Shawn Thornton is the worst.

The last team Maple Leafs team to win the Stanley Cup was led by a taskmaster coach that was well known for his defensive focus. Sound familiar?

Today is a day of firsts for the site. First up: The first From The Branches post on a Leafs' game day. It will be bigger and better than anything you've ever seen before.

Should we really feel incensed when an NHL player declines a post-practice media scrum? What kind of value do we really get out of player quotes? And for that matter, what kind of articles have any value at all?

Tyler Seguin apparently lives in filth because he's a filthy person.

Day twelve of the PPP Trivia Contest! Know stuff! Win cards! If you want to take part and haven't signed up, please take a moment to do so! Have you got your Tim's yet? If not, get one here!

How well do bad possession teams do in subsequent seasons?

There is a lot of hand-wringing going on about the Leafs' first playoff appearance in nine years.

Day eleven of the PPP Trivia Contest! Know stuff! Win cards! If you want to take part and haven't signed up, please take a moment to do so!

PLAYOFFS!!!1

Leafs need a young priest and an old priest.

As per Greg Brady, the schedule for the first round matchup between our heroes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the wannabe Flyers, the Boston Bruins, is set.

Just when you thought it was safe to start making Carey Price jokes, the Bruins go out and lose both

IT HAS BEGUN

Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs will play against the Montreal Canadiens - a win will secure a Leafs-Habs first round playoff series. Meanwhile, Brian Burke will face off against anonymous people on the internet.

The playoffs start soon and we're going to kick them off with some goodwill.

Dear PHWA; When you fill out your nominations for this year's Masterton Trophy, please remember that returning from an injury isn't the only criteria.

Day ten of the PPP Trivia Contest! Know stuff! Win cards! If you want to take part and haven't signed up, please take a moment to do so!

Tyler Bozak sat, Nazem Kadri played with Kessel and oh my did they look good together. Oh yeah, and Reimer's still a beast.

Morning links to get you ready for the weekend

Don't fuck this up!

Day Nine of the PPP Trivia Contest! Know stuff! Win cards! If you want to take part and haven't signed up, please take a moment to do so! We profile a couple of Hawks legends today.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a regular season game to the will-be division rival Tampa Bay Lightning on the back of a Martin St. Louis "hat trick."

Your daily dose of hockey links

Just another meaningless game at the end of the season for two downtrodden franchises with nothing to play for EXCEPT