Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

We all know I love to talk expansion/relocation, and after the AHL to Hamilton speculation last weekend I thought I was done for a bit but the ECHL came through for yesterday:

ECHL Approves Expansion Team In Greensboro, North Carolina For 2025-26 - FloHockey
The ECHL will add a 30th team in 2025-26 as the league has granted an expansion team to Greensboro, North Carolina.
FloSportsChris Peters

Next season will see the launch of a third team owned by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment which already owns or manages a number of clubs in the ECHL including the Jacksonville Icemen, Tahoe Knight Monsters and Savannah Ghost Pirates. Zawyer also recently took ownership of the AHL Charlotte Checkers.

Greensboro is no stranger to hockey, having hosted several minor teams in the past: Greensboro Generals (EHL/AHL), Greensboro Monarchs (ECHL), Carolina Monarchs (AHL), Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), and the Greensboro Generals (ECHL).

Hockey seems to love Greensboro, even if it keeps leaving.

That brings the ECHL to 30 teams, and the commissioner has stated he wants to see it grow to 32 to match the NHL & AHL.

So, when they want to expand, in sure these owners will want more.

In other news...

There are so many Johansson's...

The CHL / NCAA discussions have more questions than answers right now.

Those details include whether a player who is signed to an NHL contract will remain ineligible (which Cecchini expects will be the case, though he also acknowledged "it's not our rules, so it's up to them") and whether the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, which is up in Sept. 2026, will align the signing rights for CHL players to line up with those of the NCAA: as it stands, NHL clubs retain the rights to drafted CHL players for two years but NCAA players for four.

"My first phone call to Bill Daly was actually understanding from him how CHL guys have two years to sign and NCAA guys have four years and even five years in Europe in some cases," Cecchini said. "These are all things that are on the table right now and that paradigm shift is going to make us move a little bit quicker and forward towards the future."

Ah, I love it when we have to get the CBA involved. Makes everything so much easier.

As usual, Brian has the prospect highlights for you.

Sudbury is honouring one of their own and a Maple Leafs legend by naming an arena after George Armstrong.

Garson Arena renamed for Maple Leafs legend George Armstrong
Friends and family noted that the namesake of the George Armstrong Community Centre and Arena would have shied away from such recognition
Sudbury StarBen Leeson

Love insider speculation. It's so...everywhere.

NHL Insider Believes the Maple Leafs May Already Have a Contingency Plan if Mitch Marner Walks
The Toronto Maple Leafs may already have a plan for how they’ll spend their cap space if Mitch Marner ends up walking as a UFA next summer.
H&L Media IncDean Chaudhry

Utah keeps losing defenders to injury...

Utah Hockey Club’s Sean Durzi to undergo surgery; expected to miss 4-5 months
Durzi was injured last weekend against the New Jersey Devils following an awkward hit from Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler
Daily FaceoffColton Davies

Maybe they'll want a Liljegren?

Wildly speculate away everyone!

From The Branches