Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

It's always better after a win, and what a win indeed we saw Saturday night. Strong enough to carry you to Monday morning, and start the week great. Until we see the Panthers tomorrow night.

So while we await that South Floridian team of monsters let's talk about what could have beens, and things we wished happened.

It's a usual thing for fans to look on the ice and wonder what Scott Niedermayer or Tyler Seguin would have looked like in the blue and white, or if the Leafs didn't trade down for Travis Dermott and picked Alex Debrincat instead.

I want to know what you think about off the ice for the Leafs. Is it as simple as wishing the second batch of reverse retro jerseys were made full timers?

One thing I think about, and think would have been the better idea overall - except maybe financially at the moment - was the Maple Leafs original plan to build a Maple Leafs Gardens replacement on top of Union Station in downtown Toronto.

LEAFS’ PLANS OVER UNION STATION CAUSING SOME RUMBLING?
<pre> The Maple Leafs “confirmed that they have been studying the idea of building the next Maple Leaf Gardens right on top of Union Station” in Toronto, according to Israelson, Ormsby &amp; Brazao of the TORONTO STAR. Gardens Project Dir Tom Anselmi said in a statement that Union Station “would continue to operate as it does now.” Anselmi: “We are reluctant to excite or mislead our fans about a specific site until feasibility is proven, a deal is in place and a final decision is made.” The STAR noted that Raptors President Richard Peddie called the Leafs’ proposal a “trial balloon” and “heaped scorn on the idea.” The Raptors are building the $200M Air Canada Centre “just to the south of the station.” Peddie: “We cannot have our business disrupted or stopped for the two to three years it would take them for construction -- 65 percent of our guests are going to arrive through Union Station” (TORONTO STAR, 4/16). Raptors Majority Owner Allan Slaight called the proposal “ludicrous,” adding, “We’ll fight it tooth and nail.” Peddie: “We’re really quite angry at (the Leafs’) intentions. They said they never liked our site, and now they want to build virtually on top of it” (Daniels &amp; Hornby, TORONTO SUN, 4/16). The SUN’s Wanagas &amp; Daniels note that a joint arena deal may still be in the works, adding “sources indicated that if the two teams haven’t already reached a tentative deal on a joint project, one is very close” (TORONTO SUN, 4/16) </pre>
Sports Business Journal

Now Scotiabank Arena is in a great location - next door to Union - but was designed to the a standalone arena for the Toronto Raptors, back when the two teams had different owners.

Construction was already underway for the Raptors arena on the old Canada Post depot lands when Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment was created and the two teams came under one ownership. Concrete was poured, and sightlines couldn't be redone to take into account the larger playing surface for hockey, so we have some corner seats, standing room, and high level boxes with obstructed views.

SBA cost about $600 million in today's money to build, and if one owner has two teams, why spend another near billion on a second arena. Especially when it would be more expensive and complicated to do so over top of an active rail hub where subways, commuter trains, and national railways meet up.

However, I think it was a shortsighted decision to abandon the plan.

Right now Scotiabank Arena is active nearly every other day, with 100 concerts a year on average as well as 41 NHL games and 41 NBA games, and the occasional WNBA, PWHL, wrestling events, and private rentals thrown in. Ice quality has been an issue there with so much turnover. Modernization is harder to do with so much activity - the Rogers Centre was able to do major renovations because it's mostly unused during the Blue Jays off-season.

If the Leafs and Raptors were separated, there's time to renovate and update. There's more time for quality ice to be made and maintained. As well as a lot more revenue for more concerts and events. Right now SBA is the only year round large concert venue in the GTA. Rogers Centre is awful for acoustics, but major artists will play there occasionally due to the capacity. Coca-Cola Coliseum does play host to some concerts, but is half the size so isn't as popular with big names.

Two venues could lead to MLSE getting residencies for big names, like Billy Joel in Madison Square Garden, and move a couple Raptors games to the other building or vice-versa. Playoffs could see home games have watch parties in the other building.

There would be downsides of course, if you have ever tried to get a train home on a night when both the Leafs and Blue Jays are playing it can be difficult. So imagine a night when the Jays, Leafs, AND Raptors all had home games. Hotels would love it though.

It would have been a major financial investment up front, but imagine how much more the Pension Plan would have made off the sale to Rogers and Bell.

And imagine how much better a Leafs game would be with better ice, better sightlines, and a giant escalator straight to the subway.

We can dream.

Now, some news.

Speaking of fantasy worlds:

“I’m Doing It”: Scribe on Maple Leafs Trading Future Star in Quinn Hughes Deal - The Hockey Writers Toronto Maple Leafs Latest News, Analysis & More
If Quinn Hughes became available to the Toronto Maple Leafs via trade, how much should Toronto be willing to give to acquire the defenseman?
The Hockey WritersJim Parsons

We just keep dreaming...

It wasn't the home opener we wanted, but the Sceptres are back and we finally have all our teams up and going.

Sceptres fall short with execution, seek improvement after 3-1 loss to Fleet
There was flow, there was structure — but the execution in scoring was not there for the Toronto Sceptres
Barrie 360Canadian Press

The Toronto Marlies were in North Carolina and rained on the Checkers parade, as the teddy bears rained down aroudn them.

Ottawa Charge Head coach Carla MacLeod announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but will be doing her best to stay behind the Charge bench, and Team USA at the upcoming winter Olympics.

Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod announces cancer diagnosis
Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, she announced via the team on Sunday.
Sportsnet.caAssociated Press

Finally, Manitoba has a new program to get more participants in blind and sledge hockey.

Manitobans learn how to play blind and sledge hockey through free program
Young Manitobans have been hard at work this fall learning to play blind or sledge hockey. The partnership between Canadian Blind Hockey, the Hockey For All Centre, Manitoba Possible and the First Shift Program provides players with gear, ice time and a chance to ease into hockey at no cost.
Yahoo News CanadaCBC

Alright, share your wonderings, and enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches