Morning, PPP! We’re on our second hockey-free day between the first and second rounds, and other than Chicago firing a coach with a highly-punnable last name and the discovery that Joe Thornton’s knee was held together with spit and prayers for the opening round, there’s not a whole lot of hockey news to report this morning.

In non-hockey news, playoff sports are still happening at the ACC! Fellow Toronto team and MLSE property the Toronto Raptors won Game 5 of their first-round series last night, taking a 3-2 series lead. I know nothing about the NBA, but I assume that’s good.  Congratulations, basketball dinosaurs. May you triumph over the deer from Wisconsin and move on to the second round.

ICYMI

Does Kyle Dubas have the experience the Buffalo Sabres need? - Pension Plan Puppets

Terry Pegula said he wants experience running his team, but Dubas has never been in charge at the NHL level.

Where do the Leafs pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and who will they look at? - Pension Plan Puppets

Some talented teens for the Leafs to pick in the high teens.

Is the season really over for all the Maple Leafs? - Pension Plan Puppets

There are several players who may go to Europe for the World Championships.

Toronto Marlies sign Jordan Papirny to an ATO - Pension Plan Puppets

The Marlies have brought aboard a King. A Wheat King.

Maple Leafs News

Reunited at last: Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors endured years of hardship on the road to the playoffs | National Post

A generation of young Toronto sports fans just had a chance to see something that hasn’t happened in the city for quite a while.

Young Toronto Maple Leafs beat expectations - just not their own | CTV News

The Toronto Maple Leafs ultimately made a 26-point jump in the NHL standings from last season's bottom finish, unexpectedly made the playoffs and nearly pushed Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington to seven games in the first round.

Up all night: How stadium workers transformed the Air Canada Centre in seven hours - The Globe and Mail

Following the Leafs' elimination from the NHL playoffs Sunday night, the ACC conversion crew had seven hours to turn a hockey rink into a basketball court for the Raptors' playoff game on Monday.

News Around the NHL

Blackhawks' firing of Mike Kitchen could reopen rift between coaching staff, front office - Chicago Tribune

The first change came Monday as the Blackhawks fired assistant coach Mike Kitchen.

New York Islanders Sign Dennis Seidenberg to 1.25 Million, 1 Year Deal - Lighthouse Hockey

The first Islanders offseason move of the year is... something.

Sharks' Joe Thornton played with torn ACL, MCL in playoffs - The Mercury News

The knee injury that Sharks star Joe Thornton suffered was a significant one — he tore both his ACL and MCL before the NHL playoffs began, the team announced Monday.

Coyotes' biggest question this offseason may be Dylan Strome's future - Five For Howling

The Coyotes prospect has had another big year for the Erie Otters, but his NHL ability presents something of a question for John Chayka.

From The Branches