It’s hot out; nice and sunny. It’s the NHL off-season! Or is it?

Perhaps we can agree to call it the “alleged off-season”.

It has been a wild 24-hour roller coaster for NHL fans — like us here at PPP — who enjoy studying and discussing the inner-workings of the NHL and the Players’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In one day the Maple Leafs have gone from what everyone thought was a club in a salary cap crunch, to one with loads of salary cap space available to ink prized Restricted Free Agent possession Connor Brown to a juicy new contract that will keep him here, without having to make a trade.

That’s all thanks to our friend, James Mirtle of the Athletic. Yesterday afternoon he dropped the bomb that, contrary to what has been reported by, well, everyone, for many years, there exists such a thing as placing players on a Long-Term Injured Reserve for relief of their salary cap hits during the off-season, and this is confirmed by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

But even in The Athletic, on June 30, Daly was quoted apparently contradicting this new statement in regards to Marian Hossa.

Perhaps now that it is in regards to the Maple Leafs, Daly has changed his mind.

If you want the details available so far, Arvind has rounded up quotes and comments here.

What you might have missed yesterday

Leafs first development camp scrimmage had a surprise star line - Katya
It wasn’t Brooks, Bracco and Dzierkals, it was three names you likely don’t know.

Toronto Marlies 2017-18 schedule - ElSeldo
The Marlies will play against some new teams this season.

Other News

The Most Important Moves Of The NHL’s Free-Agent Frenzy - FiveThirtyEight
538 establishes and admittedly incomplete guide to the moves that will affect the 2017-18 season based on GAR.

Taking a Shot: Is it Normal? - On the Forecheck
Is there anything a coach or a player can do to improve the chance of a goal, or is it just luck from the hockey gods?

Sens re-sign Patrick Sieloff to a 1-year extension - Silver Seven
[Species: The guy who gave his teammate a massive concussion gets a second chance and I think it stinks.]

Coyotes hire Rick Tocchet as Head Coach - Five For Howling
The worst kept secret is out, Tocchet is the next head coach of the Arizona Coyotes.

From The Branches