It’s the NHL’s All-Star Game weekend and most of the Maple Leafs will be taking a vacation. Even after this weekend the Leafs will be off on their annual bye-week, so their next game isn’t until Friday February 1.

While some Leafs are likely off on a glamorous getaway vacation, John Tavares and Auston Matthews are in San Jose to take part in the All-Star festivities. Matthews even made a stop at Apple Headquarters yesterday.

The All-Star Skills Competition is tonight. As usual they will attempt to cram in as much sponsorship as possible, so get ready for evey single event to be sponsored by a different product or business and for that to be mentioned ad nauseum.

TV coverage of the All-Star Skills Competition will start on Sportsnet at 8:00 p.m. EST. The first hour is likely coverage from the media day, plus chit-chat about recent happenings in the league. A pre-game show starts at 9:00 p.m. and then the actual events will get underway at about 9:30 p.m. While the actual All-Star Game will be streamed on NHL TV tomorrow, the Skills Competition tonight is not.

As mentioned, yesterday was the media day and we got to see a glimpse of the players in these spiffy black and white jerseys, which I assume they will wear tonight. They also have them in reverse with black logos on a white jersey for the players in the Western Conference.

Auston Matthews paired his with some teal pants which I am hoping was to troll the Sharks fans.

John Tavares talked a bit about the coming negotiations between the NHL and the NHLPA, and what he likes about the Maple Leafs and Matthews.

I don’t think we’ll have a GDT for the competition tonight, especially since it doesn’t even start until late. Please feel free to talk about it here. We will have a separate ASGDT for tomorrow’s game.

ICYMI
Here’s what we wrote about yesterday.

Bob McKenzie’s NHL draft rankings are out for 2019 - Katya
Get ready to scroll down to the part of the list of concern to Leafs fans while the bad teams squabble over Jack Hughes.

Dubas announces Growlers forced to make coaching change - Katya
Ryane Clowe to step down as head coach.

What can you realistically expect from an NHL fourth liner? - Katya
How much added value can you get in less than 10 minutes a game?

FANPOST: How much should Marner actually sign for? - Osman Amjad
"Lots of media outlets have been speculating that Marner will break the bank and sign for 10 MM+. I'm certain that Marner's camp will want something along those lines, but I'm gonna argue why he doesn't deserve it."

Other News

There is no other news, folks. It’s the All-Star Game break. Go back to bed.

Oh, fine. Here’s some material to read through the day.

Marner again brightens day for girl with cancer
"Every time she'd pick up a toy, she'd say, 'Mommy, do you think Mitch One-Six would like this?'"

‘When everything is bad in the world, Gritty is good’: A Philadelphia love story - WaPo
The Flyers rolled out a deranged orange mascot — and captivated a city.

Jeff Gorton Needs To Explore All Options When it Comes To Kreider - Blueshirt Banter
Larry Brooks speculated it should take “only a perfect deal” to move Chris Kreider out of New York, and then went on to say that a six-year extension worth $6-million per year would be “the cost of doing business.”

Report: Datsyuk's future undecided, could return to NHL - Sportsnet
“Three years ago, Datsyuk left Detroit on his own,” Milstein said. “The same desire can bring him back.”

Gudas could be a missing piece for a team up north - Broad Street Hockey
Mr. Dubas, I give you the best of both worlds: Radko Gudas.

From The Branches