Isn’t it exciting! The first NHL pre-season game is tonight at 5:00 PM EDT between the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings.

So ... ... ... that is actually not very exciting.

The Leafs are still in Niagara Falls starting training camp. There was lots of non-news from camp yesterday. You can catch up on all of that here.

Or skip to William Nylander with stickers his teammates surreptitiously stuck to the back of his shirt.

Cuts are inevitably coming soon. We will keep you appraised.

The Maple Leafs first pre-season game is on Monday against the Senators in Ottawa. Note that unlike past years this will not be a “split-squad” event. The Senators will travel to the ACC to play the Leafs on Tuesday. Both games starts at 7:30 PM EDT.

Day one of Leafs training camp filtered through Twitter - Katya
I watched training camp vicariously, and capslocked at tweets from innocent beat reporters.

Transcript: Mike Babcock on Miro Aaltonen, Calle Rosen, Andreas Borgman & Marleau’s potential fit next to Kadri - MLHS

Brennan: Ultimate Leafs Fan Collection should be in T.O, not Ottawa - Ottawa Sun
“BLOO BLOO BLOO BLOO BLOO BLOO BLOO”

J.P. Bickell: our 'most unknown great Canadian' - Mississauga.com
In 1924 Bickell bought the Toronto St. Pats, eventually bringing in Conn Smythe to the club.

Laine: Only reaching playoffs will make me happy
Good luck. You'll need it.

In a global hockey world, who still counts as an import? - The Hockey News
When is a Russian not a Russian? It’s a question that comes up every year in major junior.

Foligno contract shows Fletcher unwilling to learn from mistakes - Hockey Wilderness
The Minnesota Wild once again gave a long-term deal to a low-upside grinder.

On Ovechkin, the Olympics, and Closing the Door - Japers' Rink
On the eve of training camp, the captain issues a statement and prepares to put his Olympic dream on hold.

Olympics no-show a sin of omission for the NHLPA - The Globe and Mail
Alex Ovechkin may decry how 'it sucks' that he will not be in South Korea, but the NHLPA failed to enshrine Olympics attendance in its contract​.

REMINDER: No subway service from Sheppard West to St. George all weekend.

From The Branches