Sidney Crosby turns 30 years-old today.

Does it feel to you like he is that old? Does it really feel like twelve years have passed since he was drafted back in 2005? Crosby is literally crossing a point today where there are fewer playing days ahead of him than behind.

Yesterday was my birthday. I indulged in ribs and beer... it is a long weekend after all, at least for some here in Ontario. I look forward to many more days ahead here with PPP. I can’t help but wonder about the Maple Leafs young star draft picks —Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitchell Marner— and where they will take the team in the next ten to twelve years.

It’s going to be a fun to watch it happen.

Does Crosby have another twelve years in the league?

He’ll play more than another twelve years. He’s going to be like Jaromir Jagr and play through his mid-forties.23
He’s got more gas in the tank, but he’s had a rough ride. He’ll be around for about 10 seasons or less.180
Depends on if he gets another nasty hit.128
I don’t care how long he plays, only that he never gets the Penguins another Cup.47

Happy Civic Holiday

It’s Simcoe Day in Toronto, and likely called something else in whatever other city or province in which you live. It’s Colonel By Day in Ottawa; Heritage Day in Edmonton, and Natal Day in Halifax. This is one of those weird holidays where only about half the workforce gets the day off.

Whatever your circumstances, know that we have been busy and have content for you!

#20 in the Top 25 Under 25 will be revealed at 8:00 am.
UPDATE: It’s Dmytro Timashov.

At 9:00 am we’ll take a look at the chances of five prospects on the Marlies to move up this season and play with the Maple Leafs. UPDATE: Go here for more.

ICYMI

We kicked off our Top 25 Under 25 last week with the first ever tie, then worked our way up to number 21 on Friday.

Now you can have your say on our rankings by voting in our community poll using the Ranker app. Remember: the top vote earners in this weekend’s community poll will be bumped up your list and move on as options to rank next weekend from 16-25.

2017 Top 25 Under 25: Community ranking part 1

Other News

What history tells us about Tavares-Islanders stalemate - New York Post
It is unclear why John Tavares has not yet agreed to a long-term extension with the Islanders. We are left to deduce it concerns the future of the franchise from the standpoint of either personnel or absence of an identifiable future and permanent geographic location, if not both.

Path to the 2018 NHL entry draft starts with the Ivan Hlinka tournament - Mile High Hockey
All the details on how to watch the names you need to know for the 2018 draft

The Ottawa Senators are Quietly Rebranding - Silver Seven
Operation ‘Go with the O’ is slowly becoming a reality
[Species: BWUAHAHAHAH. Please tell me it's really called "Operation Go with O"]

Glen Abbey Golf Club faces potential closing for redevelopment - G&M
Clublink Corp. has proposed to close one of the most famous golf courses in Canada and redevelop most of the property as housing and retail space.

I suppose this was inevitable. A vast open greenfield space that’s only one kilometre from the Queen Elizabeth Way, located in one of the most prosperous and wealthy suburbs of Toronto, is going to have development pressure, no matter how famous it is. This space really shouldn’t be used up for a golf course, should it? Or is Glen Abbey far enough along to be a heritage space. Where is the line drawn for a golf course in the middle of a highly built up urban area? Should we really care about the loss of a golf course? Does the private greenspace of the golfcourse contrbute to the environmental well being of the community?

This is a tough one.

From The Branches