Almost four years ago we were treated to a couple hundred words about how Dion Phaneuf is a bad leader and a bad person because he wore a Red Bull hat in a post-game scrum.

Yes, because of the hat he wore.

“For the captain to be wearing that hat — I’m disappointed. You can quote me on that,” said Richard Peddie, who was the top executive at the company that owns the Maple Leafs until his 2012 retirement. “I would look for better from a captain.” - Former MLSE CEO Richard Peddie

This became an actual thing that people went on and on and on about, because when the Leafs were bad, everything and everyone on the team was bad. Hats: bad, jerseys: bad, yet somehow NHL mandated stick wiggling at the crowd because simple gestures like those make people forget that the league cancelled an entire season (man we’re idiots): good.

It was a long, weird time.

Now Mitchell Marner is using his social media to promote Red Bull, and did so by, gasp, wearing a hat. He should avoid the newspapers for a few days in case the hit pieces come out again.

You wear the hell out of that hat, Mitch.

Here are your links.

Last nights recaps from the good guys and the 0-6 Habs (LOL)

Last Word on Sports previews the Maple Leafs season.

Open Ice Hits reviews the Leafs preseason so far.

Jared Cowen blamed the Leafs for his bad problems, but the Avalanche seem to agree with Toronto.

What jersey number will the Blue Jackets retire first? I’d assume Rick Nash, but you never know.

Knights on Ice reviews the atmosphere in T-Mobile Arena.

DGB looks at other times NHLers got into politics.

Get an offside challenge wrong, get a penalty.

Finally, do we want to see @NHLHistoryGirl write about nothing but the Leafs for a week? Donate to hurricane relief and make what should happen, happen.

Enjoy your day everyone, you’re super!

From The Branches