Good Morning everybody!

In this whirlwind week of NHL events we've reached Thursday and that means its 'Vegas announces trades' day!

At 8am eastern time the NHL said they would begin announcing trades made around the expansion draft, so I hope you're excited!

2017 NHL expansion draft results: All the Golden Knights’ trades - SBNation.com

We bid farewell to Branden Leipsic, chosen by the Golden Knights from the bunch if AHLers and UFAs we offered them.

Dangle reacts to the news of Leipsic leaving.

Reports suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs lose Brendan Leipsic in expansion draft - Pension Plan Puppets

Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner were named to the NHL All Rookie Team, sadly William Nylander was snubbed in favour of Patrik Laine.

Mike Babcock was snubbed for the Jack Adams again, it went to Sergei Bobrovsky John Tortorella.

It was a busy day yesterday so let’s catch you up on all the PPP goodness:

Auston Matthews wins Calder Trophy - Pension Plan Puppets
The Leafs’ franchise centre has taken home his first major NHL hardware.

Auston Matthews’ NHL Awards outfit lived up to expectations - Pension Plan Puppets
His fashion choices are (almost) as fun as his hockey.

Mad Lib NHL Awards: Mike Babcock [wins/loses] Jack Adams award for coach of the year - Pension Plan Puppets
...Meaning that his job is [in jeopardy/safe].

NHL Trade rumors: Are the Toronto Maple Leafs trading for Colin Miller? - Pension Plan Puppets
Vegas could be the middleman to nab a defenseman from the Bruins for the Leafs.

The all ex-Toronto Maple Leafs exposed player team - Pension Plan Puppets
What kind of team can we make from exposed ex-Leafs?

SBN Mock NHL Draft: Alternate possibilities to Eeli Tolvanen for the Maple Leafs - Pension Plan Puppets
We selected Tolvanen with the 17th pick, but what if the draft had unfolded differently?

Toronto Maple Leafs to host New York Rangers in home opener, will make away debut vs Winnipeg Jets - Pension Plan Puppets
Saturday October 7th is the first game at the ACC

Now here are some other, less important links

Down Goes Brown: My 2017 awards ballot
DGB Offers up his ballot because he's not afraid to do so.

The Impact of Shane Doan’s Departure on Fans and the Need For Unity - Five For Howling
With the face of the franchise gone, fans are in dissent when unity is most needed.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS SELECT ROSTER: Already Greatest Team of All-Time – HOCKEE NIGHT
Tonight, after days of deliberation, deal-making and flat-out extortion, the Las Vegas Golden Knights announced the players who would join Knights Legends Reid Duke and Vadim Shipachyov on their relentless bloodletting of the NHL en route to their first of a minimum seven consecutive Stanley Cups.

Followup on Rielly’s Save Percentage – HockeyAnalysis.com
The other day I wrote about Rielly and his on-ice save percentage. A brief twitter discussion with Tyler Dellow occurred which ended with Dellow asking me to explain how Rielly went from -0.9 Sv% Rel in 2015-16 to -2.8 Sv% Rel in 2016-17 while playing similar shut down roles in both seasons.

Regular Season Home Openers Released League Wide - Defending Big D
What can we glean from home openers released around the league?

Farewell Deryk Engelland! - Matchsticks and Gasoline
Engelland was drafted to the Golden Knights on Wednesday

Colin Miller drew aggro like crazy in 2016-17 - Stanley Cup of Chowder
Chiller did some good stuff, but now he’s a Vegas Knight

Finding New Markets | The Blue and White Brotherhood
With the now-named Vegas Golden Knights mere days away from their expansion draft, I’d like to explore 10 possible destinations for the NHL’s next expansion or relocation

2017 NHL Draft: Top-100 Draft Eligible Prospects

The Top 69: A #Nice Draft List for a Weak Draft

Two spots from the Bloggers Tribune. One from Tom (boo) and one from Not Tom (Yay!)

Enjoy your day and let’s get some trades going!

From The Branches