J.P. Nikota

Are the Leafs' goalies really this good? What is Matt Frattin going to bring back to the table when he returns from injury? This and more in the latest version of the B Squad podcast.

It's the battle of the lame duck and the wounded chicken.

Oh, and we've got a couple other links about hockey.

Look out, because there is actually going to be a regular podcast here at PPP. We're just not all that good at it, yet.

Links from a bit all over.

Plenty of news from the NHL last night, even with only three games having been played.

The netminder's injury likely spells the end of the Leafs' playoff hopes.

It's a snow day, and all there is to do is watch Kessel's game-winning snipe. Doesn't get much better.

As the Leafs get set to play the Winnipeg Jets, some familiar faeces...errr faces become foes.

The Leafs' loss last night to the Hurricanes stung, but at least the Buds have the chance to come back strong against the Capitals tonight. Maybe Carlyle will re-think some of those lineup decisions.

Your daily dose of morning links features Optimus Reim, Alexander Ovechkin, and powerplay rankings

What has changed with the Maple Leafs and what will change in the future? Maybe the links hold the answer

CLAP-CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAPJames vanRiemsdyk has a two-goal, three-point night, as the Leafs beat the Penguins. Unfortunately, the win came at a price, with Joffrey Lupul going down with an injury.

The game didn't end the way the Leafs would have liked, but the effort was there.

A trade! A trade! Oh. Well, that was OK.

It is a refreshing change to get some actual Leafs news to discuss.

Did anything actually change with the firing of Brian Burke? With Dave Nonis stepping in to take over the reins, it is not clear that any big changes will be coming.

Really though, let's just take a deep breath.

Talks between the NHL and the NHLPA started heating up last night, as both sides - we believe - drew closer to an agreement. There remains a "ways to go", but at least they're talking. As far as we know, the union has not filed a

I don't know how the rest of you have been dealing with the absence of NHL hockey, but I'm not doing well with it. I'm beginning to get pretty restless, and I'm going to need a few new hobbies soon. NHL v.

I mean, really, how sweet would an English-language KHL feed be? Make it like Gamecenter, and just let us watch tonnes of Russian hockey. How cool would it be to cheer for a Malkin-Kulemin combo? Or a Datsyuk-Grabovski duo? Plus, it's hockey. You'd think the KHL

If there is one party that hasn't been heard from much so far in this lockout it's the NHL's sponsors. Somehow, I imagine that the league will listen far more carefully to them than the fans when they call to end the lockout. At

Yes, it's wonderful they're still talking. My read on the situation is that the "removal" of Gary Bettman and Don Fehr from negotiations isn't really what is driving the optimism (and, let's be honest, they're still very much

I can't see how this negotiation meeting between a bunch of relatively uneducated players and a group of experienced businessmen could work in the players' favour, but I don't really care. In other news, the Human Torch was denied a bank loan. A special Leaf

Many of today's links focus on the recent Forbes team valuations. These financial assessments are considered by almost everyone to be authoritative, but if you read Tyler Dellow's most recent article, you'll have reason to wonder about how thorough they really are. NHL and