Some say that we here at Pension Plan Puppets Heavy Industries and Pug Manufacturing LLC have a reputation of being rather harsh, and justifiably so. We don't take kindly to bigots, homophobes, and Habs fans and we let them know it. However, the one groups we despise more than any other is those who insist on posting inane trade proposals. Now that's not to say that good trade proposals can't be debated, they should, but when you get up into "Malkin to the Kings" territory well, we going to call you an idiot.

Ladies and gentlemen it is my pleasure to introduce to you HFBoards user Arik Kristal, creator of perhaps the stupidest and most convoluted series of trades I have ever seen. Behold the idiotic:

let me start off by stating I am not saying any of these trades would happen but rather what I would try and accomplish if I had the chance.

To Anaheim - Grabovski & Blacker
To Toronto - 1st in 2012 (6th overall) & Rights to Justin Schultz

To Edmonton - Gunnarsson, ANA 1st in 2012 (6th overall) & 2nd in 2012 (35th overall)
To Toronto - 1st in 2012 (1st overall)
......

To New York I - EDM 1st in 2012 (1st overall via TOR)
To Toronto - 1st in 2012 (4th overall) & Nelson

- Brock Nelson is a physical center who is projected to be a good 3rd line center with potential to be a 2B type center. Toronto desperately needs a good hitting with scoring upside centerman to play third line minutes.

That's right, when you boil it all down it's Grabovski + Blacker + Gunnarsson + our 2012 2nd rounder for the 2011 4th overall pick and some plug named Brock Nelson.

You would read this and think, "Ho boy, this kid's off his rocker!" and you're right, and you're also wrong. For you see, this is merely a smidgen of the overall grand scheme that Mr. Arik Kristal has devised. The whole, long idiotic trade rant can be found here. May God have mercy on your Hockey IQ.

Links after jump.

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After a dominating performance on Thursday night in Oklahoma City, the Marlies and Barons met again last night for game two. Unfortunately for Toronto, the roles were reversed as OKC netter 5 goals and tied their Western Conference Finals series at one game apiece. Jonas Gustavsson got the start in net for the Marlies.

Here are some links:

The Leafs, the NHL, coaching vacancies, and the playoffs

A new collection of thoughts from VLM

Should the Leafs give up on Colby Armstrong?

They should have done it yesterday

Bergevin remains tight-lipped about next Canadiens coach

God I hope he doesn't speak French

Should the Oilers trade Nail Yakupov?

YES!!!!!

As some of you are aware, there is some playoff hockey being played in Toronto. The Toronto Marlies - led by the scintillating goaltending of Ben Scrivens (1.43GAA! .951Sv%!), the offence of Nazem Kadri, Jerry D`Amigo, and Matt Frattin, and the steel curtain of Jake Gardiner, Korbinian Holzer, and Jesse Blacker - have rampaged through the playoffs on the back of an 8-1 record. They play game two in the conference final (a 5-0 demolishing of Edmonton's affiliate Oklahoma City) tonight (on LeafsTV) and return home Monday for a 3pm game at the Ricoh.

And of course, we're getting some people together.

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The opening of NHL free agency season is only about a month and a half away, and at this point there are 3 players headed for unrestricted free agency who will likely command top-dollar: Alexander Semin, Zach Parise, and Ryan Suter. Of the three, Ryan Suter has been the one whose potential free agency has garnered the most discussion, both among fans and media personalities. Fans of many teams hope that their squad is able to sign Suter this summer, and Leafs fans are among them. While Carl Gunnarsson has provided excellent value on an inexpensive contract this past season, he's not a top pair defender on the kind of defence that you usually need to win the Stanley Cup, and with Suter headlining this summer's crop of UFA defenceman, Leafs fans have turned their attention to him. Would the Leafs be wise to make a major push to try and sign him? Follow me after the jump, where I won't give a very decisive answer.

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Marlie Open Conference Finals With Win - Jeffler at Marlies HQ

While saying that the Marlies had a good shot at this series was far from a ridiculous prediction, nobody could say that they expected tonight’s start. If they did, they were probably criticized for doing so, and deserve much apology. Against the odds and concepts of common sense, the boys in blue and white entered the Cox Convention Center and not only won, but did so in a commanding fashion, with a 5-0 shutout.

Head on over for the full recap. Links after the jump.

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Last night, the New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers 3-2 to knot the series at one game a piece, so if you're looking for details, head over to In Lou We Trust or The Globe and Mail for a recap.

There are plenty of links to check out this morning, so follow me over the jump for a smattering of everything.

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Ok, it's not, but it might as well be. I'm sure to receive a few admonishments from some corner of the internet, but I really think there's no chance that the Phoenix Coyotes ever come back to beat the Los Angeles Kings.

If you're looking for a recap of the game, there's no better place than Five For Howling, who had an understandably dour take on last night's events.

Plenty more links over the jump.

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