From The Branches

It's FRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY! and here are some links for you to read while you get through the last day before the weekend. Please toss any other good links in the comments. TJ Oshie Signs With St. Louis The Blues avoid arbitration with their young stud Dr. Recchi Talks CBA

So as some of you sleepyheads will have noticed by now, at approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning, Darren Dreger revealed that Shea Weber has signed an offer sheet from Paul "Mad Man" Holmgren for over $100M and 14 years. Should the David Poile and the Nashville

Elliotte Friedman's fantastic segment, 30 Thoughts closes out its season with this week's installment, and it's got a lot of good talking points. 30 44 Thoughts. Of note, the following on the Leafs' brass hunting for goaltending: 27. Have to believe that, yes,

I'm still not sure I buy the rumour that the Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a serious offer for Jonathan Bernier, but the outcry from us around here at PPP makes it clear that most of us have our eyes set on a larger

No, I don't mean people in general. I mean the Toronto Maple Leafs. Who are they? What's their identity. Are we hard nosed? Fast checking young guns? Quick skating old farts? Really I have no idea and that's why Mike Langlois asked the question

We've achieved full summer lull mode. The only Leaf news of the past few days have been the 3,000 articles on James van Reimsdyk playing center, which will probably last about a period. But I guess sportswriters have to eat, ya know? Anywhoo, the only real news

JVR at Center is Going to Happen, Isn't It? - Cam Charron at The Leafs Nation If you look at most of JvR's goals, you don't see that play-controlling ability. Rather, much of his goals are a big guy using his size and strength

Yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings released the names of some of the players who would participate in the Alumni Game leading up to the Winter Classic. That is, they released the names of players that would play in one of the Alumni Games. That's

And by something I mean more than swapping a 4th liner for some mid-round picks. Leafs Links Leafs Nation Podcast The boys talk free agency and a possible dispersal draft. Top 10 American-Born Players in the NHL Today Phil Kessel comes in at #5. Tim Connolly, A Look

As Cam Charron points out, Nikolai Kulemin is scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on August 4th. Naturally, we all hope that it doesn't come down to that, but there are definitely a lot of wingers in the depth chart, and a trade could yet be looming for

The Cup has been handed out. The Draft is over with. Free Agency has ground down to a slow, tiresome crawl. Yes my friends, it's mid-July; the worst time of the year for a hockey fan. This is all of diddly poo to talk about, save for

I like to imagine Rick Nash and Roberto Luongo are getting awfully close to a Denis Lemieux impression. While those two names could wind up being the biggest trades of the summer, the Leafs are going to need to scour the market for help as well. Where do they need

I'll get around to links sooner later. I'm waiting for my omelette and Cran-Grape Ocean Spray to kick in.

Both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are going to play for the Minnesota Wild next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the next year. And the

I mean he has to right? Leafs Links Brian Burke Interview on Fan590 Audio Link. Dave Poulin Interview on Fan590 Audio Link. Is Nazem Kadri Ready for the NHL? On a sheltered scoring line? Yeah, probably. Leafs Nation Podcast, Free Agency and Mats Talking just that. The Things Phil Kessel

I suppose there must be some people out there that just want know where the likes of Zach Parise, Ryan Suter et al. will eventually sign, but myself, I'm in no rush to enter the hockey-free news days of the summer. I also have no problem with

Today is Canada Day and that means free agency begins at noon. Make sure your twitter feed is up & running for the inevitable Brandon Prust - Leafs signing. Today is also a special day in another sense: it's the 32nd annual Toronto Pride Parade. As most of you

Justin Schultz will announce to the hockey world that he doesn't want to be a Maple Leaf some time this afternoon. After that, it could be an interesting 18 hours as the league ramps up for free agency. It's an incredibly thin market this year - the

Links If the Leafs Want Schultz, They May Have to Turn on Hogan's Heroes I KNOW NOTHING about where Schultz might go. MLHS posted a two Leafs interviews yesterday. Reimer and Burke Booze Sales OK for Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium And there was much rejoicing. The 10

All the cool kids are doing it, even Brian Burke. As transcribed by Alec Brownscombe at Maple Leafs Hot Stove, Burke spoke yesterday in Prince Edward Island at the Special Olympics Festival, and had a few interesting quips about this summer: "With the salary cap and the new collective

Mats got inducted. All is right with the Universe. Leafs Links Where Does this Hall of Fame Class Stack Up? Probably second behind the 2009 class. Scoring Chances, Corsi, and why Grabovski is Great Duh. Mats Sundin Elected into the HHOF Jeffler's talking Hall. End of a Montrous

Don't fret, Brian Burke & Co. have finally filed all the important qualifying offers. The likes of Cody Franson, Nikolai Kulemin, Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas, and Korbinian Holzer have all been qualified. Cam Charron has the story: The other Leafs assets that needed to be tendered

July 1st is our draft. This fanbase doesn't have the patience for a 5 year rebuild. Pittsburgh-model my ass. These are quotes from Leafs GM Brian Burke when asked about his own model for building the Leafs in his own way. A way that has so far

The long-rumored JVR-for-Schenn swap happened yesterday, and Henny had everyone anxious for a "next deal." Speculation has been that the Luongo trade is finding some middle ground - and if it isn't, could the Leafs nudge Gillis along with a predatory offer sheet on

Welcome back for day two. I hope everyone stocked the fridge for what should be a long, long day. The Leafs pick at #35, and then not again until the 5th round. Also, one interesting tidbit from the The Province's Jason Botchford: As trade talks progressed throughout the