Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

It has been a busy, busy, week and it's not going to slow down anytime soon.

There have been trades, and rumors galore and I credit this to one thing, and one thing only: The NHL Awards and Entry Draft are being hosted in the same city, days apart.

NHL General Managers, front office employees, media members, and so many others are gathered together in the same place for a week. In a place famous for bars, parties, and nightlife! People have no choice but to be around each other, talking, gabbing, drinking, talking too loudly, reporters overhearing things. It's wonderful. I love it. Make it happen every year.

Logistically it can be an easy week as well. You're already building one stage, why not make it easily changeable so you can have the awards then the draft in the same building? The star players are here already, so they can help out making draft pick announcements or talk to recently selected prospects.

With no host for the 2024 NHL Draft announced yet, there is plenty of time to find a place that can do both and keep the party going.

Here's some of that news I've been talking about.

Instant Analysis: The Montreal Canadiens are betting on Alex Newhook’s upside
Montreal goes to the same well they did when they acquired Kirby Dach a year ago.
Jared BookEyes On The Prize

Montreal paid a hefty price for a pick that wasn't panning out in Colorado.

To Montreal: Alex Newhook
To Colorado: Gianni Fairbrother, 2023 1st & 2nd round picks

TRADE ALERT: Kings Acquire Dubois in Massive Deal with Winnipeg
Kings GM Rob Blake continues to retool his roster via another massive deal. Just one week removed from a three-team trade with Philadelphia and Columbus, he’s now swung a deal with Winnipeg that w
Scott Coffman

The Winnipeg Jets* completed a sign and trade with the Los Angeles Kings.

To Winnipeg: Gabriel Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Alex Iafallo, 2024 2nd round pick.
To Los Angeles: Pierre-Luc Dubois

Calgary Flames trade Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey for Yegor Sharangovich and 2023 third round pick
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Jeff MiddletonFlamesNation

The Flames decided not to rebuild.

To Calgary: Yegor Sharangovich, 2023 3rd round pick
To New Jersey: Tyler Toffoli

Sharks add depth in goal, trade for Blackwood
The San Jose Sharks acquired goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
Ryan S. ClarkESPN

The Devils didn't stop, sending middling goalie Blackwood out west.

To New Jersey: 2023 6th round pick
To San Jose: Mackenzie Blackwood

Philadelphia Flyers finally trade Kevin Hayes to St. Louis Blues
Kevin Hayes is done in Philadelphia and has gone to St. Louis for basically nothing.
Thomas WilliamsBroad Street Hockey

Flyers dump salary in what was a long drawn out trade.

To Philadelphia: 2024 6th round pick
To St. Louis: Kevin Hayes

We also kept busy around here.

Sheldon Keefe not yet extended
Brad Treliving met the media one day before the draft and reported what was obvious: Sheldon Keefe will be coach next year.
Cathy SquiresPPP Leafs

Obvious news, I guess.

Report: Leafs taking a second look at Kämpf & Kerfoot
It’s possible Brad Treliving had some sticker shock when looking at other available players to fill the roles these two held on the Leafs.
Cathy SquiresPPP Leafs

If they're cheap, sure?

Toronto Maple Leafs 2023 draft picks & history
All the Maple Leafs 2023 NHL draft picks. Ones they have, ones they traded away, and who they picked in these spots.
Adam SelvigPPP Leafs

Prepare for tonight.

Seaside Hockey
Today the NHL and the NHLPA announced a new program. Both Sarah Nurse and Mark Fraser, the Maple Leafs Manager of Culture and Inclusion, selected Seaside to get a $5,000 grant.
Cathy SquiresPPP Leafs

There's a new charity program out for the NHL.

How Can the Maple Leafs Trade Down from 28 at the NHL Draft? | PPP Leafs
Brad Treliving has a history of trading down at the draft, and there are a few teams that seem like reasonable candidates to trade up to get the 28th overall pick.
Brian SPPP Leafs

But will they?

‘The sooner, the better’: Maple Leafs’ Treliving trying to lock up Matthews, Nylander
Sheldon Keefe will be back for a fifth season as Maple Leafs’ bench boss; now at the forefront of GM Treliving’s new game plan is locking up Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
| June 27, 2023, 4:53 PMSportsnet

The new GM is trying to do the hard things first.

Okay folks, we have a long day of rumors, innuendo, and trades coming up. Stay alert, and watch for fake tweets.

Enjoy your day!

From The Branches