From The Branches

Linkages. All of the Maple Leafs 2013 Playoff Goals Purdy sweet. Carlyle's Effect on Bozak's Possession Numbers The coach's favorite player. Joy. Know a Writer It's James Mirtle Ya'll. The Morgan Rielly Conundrum Send him back to the WHL.

Not much to say - maybe something will happen?

In case you were living under a rock last night, you missed out on two amazing things. First, Ilya Kovalchuk "retired" from the NHL just 3 years into his lockout causing contract so he could go back to Ru$$ia to be with his family. If you look

Humpday Links Not Advanced Stats - Grabovski is Still Better Even when you dumb it down to the plebs. Marlies: Who's Left? Not a lot of guys. Jim Hughes Interview He's the Director of Player Development don't cha know. The Steve Dangle Podcast - July 9th

The HHOF has a number of players - and a coach - who merit a lot of consideration.

So as feared, Dave Nonis has blown his cash wad on UFAs and Jonathan Bernier's unnecessary contract and now finds himself with 5 RFAs to sign and only $10,320,0833 in capspace to do it. Ask yourself this question: Who's more important to this team;

While trying to figure out what the Leafs' roster looks like right now, I thought I'd ask the tough question: Did Dave Nonis out-GM a potato?

I can't be the only one to have missed the news that the Marlies hired a new coach.

*Cue Yakety Sax

There's a bit of everything going on.

Jump for links and chatter. Oh, and HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Weekend links and notes - drop any confirmed trades in the comments, and get ready for a whole slew of twitter rumors, fake and otherwise.

Alex Tanguay and Cory Sarich were traded from the Calgary Flames to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for David Jones and Shane O'Brian. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=675507&navid=nhl:topheads Toss your links in the comments.

Breathe, people.

Links Drafting by Position BCP lets you know how draft picks turn out. What Should Dave Nonis Do with Grabovski? Nothing. Let him play out his contract because he's a great player. Jonathan Bernier's RFA Comparables Just lovely. We're going to drastically overpay our

Let's all just enjoy the fact that Boston goes home empty-handed.

Links? We don't need no stinking links!

There are a lot of scary ideas floating around out there, right now.

Links 2013 Player Review: Joffrey Lupul Arm gets a C-. Can You Name This Leaf? Vintage Leafs would love to know. Collecting Vintage When You Cheer for an Expansion Team Neat piece by 1967ers. Bickell: "Mario Kart Helps us Focus" Meatheads trying to say they'd be

Go Hawks.

Links After 46 Years Without a Cup, Yes the Leafs Still Matter Well duh. Hart vs Ted Lindsay Which would you rather win? And that's really it until the draft comes.

Why shouldn't PHWA writers be required to defend their hockey opinion? It's what they're supposedly paid to do on a daily basis.

So Colton Orr got himself a contract extension from Leafs GM Dave Nonis to the tune of 2 years at $925k a pop. In a vacuum this isn't a bad deal. It's a marginal NHLer being signed to a minimal contract that would only hurt the

We have to appreciate it while we can, because this off-season is still going to feel like a long one.

Linkage 2013 Play Review: Leo Komarov I'll go with a sold "meh". Maple Leafs Offseason: What's Needed on Defense Bad bodies gone and good bodies in. The Steve Dangle Podcast Dangling. Have Some Cheese 1967ers has a gift for the Bruins. On Coaching Staffs