It’s the Friday before the Canada Day long weekend. And it is, thankfully, a long weekend. You can be forgiven for forgetting this is not automatically a holiday long weekend. The last time the holiday didn’t fall on a date to create one was way back in 2015 when it was on a Wednesday. Enjoy this one, folks, because next year Canada Day is on a Wednesday yet again (thanks to 2020 being a leap year,) which is the worst possible date for a holiday.

Oh, and there’s an important date on the hockey calendar coming up this long weekend. Something contract related, I think. What could it be? Hmm. I guess you’ll have to keep checking PPP all weekend to know what it is and what is going on!

ICYMI
Here’s what we wrote about yesterday.

Leafs extend goalie Hutchinson on a team-friendly deal - Katya
Cap Friendly has the news for us on Michael Hutchinson.

Pierre LeBrun talking sense on Overdrive on the Marner contract - Katya
Even if you’ve been avoiding this story, this is a good summation of the state of things right now.

Grabovski will be a Maple Leaf forever - Me
Let’s give Mikhail Grabovski the send off he deserves from both Maple Leafs fans and the PPP community.

Is the answer to the Maple Leafs roster holes on the Marlies? - Katya
The squeeze is on, and yet the NHL roster isn’t full yet. Meanwhile, the AHL roster is thinner than ever.

Other News

Hayley Wickenheiser joined the Maple Leafs development camp the day after being called to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. She shares some great stories to share in this video from yesterday.

Everyone wants Zucc.

Polak signing shouldn’t be an issue for Stars’ aspirations - Defending Big D
Roman Polak is not going to be the reason Nill whiffs on extending Mats Zuccarello.

Zuccarello would be a great Plan B for the Colorado Avalanche - Mile High Hockey
Targeting offense in free agency, Mats Zuccarello might be a perfect fit for the Avalanche.

Sean Couturier: still elite - Broad Street Hockey
An elite two-way center at just 26 years old? In this economy?

As Luongo Retires we Look Back to his Contributions to InGoal Magazine
[AUDIO] "Earlier today we caught up with friend and former-teammate, Cory Schneider, on the phone to reflect on Roberto Luongo’s career."

The Penguins should sign Corey Perry as an unrestricted free-agent - PensBurgh
[SPECIES: <screaming noises>]

How Pastrnak is taking “Ovechkin’s Spot” - Stanley Cup of Chowder
A look into David Pastrnak’s powerplay success.

An open letter to my son, Sheppard, about the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions - St. Louis Game Time
”THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE KNIFE, JAM IT IN TEAMS’ EYES AND INTO THE BRAIN AND KILL THEM.”

From The Branches