From The Branches

Give a listen to the podcasts linked below for some good discussions on the Leafs, and click the links for even more. Leafs Nation Podcast: We're Back! JP, Danny, birky, and I get together and discuss the Leafs, Brian Burke's firing, Luongo, and more. Hockee Night

The 2013 NHL schedule should be released today so that we can finally start planning our lives out

With the firing of Brian Burke came the removal of the signage for Burkie's Dog House. What will it be named now?

Did anything actually change with the firing of Brian Burke? With Dave Nonis stepping in to take over the reins, it is not clear that any big changes will be coming.

Help us figure out where everyone stands with their expectations for the Leafs this season by filling out this survey of prognostications. Here there be links Leafs Prospect Update Time to cut ties with Joe Colborne? I think so. Kadri, Frattin, and a Luongo Trade Because if it smells like

Really though, let's just take a deep breath.

There's going to be a lot of hockey talk today, so let's get right to the links. How the New CBA Affects the Leafs MLSE with long term and short team effects on the Leafs. What's in Store for the 2013 Toronto Maple Leafs?

The NHL & NHLPA continue to refuse to talk to each other after the league stole the PA's boyfriend or something like that.

"Just when we think we're out of this lockout....they pull us back in." Negotiations were going great. Good headway was made on pensions, contract lengths, even the length of CBA itself. Then the NHL decided to be assholes and change up HRR calculations after the

Talks between the NHL and the NHLPA started heating up last night, as both sides - we believe - drew closer to an agreement. There remains a "ways to go", but at least they're talking. As far as we know, the union has not filed a

Look! Links & stuff!

Ok so I know Festivus isn't actually until the 23rd, but that falls on a Sunday and we wouldn't be able to celebrate then as a community. And since we're all here celebrating Festivus together, it means the world didn't end. A

In today's edition of the FTB Joffrey Lupul realizes that other countries are different, David Booth thinks Christians are persecuted, Falcao scores an amazing goal, and more!

Breaking Boxcars: Toronto Marlies Edition Gus breaks down scoring. Lunchpail Canadian Team Reduced to Celebrity RT Begging Shameful. Utterly shameful. Don't Buy the Hockey Fan in Your Life this for Christmas Why is he carrying a football and posing the Heisman? Why the NHL Owners Hate Capitalism Because

I don't know how the rest of you have been dealing with the absence of NHL hockey, but I'm not doing well with it. I'm beginning to get pretty restless, and I'm going to need a few new hobbies soon. NHL v.

US WJC Watch: Stats and Notes on Each Player Biggs and Sparks coverage. Today in Leafs History Newspaper Clippings from Dec 16, 2008. After All These Years... Mike at VLM is still trying to understand Brian Burke. Freakazoid Jersey? Freakazoid jersey. Hockey Words: A Unique Culture An article by someone

Has the NHL lockout reached its eventual endgame or will a deal be salvaged?

WJC Primer: Team USA Best team. US World Junior Watch Candidates on TV tonight. Significance of Morgan Rielly Making Team Canada Pretty big feat for an 18 year old defenseman. And Interview with the Voice of the Leafs Joe Bowen No word if this was the 10 cent interview, or

I mean, really, how sweet would an English-language KHL feed be? Make it like Gamecenter, and just let us watch tonnes of Russian hockey. How cool would it be to cheer for a Malkin-Kulemin combo? Or a Datsyuk-Grabovski duo? Plus, it's hockey. You'd think the KHL

Don't care. Links Will World Junior Team Roster Select be Different with a Possible End to the Lockout Looming? Regardless of the NHL, Burke says Rielly is staying. Leafs Prospect Point Tracking Keeping up with the kids. Draft Schmaft - Leafs Part VII Looking at the 1984 draft.

If there is one party that hasn't been heard from much so far in this lockout it's the NHL's sponsors. Somehow, I imagine that the league will listen far more carefully to them than the fans when they call to end the lockout. At

Yup. Short Seasons and Playoff Chances BCP talks about how small sample size could help the inconsistent Leafs. Abbotsford Heat Burn Marlies with Late Goal Marlies fall 3-2 ending a 4-game win streak. 15 Leafs Questions Heading into Camp 16. When will camp even be? 23 AHL Theme Jerseys Because

Honestly, I have idea what to write about anymore. The Marlies play tonight at 7, so that's pretty cool. And...uh...it's December 8th and I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet. Is that bad? Anyways, here be your links: How Zach Parise Signing

Were these negotiations days of the year, we'd have gone through about a half dozen sunsets and sunrises by now. Too many for me to care anymore. Links Freaky Frattin Gus breaks down Matt Frattin's game. Forget the Lockout Let's remember Errol Thompson So

Yes, it's wonderful they're still talking. My read on the situation is that the "removal" of Gary Bettman and Don Fehr from negotiations isn't really what is driving the optimism (and, let's be honest, they're still very much