With 43 games played, I’m officially tired of the regular season. I haven’t even fully watched a game I wasn’t recapping in the past week or two. I might for a bit again when Foligno joins the roster and Nylander returns, so I can see what a fully healthy group of skaters looks like. But other than that, it’s just waiting for the playoffs to come now. They’re likely going to win the division, and if they don’t they’re still going to make the playoffs. That’s what matters. That’s all we care about.

We’ve seen them play enough that we more or less know who they are this year. There’s some small changes around the margins with their trade deadline deals. We have some questions in net given our #1 goalie for the next while is a guy who’s never had an extended run as The Guy in the NHL before. But otherwise, we know that — on paper — they’re the best team in the division. We know and expect them to make a deep playoff run, and everything we watch them do in the regular season now is just trying to figure out what their chances of doing so are. So we’re just waiting to get to that point.

So for now, I’ve been spending some more time watching prospects — have something coming out later today on that, actually. I have watched a bit of the last two games to focus on Nick Robertson, I watched Ian Scott’s first start in the AHL, I saw William Villeneuve get three points for Saint John last night including this set up for a powerplay goal.

The novelty of playing only Canadian teams has worn off now too. Every time the Sens, Habs, Jets, Flames, Oilers, or Canucks come to town my first thought is “these assholes again?”

So bring on the playoffs already! We’re a month away from it. I think I’ll take up woodburning as a hobby to get me to that point.

As you may expect the day after the trade deadline, there was a lot of stuff written yesterday worth sharing. Bear with me as I link to a bunch.

What did the Maple Leafs give up in that first round pick? | by Seldo

Trade Deadline Roundtable: How did the Leafs do? | by PPP

Kyle Dubas talked with Coyotes about Conor Garland before acquiring Nick Foligno, made four prospects off limits | by MLHS

Maple Leafs Prospect Update: #AmirovWatch comes to an end, Pontus Holmberg shines in SHL playoffs, Mikko Kokkonen signs a new deal | by Josh Simpson

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Deadline Thoughts: On Nick Foligno, Riley Nash, David Rittich, and Ben Hutton | by Kevin Papetti

Grading the Leafs trade deadline | by Jon Steitzer at TLN

What do the new guys bring to the team? | by Scott Maxwell at TLN

Winners, losers and trade grades after the Maple Leafs add 6 players at the deadline | by James Mirtle at The Athletic

AROUND THE HOCKEY WORLD

What kind of deal should the Blue Jackets offer Laine? | by TSN.ca

We all laughed and shook our heads at Buffalo for the return they got in the Taylor Hall trade, but some details emerged that they basically had to just take the best offer they could get from Boston.

The CHL announced that the Memorial Cup is cancelled for this season. #CancelCulture

From The Branches