Friday's FTB: Leafs had fun yesterday

The Leafs had a fan day yesterday, and it looks like it was an outstanding event.

Joe Woll, everyone:

And they invited some friends:

This is really about how they feel about how the fans support them:

- TSN

The Maple Leafs have failed to meet expectations this season and that’s led to commentary about Toronto being a tough place to play, but as Mark Masters reports, the current Leafs aren’t buying that narrative.

TSN

32 Thoughts: Player safety a hot topic at GMs meetings

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman covers why player safety was a hot topic at the GMs meetings, who checked in on Matthew Knies, superstar injury updates and much more.

Sportsnet.caElliotte Friedman

It happened Tuesday. According to several sources, Bettman raised the topic, saying there is an owner who feels strongly the league needs stronger enforcement on this issue. He asked the GMs if they agree with the current standard/interpretation of Rule 48: Illegal Check to the Head. There was a second or two of silence before Tulsky said he supported the owner's position, leading the commissioner to say something along the lines of, “Well, I guess we know which owner this was.”

Since he arrived in the NHL, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has made no secret: He wants more protection for the head and stricter punishment for violations. A few sources said his ire was re-ignited by a Tyler Pitlick hit on Jalen Chatfield in November. Pitlick was ejected, but not suspended.

Bettman followed up with, “Does anyone else agree?” Again, silence. End of discussion.

This is now official:

New York Islanders’ AHL team to relocate to Hamilton

The New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate team is relocating to Hamilton, Ont., from Bridgeport, Connecticut

CHCHMason Goodfellow

This is the first Canadian AHL team for a US NHL team in decades. One thing they will have to work around is that anecdotally, it appears getting a US visa for non-American players takes a lot longer than it used to. So recalling players to the NHL will have to work around that.

And finally, the weird ways news gets out:

Tvisten i domstol avslöjar – “Mini-Nyllet” på väg hem (?)

Alexander Nylander verkar flytta till Stockholm

HockeySverigeKonrad Grönlund

Alex Nylander had to have a hearing to contest the right to buy a Stockholm apartment, and in that hearing he said he's playing in the SHL next season.

That's all for now, the preview will be later on, as the Leafs play the Hurricanes tonight.