This came up around the PPP water cooler this weekend: Where was Patrick Marleau when the season stopped?

We know he wasn’t with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he took his time deciding on where to play after being bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes, but he went home to play for the San Jose Sharks who ended up lying on the bottom of the standings for so long we all just stopped paying attention to them.

Then the Sharks hit the trade deadline and did not move Joe Thornton to a contender like we all expected them to and got distracted by that and hey, look at this photo:

Yeah, Patrick Marleau ended the season playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Eight games before the shutdown, and he had one goal and one assist. The Sharks nabbed a conditional 2021 3rd round pick; if the Penguins win the Stanley Cup, it’s a second round pick.

The two weeks we had post-trade deadline didn’t give us enough time to get used to some players in new sweaters, so let’s have a refresher before training camps open.

Carolina Hurricanes acquire Sami Vatanen from the New Jersey Devils

I remembered this one when I was playing NHL 20 over the weekend. The Hurricanes were stocked well with defense before Dougie Hamilton broke his leg - I also forgot about that - and grabbed the pending UFA Vatanen from the Devils in exchange for Janne Kuokkanen, Fredrik Claesson, and a 4th rounder. Vatanen was injured at the deadline and didn’t play a game for the Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes acquire Brady Skjei from the New York Rangers

I had forgotten about this one as well, until this weekend when people were trying to figure out of the Rangers could win the Stanley Cup and the #1 pick if the Hurricanes fall lose the qualifying round (they can’t). The ‘Canes sent that pick to the Rangers for Skjei, who did get in seven games with the Hurricanes before the shutdown.

Nashville Predators acquire ex-Leaf Korbanian Holzer from the Anaheim Ducks

A small deal had the Predators get the former Leaf, who spent all of 2019-20 in the NHL!

Chicago Blackhawks acquire Marlies star defender TJ Brennan from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Brennan was the ‘AAAA’ player on the Marlies, out performing his AHL peers but can’t stick in the NHL.

Boston Bruins acquire Nick Ritchie from the Anaheim Ducks

The player we all expected the Leafs to draft instead of William Nylander was moved by the Ducks, for Danton Heinen - who had only 26 points on the season.

Edmonton Oilers acquire Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings

We’ll end our look back at the deadline with a formerly big name joining the Oilers. Green was one of the few players to escape the Red Wings, sadly though he ended up in Edmonton.

Now, the news.

Hockey Diversity Alliance discuss being minorities in a predominantly white sport

I can’t embed the video directly, but TSN has it at their website.

Centre of Leafs Nation: Interview with Martina Ortiz-Luis

Centre of Leafs Nation caught up with the Leafs anthem singer for their podcast.

We need to talk about how we talk about depression and suicide in sports.

A local radio show in Dallas really had no idea how to talk to Stephen Johns about his experiences.

Finally, in case you missed it over the weekend, Katya wrote up answers to hopefully all of your questions about the second lottery.

NHL 2nd Draft Lottery FAQ

Have a good one y’all. Stay hydrated.

UPDATE - Full video of the Hockey Diversity Alliance:

From The Branches