Did you catch the new PPP podcast Back to Excited this week? It’s a fun accessible discussion of GAR as well as some trade talk and the usual sort of offseason conversations.

Today is also the first day that those college free agents can actually sign.  Former Leafs draft pick Dominic Toninato is on the block, as is Will Butcher.  Butcher played his college hockey in Denver and was drafted by the Avs, but doesn’t want to play there for some odd reason.

I got to read this story before it was published (one of the perks of friends in high places).  It’s a fun examination of how arena music gets in your head and never leaves:

Why Lightning arena music sticks in your head - Raw Charge
Raw Charge takes a look at one of the most key elements of a hockey game: the goal song.

Two wrongs make right for Maple Leafs in 1951
Imagine a situation where teammates would be punished for being the architects of a Stanley Cup-winning goal.Hard to believe, isn't it?But this unlikely event took place during and after Game 5 of the 1951 Stanley Cup Final between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on April 21, 1951, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

Hockey fans flock to Tillsonburg | Tillsonburg News
"I'm enjoying the whole thing, especially the Cup," said Shean. "One of my close friends growing up, Mike Pelyk, he was a defenceman for the Leafs. So I have a connection, for sure. I grew up in Toronto and I played for the Ryerson Rams. We played some of our home games at the old Maple Leaf Gardens. We had an old boys team - a travelling team - and we played our home games there too."

Trade Speculation

No one’s doing much, so now is the time for a wily GM to act!  Matt Duchene is still on the market.  There was a hilarious rumour that David Pastrnak was going to cost the Bruins too much, so they were dumping him.  Vegas has a million defencemen and Toronto just opened up one extra SPC slot by sending Alexey Marchenko back to the KHL.

Who is moving this summer? Anyone? No one?

Will there be a big trade this summer?

No, they’re all on vacation.88
What? I’m on vacation, don’t ask me.26
Yes, there will be a big pre-season surprise.128
GMs are too afraid of being wrong to make a good deal.161
From The Branches