Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

We are a few days into August, and as training camp inches closer to us there was a spot of news about the Maple Leafs.

It turns out, that they made an offer to defender Radko Gudas, who signed with the Anaheim Ducks this summer. The big scuttlebutt was around media coverage, because Gudas brought that up in an interview with a local paper in Czechia.

Everyone ran with that angle, but Nick Barden at The Hockey News looked at the full story.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/did-radko-gudas-actually-spurn-interest-from-the-maple-leafs-because-of-the-media-spotlight

Media spotlight played into it, yes, but he also mentioned his role with the team as the first thing. Also mentioned cost of living. There are a lot of factors, but the spotlight is one of them. Ryan O'Reilly supposedly mentioned that as well.

So it goes.

Speaking of going, it seems like the BCHL's decision to leave the Hockey Canada program isn't going as well as they hoped.

The Death Pool - BCHL Player Talent Problems Showing Up Already
The BCHL thought leaving the CJHL was a good idea in 2022, and they thought leaving Hockey Canada was an even better idea in 2023. What has happened in playe
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Turns out high level players don't want to spurn the national team - playing in a "rebel league" burns that bridge. Huh. Well, good luck.

The Ducks got their man to stick around. I don't know Terry from a hole in the ground, but sounds good?

Milan Lucic says Maple Leafs, Blackhawks expressed interest in signing him
Milan Lucic said Tuesday that the rival Toronto Maple Leafs and the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks also expressed interest in the bruising depth winger when he hit free agency this summer. Luke Fox has more.
| August 1, 2023, 1:46 PMSportsnet

Oh Brad. No.

The Bruins and goalie Jeremy Swayman went to arbitration and he's just under what Samosonov got.

NHL arbitration tracker: Complete list of results, signings and contract details
The NHL arbitration period has come to a close.
Kyle CantlonYahoo Sports

Finally, after I messed up that spacing and can't figure out how to fix it, the unranked and almosts are out for the Top 25.

2023 T25U25: Unranked and Honourable Mentions
There is no dishonour in not making the top 25 on the list of Maple Leafs prospects. Most years, there’s a fairly long list of people someone votes for, and the unanimously unranked players are a few about to age out and have burned up the hope that still clings to some of the others.
Cathy SquiresPPP Leafs

[editor's note: seldo hasn't figured out yet you can drag and drop items in the post to get the link card below your text.]

Enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches