> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Saturday's FTB: Another hockey game already? - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/saturdays-ftb-another-hockey-game-already/ - Published: 2025-10-11T10:00:03.000Z - Updated: 2025-10-11T10:00:02.000Z - Description: What is this madness? - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: From The Branches The Leafs are in Detroit today to reprise another preseason matchup. The preview will be out this afternoon for you. > Leafs Ice Chips - The Maple Leafs' power play got off to a slow start against the Canadiens and even allowed a short-handed goal in the first period. [@markhmasters](https://twitter.com/markhmasters?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) has more on what was discussed at Friday's practice, where special teams was a focus: [https://t.co/JTSGpU139S](https://t.co/JTSGpU139S?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/K2Kx3w8UdR](https://t.co/K2Kx3w8UdR?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) [October 10, 2025](https://twitter.com/TSNHockey/status/1976742147450978481?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [Debate over Easton Cowan’s Maple Leafs debut gets complicatedShould Cowan’s time come at the expense of tinkering with a winning lineup? Or — a debate for later — at the expense of burning a year off the winger’s entry-level contract?![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Sportsnet.caLuke Fox![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/Leafs-1-2.jpg)](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/debate-over-easton-cowans-maple-leafs-debut-gets-complicated/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Note: the above article contains a bit about debating if the Leafs should "burn a year" off the ELC by playing Cowan in the NHL. The term "burn a year" normally refers to the 9-games played that are allowed for a player who can then be sent back to junior or the AHL when they are eligible for their contract to slide. "Slide" refers to the extension of an ELC by up to two years for players of an eligible age. It turns a three-year ELC into five years. Cowan's contract has slid twice, and he's 20 years old and not eligible by age even if it hadn't. What might be meant by this line is the other counter on a young player that determines if their season is considered an "accrued season" towards their UFA age. Cowan has to be on the roster for 40 games to count. Long-term thinkers in the NHL consider this much more relevant than what burn a year actually means as someday down the road, the Leafs will be "buying UFA years" with a contract, and the more of them there are, the more expensive it is. It is not terribly helpful for this article to use the wrong slang term here. These sorts of things are easy to get confused about and forget – I had to look up the criteria for accrued seasons. All of this in service of the point that Cowan might feel bad not getting to play immediately. He'll be fine. Stop turning the word "scratch" into some terrible fate worse than a demotion to the AHL. Is he going to play tonight? I don't think so, but he did rotate in on the second power play yesterday at practice, so his debut is close. I notice no one is writing articles about how Sammy Blais feels, though. His debut is likely coming later than Cowan's. [Maple Leafs players visit Covenant House Toronto for Canadian Thanksgiving | NHL.comDomi, Nylander, Benoit spend some time at youth shelter on holiday![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-apple-touch-icon-152.png)NHL logoMike Zeisberger![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/tmulkh6yon3rczdsvlgy-1.jpg)](https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-canadian-thanksgiving-covenant-house-visit?utm%5Fsource=xdotcom&utm%5Fmedium=nhl%5Fsocial&utm%5Fcampaign=pr) > NY Islanders’ Jonathan Drouin has been suspended for one game for cross-checking Pittsburgh’s Connor Dewar. [https://t.co/3rcDFarEdk](https://t.co/3rcDFarEdk?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) [October 10, 2025](https://twitter.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/1976714371402186966?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [\- TSNDespite the opening night win for the Maple Leafs on Wednesday against the Canadiens, Auston Matthews felt it was ‘kind of a sloppier game,’ but added it left room for improvement for the top line. The key for Matthews, Matthew Knies and Matias Maccelli will be developing chemistry. Maccelli has already noticed Matthews preference for the give-and-go.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-131.ico)TSN![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fd3g70guqh4mw9g.cloudfront.net-2F10-10-2025-2Ft_575c401adc9d4a87826de0d6d8c0615c_name_2025_10_10_44b02ca4_8e44_4b4b_91d3_c464f20c2e09_jpg_1200x675.jpg)](https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/2025/10/10/after-sloppy-leafs-opener-matthews-maccelli-work-on-give-and-go-chemistry/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) I like the format of this (confession, though, I haven't had time to read it): [OK, so if...: Exploring some Leafs observations and potential outcomesWith one game down and a busy stretch ahead, Justin Bourne evaluates some of the questions (and answers) we have for the Maple Leafs, and extrapolates what the possible outcomes could be.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Sportsnet.caJustin Bourne![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/Leafs-2-1.jpg)](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ok-so-if-exploring-some-leafs-observations-and-potential-outcomes/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) We have baseball this weekend at well as hockey. The Leafs play Monday in a 2 pm start that is a Prime game, and the Jays play at a time officially TBD for now, but: > Spread the news B…uds! > > 🔹 2pm puck drop vs. Red Wings > 🔹[@BlueJays](https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) game will be played on the videoboard [@ScotiabankArena](https://twitter.com/ScotiabankArena?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) after Leafs game! [pic.twitter.com/gvHt5W0IOR](https://t.co/gvHt5W0IOR?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) [October 11, 2025](https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1976808295563485239?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) We should be able to guess the timing. The Jays actually start their ALCS on Sunday, time not published at time of writing. The Marlies lost their opener 4-3 with this lineup: > Our Season-Opening Crew 👑 [pic.twitter.com/Bl9s6DzhKu](https://t.co/Bl9s6DzhKu?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) [October 10, 2025](https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies/status/1976786786920939771?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Which is a lot of NHL game experience on the ice. That's all for now, game information will come later, but don't expect changes to the lineup after a win very often.