Anyone who has watched the NHL on TNT coverage this past season knows just how much more entertainment they bring to the table than TSN or Sportsnet. A lot of that entertainment value comes from ex-NHLer Paul "Biz Nasty" Bissonnette. Biz was made for television and while there are certainly some cringe moments, most of the time, his energy and character resonate well with fans.
Bissonnette, a very open Leafs fan, was asked what he thought about the Auston Matthews contract extension on Wednesday. His response brought not only the same energy that he brings to the NHL on TNT broadcast, but you can sense the fandom and the passion in him as well. Here's a clip of his reaction to the Matthews announcement:
It's tough to look at this Maple Leafs roster and not view it as a massive step forward from what the team iced to open the season last year. There were some significant subtractions, but also some significant additions, who essentially change the entire make-up of the team. All 3 of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves bring that "snot" that Brad Treliving was talking about. The post-whistle scrums will be a lot more entertaining this year, to be sure. Also, the addition of John Klingberg will provide some additional offensive support from the blueline and bring another power play quarterback to the room.
Lastly, with the presumption that Matt Murray sits the entire year on LTIR, the duo of Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll give the Leafs a dynamic young tandem who may lack in the experience department, but who are also oozing with talent and athleticism. If the they can remain healthy for the majority of the year and bring the same focus and competitiveness this year that they brought last year and experience similar results, they may be one of the strongest tandems in the league. I don't blame Biz for being excited about this season.
