Last night, Joffrey Lupul took to Twitter to publicly apologize for his Instagram comments earlier this week, referring to the Leafs’ maybe-possibly-illegal, almost-certainly-questionable handling of his medical clearance. As with all the best dramatic Tweets, it was delivered using a screenshot of the Notes app.

“I would also like the horse’s head removed from my pillow.”*

Whatever actually happened here—and I’m not sure we’ll ever find out, unless one of the involved parties writes a book or drunk-texts Bob McKenzie—it seems to have reached its conclusion, for better or for worse. Lupul says he will not be seeking a second opinion, which puts an end to that question. However, I would like to encourage our inventive commenters to discuss their own personal conspiracy theories about what went down here. The best one will get a prize!**

*this joke is courtesy of Fulemin, who is funnier than me

**prize is at my sole discretion, and it will almost certainly be a gif of William Nylander’s butt

ICYMI

Leo Komarov’s tilted visor is gone, one way or another - Pension Plan Puppets
Komarov does not like change.  But he either has to take his visor off or wear it properly.

An analysis of the top centre in Tuesday’s Leafs vs Senators pre-season game - Pension Plan Puppets
A deeper look at the numbers from last night’s game reveals a lot. Let’s dig in.

Women’s Hockey Wednesday: CWHL and NWHL pre-season schedules - Pension Plan Puppets
Exhibitions everywhere, a new logo for the Pride and a new arena for the Canadiennes

Stuff We Didn’t Write

Did Yzerman make the right decision to pass on Liljegren? - Raw Charge
The Lightning took Cal Foote, and the Toronto Maple Leafs followed with Timothy Liljegren three picks later.

Alexander Steen injury: hand injury lays key forward up for three weeks - St. Louis Game Time
Make it stop.

Habs’ Drouin follows Subban’s footsteps with $500,000 donation to Montreal hospital | Toronto Star
Drouin announced Tuesday he will donate $500,000 over 10 years to the University of Montreal Hospital Centre and pledged to participate in activities to raise $5 million more.

Ferraro: How to survive an expansion season - Article - TSN
Mr. Cammi Granato, who played for the Thrashers in their first NHL season, has some thoughts for the Golden Knights on their first year.

Understanding Brian Boyle’s Leukemia Diagnosis; How Medicine Has Made Continuing in the NHL Possible - Defending Big D
CML has turned from a deadly disease to a manageable, chronic condition over the last 25 years, and Brian Boyle and Jason Blake are some of many benefactors

Don’t put stock into Colorado Avalanche preseason - Mile High Hockey
Nothing matters until October

Capitals get acquainted with stricter standards for faceoffs, slashing in preseason opener - The Washington Post
“There's still a little bit of confusion on everybody's side,” Lars Eller said postgame.

Solar Bears, RDV Sports family help hurricane victims - Don Money
A combined 300 members of the staffs from the NBA’s Orlando Magic, its G League team from Lakeland and the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears – all now a part of the RDV Sports family – spent Tuesday afternoon giving back to the community by helping two non-profit groups prepare pre-packaged meals and hygiene kit boxes to be distributed in the areas worst hit by Irma and Harvey.

From The Branches