Oh man, what a day we had yesterday, eh? First, yes Deadspin wrote a piece on SBNation's business model and how everyone here is unappreciated and beaten and worked to the bone without compensation.

While not being completely untrue (and lets say it: every for profit underpays its employees compared to revenue, it just varies how much. Not an excuse, just the truth) it was in need of an editor (pot calling kettle black over here) and ignored pretty much everyone who told the writer anything positive about their time writing here. I would just like to say I'm happy with the lack of preassure I face writing here, at least the kind that isn't created by me waiting until the last second to write my T25 piece for tomorrow. Katya, Scott and MLSE have been supportive of everyone here to write what they want and never to do anything that you're not interested in (and let me shoehorn in junior hockey news everywhere I can). We're probably safe in our niche sport that our American overlords couldnt give two craps about (what else would be the reason to keep around a site that no one reads while ignoring a very large, eager for an outlet market?) and will never face what was described in the hit piece.

Okay Katya I wrote it, can I have my turtle back now?

In other news....

Episode 3 of Back to Excited came out yesterday!

Alexey Marchenko is heading back to the KHL.

The Marlies signed one of my personal favourite draft picks, Martins Dzierkals.

Adam Brooks made his Top 25 debut at #15.

Steve Simmons got dunked on so hard that Postmedia isnt including him in the next round of layoffs out of pity.

Jeremy Roenick is a tool.

Broad Street Hockey asks 'What if Chris Pronger never left Philly?'

The St. Louis Blues (remember them? I never do) are being sued over arena upgrades.

Finally, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the 7th best odds to win the Stanley Cup.

Enjoy the day!

From The Branches