Oh Thank Goodness

The Leafs are back tonight. Camp is over, the preseason has been played, and the opening night roster is set. More than anything else, I feel a great relief. I don't remember any other offseason being this long and painful. If we had to discuss Vesa Toskala's horrific goaltending one more time I may have gone insane. There are still definitely big questions on this roster and I expect some pain, but I also think we'll see a few more roster moves before the end of the season. All in all I'm stoked to spend a night at home with a few beer and hockey on the TV. As per usual, I will probably miss the first period and maybe even half of the second, but I'll be here for the third baby. And of course: GO LEAFS GO!

Links after the jump.

• Emotional ceremony reunites Pat Burns, players
  Canada.com brings us a great story about Pat Burns.
• The "final" roster a day later: I don’t feel any better; the forward lines make me, well…uneasy
  Vintage Leaf Memories on the Leafs' roster as we enter the regular season.
• Resolve
  general borschevsky, unable to find three great wins to memorialize from last season, gives us a recap of the three worst games last season.
• A big year for Ron Wilson
  Mirtle on Leafs Beat talks about the pressure on the Leafs' coach this season.
• Maple Leafs Opening Night Roster
  Toronto Mike has the roster for tomorrow night's game, for easy reference.
• Maple Leafs hope for home opener like last season -- with one difference
  The Hockey News hears from Ronnie on how the Leafs should play in their first game this season, and he has a curious thing to say.
• Peddie sees high marks for Burke's work while Leafs GM gives himself poor grade
  At least our GM realizes the failure of a season we had... but his boss doesn't seem to.
• Kris Versteeg on Leafs atmosphere: 'crazy'
  LeBrun brings us Versteeg's comments on being in the Leafs market. Check out the awesome story about when he was born.
• Maple Leafs Play Ice Hockey Tomorrow
  Yakov Mironov has his thoughts on real hockey actually returning tonight, and who to watch in the first game./