what to expect out of the player since he had him with the St. Louis Blues. I think you and I have talked about this other player this next player before and I just don't I know everyone's saying all the right things but given how Morgan Riley needs to play to be successful

can he play that way with Craig Berube and a Craig Barubi system where and you know this Nick you watch you follow everything like Baruby wants his defenseman around the net like that's it like your job is to be around the net Morgan Riley's game is galloping

is there room for a galloping is there room for a galloping defenseman Craig Baruby's blue line or is this going to be another awkward season for Morgan Riley? I think you could pick your spots. My recency bias tells me that Morgan Riley is still a good defenseman. Like in the playoffs, he was much better. If we recall going into the playoffs, he looked much better.

Game seven against Florida was a tough one though for him. That was tough one for him. It was. I think there's going to be those moments and it's unfortunate. It was game seven, that type of moment. But the entire team stunk after the first period. So I get that. But I think you've got to pick your spots when you're your guy like Morgan Riley.

And I did envision a bit of a transition period. But it's been a couple years since he really hasn't been himself. Like we're talking about our least morning take today. His career high 72 points now, six, seven years ago. What level can he get to? We had 41 points last year. I think if you pulled most least fans, 50 to 55 points is a good sweet spot for Morgan Riley. But it's the all-round game.

And I think like most offensive D, if you want to call him that in this league, you have to pick your spots and find your moments. And I do find, like, Riley as a year went on last year, especially in the second half into the playoffs, start to play better. I'm not sure at this age if he has it in him to be that guy who he was five, six, seven years ago. But I think the biggest key from a Craig Barubi standpoint,

just don't be on the ice too frequently when they score, right? Like, I think defensively, there's always going to be a question there with Riley, but definitely can improve here. Have you seen William Neelander's YouTube channel? I have I gave it a look I will say like if there's one player who can cope with this and not have it become a distraction it's Willie Nealander like I

man I was watching the Amazon series and that's great because you just teed up the new sponsorship with Amazon like I love Neelander if you like we've talked about this before Merrick with all these polarizing players in Toronto the growth we've seen in Willie Nealander since he was drafted since he was a young player wearing I think what number 39

to now he is he's the easy he's He's the it guy. I mean, he's everything to this team. In a lot of ways. And as we all know, Toronto has a history with Swedish hockey players going back to Boria Somming and Inga Hamastrum. He seems perfectly suited for this market because I don't think he's affected by criticism whatsoever. Like when you talk about like, oh, tune out the noise, guys, I'll tell you tune out the noise, tune out the noise. For the majority, you don't believe it when the players say it.

Oh, yeah, I can tune it out. not a chance. But for Nealander, you look at it and you say, this guy's bulletproof. This guy's criticism proof. He's throwing himself out there, like, wandering around in nothing but as, you know, dry fit shorts around rinks in Sweden. On this YouTube series, I get used to seeing big shirtless Willie because that's what this, it seems like this whole series is going to revolve around.

But he's like impervious to criticism. Guys, always in a wife, beer. Always in a wife beater. And I think any time a player tells you, I'm sure a billion players in their careers have told you they don't pay attention to the media there's a guy in Vegas like that's a prime example of somebody who can handle the heat and somebody who can't handle the heat and sometimes you've got to move on in life like i i just think you look at nielander specifically he's a guy who has grown so much not only as a player but in terms of how he conducts himself on

a himself on a daily basis like even craig bruby just speaking i nods him about the relationship said he's a complex guy and he's interesting and like he brings so much to the table and he's got so much talent but that's the best aspect you could have if you're a professional professional athlete in Toronto is like turning the page quickly and just looking at the next shift. And yeah, I've just been so impressed and I'm looking forward to this YouTube channel in general. Hey friends. It's Nikaela from the podcast Side Hustle Pro. I'm always looking for ways to keep my kids entertained without screens. And the Yoto Mini has been a total lifesaver.

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It should be a lot of fun. How do you look at the Atlantic this year? Like a quick couple of snapshots here and then we'll let you get on with you today. How do you see the Atlantic? I mean, I've been saying, you know, are we coming back from Niagara Falls on the Florida Panthers? What does Tampa have left here?

I do, I never count out Tampa. You know, it's the fool. the bets against the Tampa Bay Lightning. How do you give us a sort of Nick Alberg a snapshot of the Atlantic right now? It's funny. I was laughing. We did an entire hour of show today, barely mentioned the Montreal Canadians, which I feel bad for because they're a pretty up-and-coming team.

I wonder how they go from like the hunter or the hunter to the hunted, I should say. I think it's a different sort of aspect to look at. And I wonder if there's a bit of a negative regression when it comes to Montreal. I think it's pretty much status quo. Like I know I took some heat on social media yesterday. because I called the Ottawa senators to win the Atlantic Division, but I think Linus Allmark is the key there. If he plays more like the guy in Boston

and not like the guy who's eating popcorn for the majority of last season, I think they're in good hands. I think Sanderson takes another step. So I think Ottawa is an up-and-coming team. I know Zach Phillips is going to hate that, but I believe in the sentence. I love Travis Green. I think he's a good coach.

Detroit got no clue what the hell they're doing there. I still don't. It's the same convoy every year. Buffalo, they're missing again. I think we're going to have a team. By the way, by the way, Is today a bad day for Detroit with Kyle Conner signing that extension? Hell yeah.

