From The Branches

Good morning from beautiful California, where currently, I'm still in bed, posting from the past, into the FUTURE!  typing at a blistering 88 wpm into this handy dandy future machine.  Welcome to my first FTB, and now that we've gotten the nerdiness out of the way,

Forgive us the tardiness but as we mentioned before Mattblack got a brand spanking new job (no actual spanking involved) in the real world and we needed a new FTBer to join the team. Also, SBN launched a bunch of changes that will help us improve the site. Toss in

* For those of you out there still wondering which abomination to God and man team is going home with the Big One, Down Goes Brown has a refresher course in the basics. * And anyone still deciding on which team to vote for is advised to head to Out Of Left

* In the summer, a young fan's fancy turns to free agency and trading. Dr Steve reports on BB's potential plans for the coming weeks. * Which is also where Maple Leaf Hot Stove starts up, before moving onto Draft Watch '09, Part One: The Combine. * Following

* The good doctor Steve wonders how hard the Leafs are going to be grabbing on to Grabs. * Maple Leaf Hot Stove looks at the Leaf picks from the draft last year. * The 2008/9 Season Leaf Awards, live from Ron Wilson's back yard and presented live from the

This headline turned out to be only 50% as accurate/awesome as I'd hoped. * Rounding off the...whatever the antonym of 'festivities' is, of yesterday - Down Goes Brown posts the official NHL line on Kerry Fraser day, along with a soberly dressed Cherry. * mf37 and Out

* A sad start today with the passing of Peter Zezel. Here's a collation of thoughts  with Down Goes Brown, Toronto Sports Media, mf37, Toronto Mike, Dominik, Bring Back Potvin and the Battle of New York. * Dr Steve talks San Jose as a possible template for future Leaf success.

* We'll start with a new headline act today, with mf37 looking at the historical cost of trading up. * SedinWatch2009 continues, with TSM. * And if that isn't a rumour to give you sleepless night, how about MLHS talking Komisarek? * T.O Sports reviews great Leaf lines of

* SedinSedinWatch, 2009: Dr Steve starts us off with a defence of the brothers from an attack made by... * ...Maple Leaf Hot Stove, who aren't that whizzed with the boys from Örnsköldsvik. * TSM's sources have it as practically a done deal - with added JS Giguere relish. * Hockey

* Big call to start off with - Patrick Eaves is the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Only he can fight Satan. * The long-term benefits of being rubbish, listed by T.O. Sports. * Breaking with a season long tradition, the Flames sack Keenan without having just lost to the

* Sliding straight in at number 1 - Down Goes Brown has taken control of your bestest and worsest memories and posted them on Youtube. * Briefly taking leave of his senses, Dr. Steve makes a case for the Sedins and writes up Dale Mitchell's big night. * TSM reports on the

I think my Reader problems have been resolved - so if I didn't link you today, it IS personal and you DO smell. * Looking for focus in the hazy off-season picture, it's Dr Steve. * Maple Leaf Hot Stove has some collated rumour mill chatter. * Following the

* In this glorious day of....no Leafs news whatsoever, we start with Puck The Media's assertion that we're watching hockey for the hockey, not the broadcasters. * Out Of Left Field makes the case to reformat the Memorial Cup. * Puck Daddy takes a look at another knee

* Dr Steve starts us off today, debunking Berger's devotion to Maurice. * Gary Bettman: Dirty, dirty liar. So says Toronto Sports Media - not once, but twice. * Maple Leaf Hot Stove has the worst firings in hockey history. * mf37 briefly looks at a couple of mock drafts - only 5 (and

* Analysis Steve and the worthiness of Ian White. * The usual Monday look at the news wires, from Toronto Sports Media. * Thanks to my esteemed colleague Wrap and her lightening trigger finger, it's the Milbury Meltdown from last night. * Lowetide takes a look at Pat Quinn and his chances

* With the spare time afforded to you by this holiday weekend, reacquaint yourself with an hour and a half of glory - game 6 from 1967 (flagged up by Vintage Leafs). * Maple Leaf Hot Stove and the changing face of the NHL playoffs. * More Balsillie manoeuvring from Toronto Sports Media... * ...and

* Always willing to give new, unheard of writers the stage - here's a young shaver called Eric Duhatschek with a piece on the cost of trading up. * Norman James has 99 problems and isn't sure if Paul Maurice is one. * Puck Daddy reports on Kevin Smith'

OR - 'Never Give A Sucker Punch An Even Break'. * The Analytical Dr. Steve probes Free Agency and the gaps on the roster. * ...and hiveminding their own business, Maple Leaf Hot Stove has a roster breakdown too. * Toronto Sports Media seeks perpective in d'affiar Balsillie and also

* Receiving heavy rotation on the tubes yesterday was our (main) benevolent overlord, Brian Burke. Toronto Sports Media covers his appearance on 640 and also his interview with MacLean and Armstrong. * Late of this postal district, Dominic Moore's UFA status is reviewed at Die By The Blade. * Puck Daddy

* Analysis Steve gets the ball rolling with the importance of youth. * Durno! Another classic obscure moment in Leafs history, brought to you by Down Goes Brown. * Let's nip this Schenn/Tampa nonsense in the bud as quickly as possible, si? Toronto Sports Media reports it and offers up

* Coming at you from the very home of analysis itself, Dr. Steve looks again at the costly price of Tavares, Buffalo signing up Tyler Myers and Leo Komorov taking the Ruble over the Dollar. * So is that the last of Mats? Furcifer pays homage as does the Maple Leafs Hot

* We start today with Toronto Sports Media and their weekend sports review. * Norman James Sports isn't holding out too many hopes for Hamilton. * We have another contender for Gustavsson's services, according to Lowetide. * Perhaps disappointed with sales of his 'best of' album, Scott Walker

* Starting off, stories you may have already seen from the stables of Analysis Steve - Another update on the DiDomenico situation, some free agent possibilites to chew on and what may or may not be forthcoming between now and draft day. * TSM has a piece on Balsillie not necessarily having dominion

* The mighty Cox Bloc starts us off today, with another classic Damien volte-face. And in honour, Die By The Blade briefly profiles their best ever #4. * The Hockey Writers rake over the Tavares coals (hat-tip to The Hockey Spy). * Painstaking research and photoshopping as usual from the fevered

* The consequences of the injury to Chris DiDomenico are foremost in the mind of Dr. Steve, along with the 2 (3) Swedish Leafs soon to be facing Canada. * mf37 has the Bitter Leaf contribution to the Balsillie debate, bookending with TSM's review of day's events. * A