From The Branches
Total 5792 Posts
From the Branches or FTB as it's known, is the daily links and chat post for Pension Plan Puppets.
Why Not Kadri Down the Middle?
Kadri in the Middle - I Used to Assume That Would Be the Case
...funny thing is, I always thought Kadri playing in the middle was the plan when the Leafs drafted him. Set aside for the moment the up and down yo-yo string they’ve had him on the
Enemy of the Stat
Twitter can be great sometimes. I had a pretty good laugh when I came up with this one last night for "#RemoveOneLetterFilms". It seemed exceptionally accurate for some of the daily discussions that happen on that platform (and here as well). If you're not a stat
Kule & the gang
That's right kids. The Muscle from Magnitogorsk has re-signed with the Leafs on a two year deal. Ryan Fancey of the Leafs Nation had this to say about Kulemin's new deal:
The Cliff's Notes is that Kulemin is a positive play driver on
Some Of The News Fit To Print
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
Oh, Baby!
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
So Many Thoughts for Today's FTB
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,
Goaltending Still The Big Question
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
Who Are We?
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
Lazy Summer Days
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
So JVR to Center I Guess
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
Ah, The Alumni Game!
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
Somebody Do Something
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
Leafs Sign Holzer, Take Kulemin To Arbitration
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 Dog Day of Summer
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
Trade me right f****** now!
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
Getting Down on Friday
I'll get around to links sooner later. I'm waiting for my omelette and Cran-Grape Ocean Spray to kick in.
Together... More Or Less Forever
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
Don Cherry Hates Today
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
Free Agency Day 3
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
Before we begin...
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
T Minus 1 Day
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
Getting Down on Friday
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
Just Say "No" To Free Agents
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
All is Right with the Universe
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
Qualifying Offers and HHOF First Balloteers
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