The Maple Leafs are in California. Yes, that means the games are all starting really late this week. It’s a 10:30 p.m. EDT start both tonight and tomorrow and a 10:00 p.m. start on Friday. I hope you aren’t already sleep deprived!

We’ll have a preview of tonight’s game posted late this morning whenever the Leafs actually get out of bed out on the west coast.

ICYMI
Here’s what we wrote about yesterday.

Nylander in numbers - Dr. James Internet
All the stats you could ever need about William Nylander so you aren’t reduced to just arguing with his points from last season.

European Prospect Report: Holmberg is pounding hard on the door Swedish WJC team door - Katya
He’s not the most exciting prospect the Leafs have ever had, but he can play the game.

Other News

Aviva Canada signs Toronto Maple Leafs goalie - CNW
[Species: I hope Andersen knows Aviva will deduct HST from his endorsement deal payments.]

Willie O’Ree says his diversity ‘work is not done’ - TheColorOfHockey
In a moving speech, the 83-year-old pioneer lauded hockey for embracing diversity, but added that there’s still more to do to make the sport more inclusive.

What St. Louis Meant to the New York Rangers - Blueshirt Banter
Martin St. Louis' stint in New York was a small, but important part of Hall of Famer’s career.

Would Carter make sense for the Bruins? - Stanley Cup of Chowder
TSN Insider Darren Dreger connected Jeff Carter to the Bruins in a radio hit, saying the Bruins are looking for an "experienced player." [Species: BWUAHAHAHAHAHAH!]

Yanni Gourde and the conundrum of late-blooming stars - Raw Charge
First Jonathan Marchessault, now Yanni Gourde: how the NHL handles "late bloomers."

Playing Favorites: Sullivan’s personnel choice can be confounding - PensBurgh
It’s sometimes tough to keep up with the choices Mike Sullivan is making.

Jamie Benn and Josh Anderson had a real old school throw down face punch row last night.

From The Branches