Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

The Toronto Marlies defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last night to win their second Eastern Conference Championship, third conference title overall, and will head to the finals to face either the Colorado Eagles or the Chicago Wolves for the chance at a second Calder Cup title.

Alexander Nylander scored the series winning goal, Ben Danford has been impressing plenty of people, and goalie Artur Akhtyamov has been a star for the team the entire playoffs.

With a series completed in six games, the Marlies weren't forced to spend another night in Scranton, instead they came home early for an extra days rest before finding out if they'll have to head to Illinois to play the Chicago Wolves, or to the Rockies to take on the Colorado Eagles.

The Wolves and Eagles will play game seven tonight to find out the Western Conference Champion.

PWHL expansion moves continue and Hamilton is making most of the big news bringing in names like Brianne Jenner, Alina Müller, and Emily Clark. Not all teams have made their five signings however. Las Vegas has only signed two players, and San Jose and Detroit have four.

What Does Each PWHL Expansion Team Have, And What Do They Still Need
Two days of signings are complete in the PWHL’s expansion to Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose. Through two days, 14 of the 20 players who will move in Phase 2 have been signed. Here’s who each expansion team has, and what they still need.
Yahoo Sports CanadaIan Kennedy

What this means is an actual expansion draft will come if they don't fill all their slots. Clearly Hamilton is the most desirable of these new teams. What's next can be explained best by Professor Puck.

In Leafs land, coaching decisions are still being made with plenty of names out there, but some aren't out there anymore.

And other names are a little surprising.

Maple Leafs plan to interview Joe Pavelski for head coach vacancy
An unexpected name surfaces in Toronto’s coaching search — Joe Pavelski. According to multiple sources, the Future Hall-of-Famer is on the Maple Leafs’ radar as the team begins the next phase of its interview process, with one describing him as a “Martin St. Louis-style candidate.”
Sportsnet.caElliotte Friedman

Pulling a former player head coach out of the teen leagues has worked okay for Montreal, so why not the Leafs? Coaches with lots of experience didn't get us a cup.

With Dylan Larkin making waves, and bringing intrigue to the NHL draft where we'll be waiting all night to hear those magical words "We have a trade to announce", the discussion around trade requests and no move clauses comes up. Should a trade request nullify the clause? Has Larkin given a list of teams? Are the Red Wings left to just make calls not knowing if Larkin will agree?

Dylan Larkin’s trade request points out a major NHL flaw
The Red Wings are supposed to do something, but how will that work?
Yahoo Sports CanadaBilly Heyen

Wonderful news for draft watchers and rumour lovers like myself.

Enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches