Everyone has a coach candidate listicle. In no particular order, other than the first one which I actually read...

Luke Fox: Bruce Cassidy, Manny Malhotra, Jack Capuano, David Carle, Mike Yeo, John Gruden, Joe Sacco

Blog TO: Malhotra, Jay Woodcroft, Cassidy, Carle, Gruden, Derek Lalonde

Terry Koshan: Cassidy, Patrick Roy, Malhotra, Todd Nelson, Woodcroft, Dean Evason, Carle, Jay Leach, Lalonde

Kevin Skiver USA Today: Cassidy, Bruce Boudreau, Carle, Gruden

You fill it in, I don't subscribe:

Adam Proteau at THN: Cassidy, Carle, Malhotra, Gruden

Sara Civian at Bleacher Report: Cassidy, Carle, Peter Laviolette, Woodcroft, Malhotra, Kris Knoblauch

David Suggs at The Sporting News: Cassidy, Carle, Roy, Gruden, Laviolette

Mike Zeisberger at NHL.com: Cassidy, Carle, Gruden, Steve Sullivan, Laviolette, Jussi Ahokas, Malhotra

Spencer L. at The Hockey Writers: Woodcroft, Malhotra, Cassidy

So let's do the analytics on that. Nine sources with the following scores:

  • Cassidy: 9 mentions, 7 time lead-off hitter
  • Carle: 8 mentions, no lead-off at-bats
  • Malhotra: 7 mentions, 1 lead-off
  • Gruden: 6 mentions, no lead-off, at least 2 "not that Gruden" jokes
  • Woodcroft: 4 mentions, 1 lead-off
  • Laviolette: 3 mentions
  • Lalonde: 2 mentions
  • Roy: 2 mentions
  • Knoblauch: 1 mention
  • Boudreau: 1 mention
  • Leach: 1 mention
  • Nelson: 1 mention
  • Evason: 1 mention
  • Capuano: 1 mention
  • Yeo: 1 mention
  • Sacco: 1 mention
  • Sullivan: 1 mention
  • Ahokas: 1 mention

The most creative award goes to Terry Koshan, Sara Civian and Mike Zeisberger (mostly creative in a good way). The ones who just asked an AI are obvious. I actually do think Carle's lack of lead-off hitting is a red flag.

A very slightly more serious profile of David Carle will be out later.

In other news, the Marlies went down 2-0 early against the Monsters and then really came back. Final score was 5-2 with five different scorers for the good guys.

Ben Danford in his pro debut:

It's possible Dennis Hildeby has had too much Nylander influence in his life.

Montréal took the opener in the PWHL final in OT, as is the PWHL way. The Victoire tied the game with fractions of a second left in the third.

The Sabres gave it up to the Canadiens who now lead that series 3-2 and Vegas had an early lead to try to beat out the Ducks in their game.

And the Marner goal everyone will be talking about:

Conference Final schedule scenarios announced | NHL.com
NEW YORK -- The National Hockey league today announced the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals schedule scenarios. The Eastern Conference Final will feature the Metropolitan Division regular-season champion Carolina Hurricanes against either the Buffalo Sabres or Montreal Canadiens and will begin either Tuesday, May 19 or Thursday, May 21,
NHL logoNHL Public Relations
Canucks promote Johnson to GM; Sedin twins named co-presidents
The Vancouver Canucks confirmed the worst-kept secret in hockey on Thursday with the introduction of their new management group. Assistant general manager Ryan Johnson has been promoted to general manager with club legends Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin expanding their roles as co-presidents
TSNTSN.ca Staff
Celebrini to remain Canada captain at worlds despite Crosby addition
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff

Men's Worlds starts today from Switzerland. If you are looking to watch Ivar Stenberg or Viggo Björck, you want Team Sweden under captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, if you want the very stacked Team Canada, well, that has JT and Mo on it for Leafs content. (Fraser Minten is also on the team.)

Find all information here:

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm

Find all games on TSN.

Sweden plays Canada today at 10:20 am Toronto time, opening the tournament with the top two teams in Group B. The medal games are on May 31.

And that's all for now.

From The Branches