Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs!

It's Thursday, the Leafs are flying home before bussing it to Buffalo. Actually I doubt they bus it anymore, may as well make that 2 hour drive a 15 minute flight.

Leafs steal one from Dallas
They don’t have to give it back though.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

Let's get to the filling out day with arguments, and Jared trying to reclaim his 100k comment status.

Last night the Leafs beat the Stars, and Ryan Reaves had his 900th career game.

Speaking of old players, Blake Wheeler has retired after 1172 games with the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets*, Munich EHC, and New York Rangers.

No gas left in the tank: former Jets captain Wheeler calls it a career
Former Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler never said he’s retiring after last season, but his appearance on a podcast leaves little doubt.
Winnipeg SunPaul Friesen

This is a hilariously clock baity headline about a trade between Seattle and the Rangers.

Toronto Maple Leafs Miss Out On Kaapo Kakko: Former Second-Overall Pick Traded
The Toronto Maple Leafs missed out on adding a big piece to their forward depth, as well as their defense as Kaapo Kakko was traded to the Seattle Kraken.
YardbarkerChris Gerics

Kakko went to the Kraken for Will Borgen, a 3rd, and a 6th. Larry David will not be impressed.

Step one: Keep scoring more goals than the other guys.

Step two: Let in fewer goals than the other guys.

Step three: Profit.

3 keys to the Maple Leafs withstanding Anthony Stolarz’s absence
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender <a href=“https://theleafsnation.com/new…
TheLeafsNationArun Srinivasan

They have to get all the locks out of their system since you can't kick on the ice.

NHL players open up about their pre-game sewer ball obsession: ‘It brings our room together’ | Globalnews.ca
Players form a circle and are allowed two touches of the ball without using their hands before it has to be passed to another competitor.
Global NewsThe Canadian Press

Pittsburgh model my ass, or something.

Why NHL teams should reconsider teardown rebuilds and prioritize winning
The full tear-it-all-down rebuilds seem to be getting harder to pull out of, and it sure seems like there are better ways to turn things around. Justin Bourne provides examples of teams that have taken a different approach and seeing positive results.
Sportsnet.caJustin Bourne

I completely forgot Skinner was on the Oilers.

Jeff Skinner Trade “Agreement” Likely, Says Former Oiler
Jason Strudwick believes the Edmonton Oilers and Jeff Skinner will have mutual understanding that a trade is inevitable.
NHL Trade TalkJim Parsons

I am shocked. Shocked! Well, not that shocked.

Hockey Canada says penalties called for discriminations rose in 2023-24 | TSN
There was an increase in penalties called in Hockey Canada-sanctioned games during the 2023-24 season for discrimination-related offences, the federation wrote in its annual report on maltreatment.
TSNRick Westhead

See the joke here is that even at this rate, Ottawa transit is still overpriced.

Ottawa gearing up to host world junior hockey with free transit to games
The City of Ottawa is bracing for thousands of hockey fans to descend on the nation’s capital for the World Junior Hockey Championship by ensuring they have transportation to and from the games. The tournament will officially start Dec. 26 and run until Jan. 5, with preliminary games beginning on Thursday. In response to the […]
CityNews OttawaNatasha O’Neill

Finally, when life gives you a sheet of ice, you play hockey!

Freezing rain turns streets into skating rinks, literally in this Sask. community
They say the world is your oyster, and the streets are your stating rink – or at least they are in this Saskatchewan community.
Regina

Enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches