Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

I have been released by my hostage takers even though no one here would pay the ransom. Turns out, like my family, they got sick of hearing about my wikipedia deep dives and do not want to hear anything else about the bridges crossing the Hudson River into New York City.

So, I am back to both you all. Lucky.

Just after a big news week too. Hopefully more things will happen, but good ones like we've been getting.

The Leafs got rid of the GM and Coach, Hamilton got a PWHL team (and me as a season ticket holder), and now the Leafs are tossing more bodies overboard as the new regime establishes themselves.

Maple Leafs trim the executive tree
Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey are leaving.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

I'm hearing rumours that Keith Pelley is holding meetings with both Claude and CoPilot, but honestly I'd rather bring back Claude Loiselle to do the job.

I'm also hearing I've been away too long and everyone's sick of Pelley / AI jokes. Sorry, Gemini told me they were still cool.

The Maple Leafs are working on their front office, the draft is coming up, but I hear rumours that hockey games are still being played.

The Toronto Marlies are tied in their series against the Cleveland Monsters 1-1 with game three coming on Wednesday night in Toronto.

The Marlies playoff run is the most important thing in Toronto right now and the entire offseason leans on it
The Toronto Marlies playoff run has more than the Calder Cup at stake, as the Maple Leafs offseason hinges on many of their prospects making the leap forward.
Hockey PatrolCharlie McAfee

The Montreal Victoire are one win away from sweeping the Ottawa Charge and becoming the first non-Minnesota Frost team to win the Walter Cup.

Flaherty the OT hero, Victoire move one win away from Walter Cup
Montreal Victoire take a 2–0 series lead over Ottawa Charge after a 2–1 overtime win in Game 2 of the Walter Cup Finals.
Habs Eyes on the PrizeSheilaP

The IIHF World Championships are going strong, Team Canada is doing well with two wins, and have Denmark on tap today at 10:20am Toronto time.

Ukraine’s journey to 2027 World Championship about more than hockey | NHL.com
With country at war, team ‘overwhelmed’ to reach tournament for 1st time since 2007
NHL logoPaul Strizhevsky

We're even getting some highlights from long lost prospects.

Ukraine’s journey to 2027 World Championship about more than hockey | NHL.com
With country at war, team ‘overwhelmed’ to reach tournament for 1st time since 2007
NHL logoPaul Strizhevsky

It's rumour season and I'm eating up all the discourse and rantings around them. Let's make them wonder though. I hear Evgeni Malkin may be a free agent soon...

Trocheck Trade Is Something Maple Leafs Should Avoid
The Toronto Maple Leafs would do well to avoid a Vincent Trocheck trade, as the New York Rangers look to move on.
HeavyNestor Quixtan

After it came out that the Owen Sound Attack were for sale I was worried. Who would by the team in the OHLs smallest market?

The I got the answer...

Private equity enters the CHL as fund purchases the Owen Sound Attack
The Owen Sound Attack are the first franchise in the Canadian Hockey League owned by a private equity group.
Owen Sound Sun TimesGreg Cowan

Well, they had a good run.

But, staying positive, the new PWHL teams are doing some hiring so, hopefully we get some good news when Hamilton makes some staffing announcements.

Trailblazer Rheaume hired as Detroit’s PWHL GM
Manon Rheaume is carrying over her trailblazing women’s hockey career into a front office role in being hired as the general manager of the PWHL’s expansion team in Detroit, the league announced on Friday. The Canadian Olympian goaltender, and first woman to appear in an exhibition game of any of North America’s four major sports, […]
The Mining Journal

Enjoy your day everyone!