The Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice today for the first official practice of the season. With the first preseason game only two nights away, expect the competition to be fierce. Two spots on offense and maybe one on defense are up for grabs. Whoever has designs on winning one of the final spots will need to be ready to play on day one.

In other news, read this from Five Minutes for Fighting and put your thoughts in the comments:

Tavares' commitment to the Islanders represents a betrayal; a betrayal to the team he grew up rooting for, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Well, at least that's what a certain delusional faction of Leafs Nation will have you believe. You see, there's a belief, at least among some, that the Leafs have some sort of divine right to every superstar about to become a free agent. These people were photoshopping Steven Stamkos into a Leafs uniform earlier in the summer with the thoughts of offer sheets dancing in their heads; these same people have already pencilled Shea Weber into the line-up for 2012.

NHL Network (US) preseason TV broadcast schedule

Leafs nearly every night

Schenn deal all about the future

A few thoughts and quotes on the Schenn deal from Mirtle

Stories going into training camp

Preseason thoughts from MLHS

Little known Leafs from the 1960's

VLM on two lesser known Buds from yesteryear

From The Branches