Today is my first day as Managing Editor at Raw Charge (my content begins tomorrow), and I’m a little nervous, so I thought I’d calm down by writing the PPP links. It struck me yesterday that the Bruins were so busy defending against Auston Matthews that they forgot about Mitch Marner. Isn’t it nice to roll so many scoring lines? Talk about depth.
From the Front Page
Leafs vs. Bruins Recap: It Was 4-1 | PPP — I especially liked this line from Fulemin: “The Leafs had a lengthy ceremony in which, so far as I can tell, they retired all of the numbers that there are. As a result, the players are now identified by Egyptian hieroglyphics. Morgan Rielly is three palm leaves and a tax collector.”
Images from Ricoh Coliseum, Section 113 | Fanpost from CJ_47 — Thanks, CJ! These are great!
Pension Shanaplan Puppets | Fanpost from Jurific — Because it’s always a polite, cordial debate when we raise the notion of changing the site name.
Tonight a ‘dream come true’ for Mitch Marner | PPP — “Local boy gets to make home debut with team he grew up cheering for.”
WATCH: Mitch Marner score his first NHL goal | PPP — “Don’t be like his mom who missed the whole thing.”
Watch The Leaf: Blueprint, Episode 1 | PPP — I found this episode problematic. Not enough drooling over Matthews, for one.
Leafs News
Why Auston Matthews will continue to get better and be the face of American hockey | I've Heard it Both Ways — “The hope is that Matthews and co.’s game sparks a shift in mentality for USA Hockey, one where speed, skill and smarts are favored over players who are selected solely to fill a ‘character role.’” PLEASE!
Marner scores first NHL goal, mother indisposed (Video) | Puck Daddy — She owes him an extra candy bar in his Christmas stocking.
LEAFS POSTGAME: GRAND OPENING | TLN — JEFFLER’S TAKE.
Maple Leafs: U.S. Media Hop On Matthews Hype Train | Editor in Leaf — "After a historic four-goal performance against the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews has done the unthinkable. He has forced NBCSN to broadcast a game featuring a Canadian franchise."
The Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100: There will always be room for debate, but it’s a nice list… | MLHS — Hot Stove thinks about the list.
Local kids shine on night Maple Leafs honour the past | Sportsnet — "For Dan Brown, it was just like the old days. Pile the family in the car back in Etobicoke and drive to the rink for a big game, with his son Connor playing a big part." Super cute story about Connor Brown.
Maple Leafs break from tradition, retire 17 numbers to celebrate 100th season | SI — “According to a press release, all Maple Leaf players or family members were informed by Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan of the team’s plans to retire the numbers at a pregame reception just prior to stepping on the ice for the ceremony.”
Maple Leafs legends surprised by number retirement ceremony | Toronto Sun — “I looked over at Wendel and said: ‘What the (bleep) just happened? They’re doing what?’”
Keon tops 'The One Hundred' greatest Leafs | TSN — “Dave Keon was named the greatest player in Toronto NHL history today as the Leafs unveiled their all-time top 100.”
Maple Leafs' wonder rookie Auston Matthews gets legends' stamp of approval | Eh Game — As the 18-year-old’s NHL debut was unfolding, Sittler – who still holds the NHL’s single-game scoring record with 10 points - said he started receiving text messages from friends fearing his milestone might be in jeopardy as Matthews continued putting the puck in the net.
Spotlight growing on Auston Matthews' historic NHL debut | Arizona Central — “I could have seen one goal as a rookie, and I think we would have all jumped up and down with joy,” Filion said. “But four? No, I would be lying if I’d be saying I could see that.”
News from Outside the Center of the Hockey Universe
Scanlan: World Cup leaves an early imprint on NHL season | Ottawa Citizen — So maybe playing an international tournament in September means people play better in October?
An early look at 2016 draft picks in the NHL | Sportsnet — “We’re three completed days into the NHL season and have already seen some great starts from a few rookies.”
Wayne Gretzky talks sticks in new book | NHL — “When I was fourteen or fifteen years old, I'd head down to Canadian National Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, pay a buck, go to a Blue Jays game and then walk around the Hockey Hall of Fame just staring at everything for hours. My friends used to say, ‘You're going to the Hall of Fame again?’”
Awrighty, off I go to Bolts land! Wish me luck!
