Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

The pre-season is over. I think. I'm never sure when the bridge crosses the gap between pre and regular season.

Is it puck drop on game one of the first NHL game? Because the Sabres and Devils have already played regular season games while others were in pre-season.

Is it puck drop of your team's first game?

First regular season game in North America?

We can debate this all day (and why not, that's why your here) but the real start of the 2024-25 NHL season will be 7:00PM on Wednesday, October 9th when the puck drops at the Bell Centre and the Maple Leafs and Canadiens face off yet again to open their seasons.

I'm sure it will be a calm, rational, well behaved affair.

So, as we head into the season that will be filled with ups, downs, wins, losses, injuries, poor performances, crying, and as is tradition, moments of incredible frustration that have you questioning everything you've done to devote your life to this team.

I cannot wait.

GO LEAFS GO!

Here's some stuff to talk about.

Niagara OHL fans have suffered a lot since the league reopened but the team is off to a hot start, going 3-0 and even beating one of, if not the, top ranked teams in the entire CHL, the Brampton (no longer Mississauga) Steelheads on their home opener.

Speaking of beating the Steelheads...

Hell yeah, what a way to open the season.

I mean, sure if you count fun as hating everything and everyone.

Maple Leafs ranked as 3rd-most fun team to watch in 2024-25 by Daily Faceoff
Say what you will about the modern Toronto Maple Leafs: at the very le…
TheLeafsNationTLN Staff

If you want fun, you want the final episode of Back to Excited's season preview.

Back to Excited Episode 216 - Around the NHL (Part 3 of 3)
Today, we finish our look around the league, covering another set of 12 teams.
PPP LeafsArvind S

William Nylander. Centre? Eh. Winger? That's what we're used to.

William Nylander: Winger
Put away the pumpkin spice.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

Carolina aren't the only Hurricanes hockey needs to worry about.

Pre-season game between Predators, Lightning cancelled due to impending weather
A final pre-season game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators set for Monday was cancelled as the Tampa region prepares for Hurricane Milton, the teams announced on Sunday.
Sportsnet| October 6, 2024, 3:47 PM

Who's on waivers? A lot of ex-Leafs, including Pierre Engvall.

Pelletier, Engvall, Lavoie, Murray, Rifai among NHL players placed on waivers – Sportsnet.ca
Sportsnet.caDavid Morassutti

Let's look at that list of Leaf names.

Buffalo Sabres: James Reimer

Detroit Red Wings: Justin Holl

New York Islanders: Pierre Engvall

Vegas Golden Knights: Zach Aston-Reese

And the Maple Leafs on waivers are Matt Murray and Marshall Rifai.

Finally, VOLT Hockey rolled through Barrie, hosting a tournament of electric wheelchair hockey.

VOLT hockey rolls through Barrie
On Saturday, Lampman Lane Community Centre was the site of the first-ever VOLT hockey tournament in Barrie, an inclusive form of hockey that allows people with various disabilities to play the sport they love.
Barrie

Let's make sure hockey really IS for everyone.

Enjoy your day!

From The Branches