Again, I've been trying to think, like, when are they going to bring like a Michigan guy home, right? Is it going to be Hellebuck? Is it going to be Rowensky? Is it going to be Connor? And it's just, it's not how, it's James Anreem Zake, okay? He's not even from Michigan. They couldn't get Patchretti to come home. Patchretti is like, nah, I'm retiring.

But yeah, I think in general, you look at the division. I think Florida is going to be an animal still, even with these things. injuries. They just, they're so committed to what they've built there. Tampas, Tampa, they're a really good team. The best coach in hockey, pound for pound and John Cooper. The Leafs are a good team. I think Montreal's a really good team. I think Ottawa is a good team and it's status quo for the others. Like I expected Buffalo to show up at some point in the offseason do something. They didn't. Detroit, same type of conversation. So yet we, here we are on the eve of another start of a season here. I'll, I'll tell you what, I'm glad you mentioned Buffalo. Just one quick.

pause here again like i don't want to i don't want to keep on pounding on the the buffalo sabers but if you're watching or listening to us live here in 16 minutes we're going to find something out about the buffalo sabers um if alexander georgiev clears waivers at the top at the top of the hour we're going to find out here in 16 minutes if the quest hang on but hang on hang on i don't want to bias the jury here if he clears waves To me, the question is about the Buffalo Sabres right now as they are being run. Why was that a contract and not a PTO? Now we're 15 minutes away from finding out this answer.

Because if nobody else around the league wanted them, why was that a contract and not a PTO? Hey, great question. UPL's got to stay healthy. I think that's important for them. and Tatee Thompson, a big year for him. I think, you know, right now if you're Buffalo, you've got to be thinking, like, how much losing can this guy take? And I don't want to forget Boston.

I did not mention the Boston Bruins. I think they're going to bounce back. I think they're going to be more difficult than people think. They got McAvoy. They got Linholm back in the mix after injury-riddled seasons. Jeremy Swayman, there's a reason why this guy was paid that money. He was awesome a couple years ago against the Maple Leafs. And he's a really good goalie.

So I forecast to bounce back there, Pasternak as well. So, like, it's shaping up to be a really tough year. Every game is going to be difficult in this division again. It will. We'll a quick final couple of thoughts here on the Montreal Canadiens. The Dobson move is the biggie. That one before the draft, they pay handsomely for it. But now all of a sudden, and now Hudson and Dobson will be separated.

So you can have, you know, essentially most of the game with either Dobson or Hudson on the ice. If you're the Montreal Canadiens, that's a luxury. I think the Bulldoch trade was one of low. the best deals that we saw all summer along 20 pops as a rookie like holy smokes this kid is good and French Canadian kid play with the Quebec ramparts they're going to love them in Montreal etc

etc etc how do you see the haves because I always talk myself into them being like I've just loved all the moves that they've made and I have to temper myself by saying this is still a team that is in the process of rebuilding it's exactly

it I don't know if this is a bold take but I think Montreal misses the playoffs Like I, again, I don't know how. I don't know how. It's one of those things where you go and we see it every year. You go from the team that's hunting to the hunted. And I think that just plays a different dynamic where it's like every night you're not going to sleep. Like teams are not going to sleep on you anymore.

Like I think Montreal, that was a big story last year. Like here come the Habs. I know they're getting better. But like, you know, they're sneaking up on their opponents. Like I think they're a good team. I think it's quite clear. I don't know if they're waiting for 87 to make a decision. but like up the middle, 2C, I think there's a massive hole rate there on the blue line.

I think you're so right. Lane Hudson will see what happens here with the contract over the next couple months. The Dobson pick up very, very underrated. I think in general, like, and you hate to anoint everybody or anybody, I should say, a winner because not much happened. And I think every time that happens, the case in point last year, Nashville was the quote unquote winner and they stunk up the joint last year. Getting Noah Dobson was a top three move of the offseat.

I will go down and say that it was one of the worst off seasons in NHL history, bar none. I love my trades and activity. There was nothing. But the Dobson pickup was huge for Montreal. So I think from that aspect, they take a step. But I just have this eerie feeling that it's going to be much more difficult than they think there. We shall see. And it'll start tonight.

Trondi believes hosting the Montreal Canadiens. All right. Thanks, bud. Continued success. And great job taking the haircut for Rosie. You as well. Take care. That's the best.

I said 16 hours last night every day this week, every day this month. I can't get out my head, lost all ambitions day-to-day, because you can call it all right. I went to the dark man, you're trying to give me a little medicine. I'm like, no, man, that's fine. I'm not against those methods, but new. It's me and myself and how this is going to be fixing my mind I do on the bracket

I turned on the music I do on the blanket I turn on the music but you stand up up out and you sometimes losing I've been on the days that we're wrong Hey friends, it's Nikaela from the podcast Side Hustle Pro. I'm always looking for ways to keep my kids entertained without screens.

And the Yoto Mini has been a total lifesaver. My kids started using it right away and haven't stopped since. Hours of stories, music, podcasts, and more. And no screens or ads. Yoto is a screen-free audio player where kids just pop in a card and listen. With hundreds of options for ages zero to 12, It's the perfect gift they'll go back to again and again.