If there is one party that hasn't been heard from much so far in this lockout it's the NHL's sponsors. Somehow, I imagine that the league will listen far more carefully to them than the fans when they call to end the lockout. At least, I like to imagine it going that way.

A story that cropped up on TSN's Facebook page (and subsequently on Backhand Shelf) that, unfortunately, doesn't look to me like real pressure. If Boston Pizza actually wanted to put heat on the league, they would do so privately, with a quick phone call or a strongly-worded letter threatening to pull their sponsorship. This looks to me like a PR move.

Oh well, we can always hope for the best. Oh wait, they've cancelled more games.

Marlies Hot & Cold: December 3rd-9th
A good little wrap-up from Kyle Cicerella. Man, Dylan Yeo has struggled in every game I've seen him in.

Ross scores first AHL goal in loss to the Heat
Here's a recap of the Marlies' game from Adam Nightingale.

Another Look At How Goalies Age: Can we correct for bias?
More on the aging goalie debate from Graphic Comments at NHL Numbers.

Total Player Charts: Conceptualizing Time On-Ice Percentages
Fun graphs from Ben Wendorf at NHL Numbers.

What a 48-game Maple Leafs schedule could look like
Oh man, puke. Well, it'd be better than nothing. From Cam Charron at TLN.

Leafs Prospect Update: December 10th, 2012
More on Morgan Rielly from Justin Fisher.

Reflections from a member of the Smythe family that started it all for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Cool stuff from Michael Langlois.

From The Branches