Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

I have good news and bad news for you all.

First, the bad news. The Buffalo Sabres do not want us in their arena.

Attention, Leafs fans: The Buffalo Sabres don’t want you around
The Sabres have plans to discourage single-game ticket sales to fans of visiting teams. But there are other ways into the KeyBank Center.
Toronto StarKevin McGran Staff Reporter

I know, right? It's absolutely disgusting to exclude the most handsome, witty, wonderful, and smartest hockey fans in their arena?

"As per an article from The Buffalo News‘ Mike Harrington, the Sabres are “finalizing plans to limit the presale for games, likely by ZIP code, in an attempt to cut down the number of visiting-team fans in the building.”

Okay, which is nice and all but what about those delusional Canadian Sabres fans? The Niagara region is right across the river from Buffalo and for some reason there are a lot of Sabres fans and seasons ticket holders here. Are you going to block them?

Also, did the team not see the flaw in this plan? How many people from Toronto buy their tickets directly from the team? They won't be able to stop Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Resellers-R-Us, that dork in Toronto who cheers against the Leafs every game, and Sabres season ticket holders on Facebook Marketplace from selling tickets on the secondary market to Leafs fans. It's how a lot of Sabres fans pay for their seasons seats.

What a silly idea. The Ottawa Senators tried this ten years ago and it failed.

Sens ask fans not to sell tickets to Leafs fans
ConnectedSportsnet Staff

Just accept it every other NHL market. We are Leafs fans.

We are E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E

The good news I have for you is that the Professional Women's Hockey League is kicking things off today. First up, the announcement to name the new General Managers is coming up at 9:00AM.

But wait! They leaked!

Gina Kingsbury is the new Toronto GM: Report
Toronto has their GM.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

According to Jeff Marek, these are the GM's:

Toronto - Gina Kingsbury
Ottawa - Michael Hirshfeld
Montreal - Daniele Sauvageau
Minnesota - Natalie Darwitz
Boston - Danielle Marmer
New York – ???

First, at least we can still be surprised by New York, second no, it's not a Marner in Boston.

After the 9AM GM announcement, at 10AM the draft lottery results will be announced. Who will get picked? We have some ideas.

Projecting the first 18 PWHL players
Determining the first three PWHL players in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Boston, and Minnesota.
PPP LeafsHardev

Then, at 1PM free agency begins. So....I assume the draft will happen after the lottery? Hey, new leagues move fast.

Elsewhere in the hockey world...

Bill Peters is why hockey players grow up to be douchebags
Hockey can’t help but recycle everyone, including abusive racists
DeadspinThe A.V. Club

They're not wrong.

14-year-old Hailey King is turning heads on Canada’s women’s Para hockey team | CBC Sports
Hailey King is one of six players under 20 on the Canadian women’s Para hockey team that will play in the Women’s World Challenge, an international best-on-best tournament that begins Thursday.
CBCKarissa Donkin

See we follow the bad news with the good news.

Local hockey: Maroons lose to Vipers; OHL prospect Copeland off to school
The Chatham Maroons fell behind early and trailed all night in a 4-1 exhibition loss to the LaSalle Vipers on Wednesday.
The Stratford Beacon HeraldMark Malone

A random GOJHL pre-season game tossed into the mix because remember, there's hockey everywhere and no matter the level it's important to support your local team and JrB needs your support.

Thanks everyone, have a great day!

From The Branches