Good morning everyone, today is gameday, and that means a trip to Montréal.

Your preview is coming later today, for now, some newsish things:

Insider trading discusses a John Tavares extension. Pierre LeBrun describes it as a mutual desire, but the team may not be in a rush.

The long-running saga about changes to the NCAA rules carries on as colleges are said to be recruiting already:

However, no currently contracted CHL players are moving south this season.

My thoughts on this are pretty similar to Marner's. I think Cowan can focus on improving his shot selection, that he can forego the "works in junior" plays a lot more and go for a higher level of offensive game. He can be the line driver, possibly centre a line more. He can improve on the power play and not just rely on his aggressive PK game. He can improve defensively.

He already has a pretty impressive level of play away from the puck in the offensive zone, but there is no reason to think he can't improve that too. [Note: an earlier version of this article contained a sentence that didn't really make a lot of sense.] Be the guy who draws defenders to you, and open up lanes for the other players all the time.

A lot of rhetoric has been about his junior accomplishments, as if awards and point streaks are the thing you're there for. There's a lot more to it. One aspect is making the players around him better, and I think he can do that.

Let's see him become a dominating presence in the OHL in a way that transcends his points.

Ah bless their hearts. My prediction is whichever Eastern team gets there.

Thoughts are definitely to all PPPers in Florida. Hope you're sorted out for safety.

Did you watch a game last night on opening night? Was it good?

That's all for now, see you at preview time.

From The Branches