It has now been 114 days since an NHL team played a regular season game, and 48 days since we last saw any playoff action. It will be another 48 days until the start of the preseason, when on September 19th, (some of) the Leafs will take on (some of) the Ottawa Senators. Today is the tipping point. From now on, we are more than halfway towards seeing real hockey.

I can almost smell the fresh ice.

Links after the jump.

Sale of St. Louis Blues Starts to Move Forward
From David Rogers at The Hockey Writers.

The Overrated Value of a Faceoff
Good stuff from Cam Charron, over at The Leafs Nation.

Top 25 Under 25
Jon S, over at Puckin' Eh, has his list put together for the Leafs.

NHL Waiver Rules
Because these will become all the more important once we start talking about who will make the team out of training camp, Waiver Rules are a good thing to refresh on. From Freddy Doll at the Hockey Writers.

Sharks sign Brent Burns to extension
Five years, $28.8M. Many of you saw this yesterday, but there wasn't an FTB yesterday, either. I blame Admin Bot 3000. From the AP at the Globe.

Devils place defenceman Colin White, forward Trent Hunter on waivers
New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello says team will buy out both player's contracts if they are not claimed. Again, from the AP at the Globe.

Turnout low as polls close for Islanders arena vote - The Globe and Mail
Nassau County residents deciding whether to support a $400-million bond issue to replace the 39-year-old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The results should be announced later on tonight, when I am fast asleep, so you'll be able to check by the time you read this. By Frank Eltman at the Globe.

UPDATE @ 11:09 p.m.:

Elliotte Friedman
Post 11pm update on Islanders arena vote. Doesn't look good: RT 45% in YES 24,553 42.28 NO 33,526 57.72
From The Branches