Full disclosure, I watched the first period of the Leafs game and a couple of minutes of the second where John Tavares – who has been the big bright spot this year – actually produced a shift of such majestic shit that it was hard to believe. There were a couple of other lowlights from other people, but I can't tell you what this means or if it even does mean anything.

Now, Mr. Cayden Primeau was not good in net. Someone in comments last night summed it up (really early too) and of course I forget who it was, but they said something like: It's not just the goaltending. And it wasn't, but good lord that was bad goaltending.

I am sort of amazed and also just a little bit resentful that this was the best offensive performance from the Leafs in terms of volume and quality of shooting in some time.

Burn the tape, I guess.

Oops.

Oh, JT got his 500th, wow what a horrible game to get it in.

Sammy Blais got his first Leafs goal too.

This tagline is gold:

In serious business from this debacle, Steven Lorentz went hard into the boards, shoulder or back first it appeared, and left the game.

Okay, I will try a little to distill this down. They looked like a group of people with no plan A, B or C for any context. It wasn't just the dump it out, dump it in system. It wasn't just that Columbus is fast and young and can shoot. And will shoot. It wasn't just that there's some guys playing too high in the lineup. It was just all of that, and they collectively lost their grip... okay, I am very sorry, but I'm going to quote Doug Ford talking about the US ambassador the Canada. "The cheese slipped off the cracker." Only it was everyone. Maybe not Nick Robertson, actually.

Jays won. They basically won it in the first inning with two back-to-back homeruns and then the pitchers shut it down all but for one run Trey Yesavage allowed. It wasn't just the pitching... Funny how that sounds different in this context.

Okay, we have some news. I think this is good:

#LeafsForever #CHL #OshawaGenerals #BrantfordBulldogs Maple Leafs prospect D BEN DANFORD has been traded to the Brantford Bulldogs. He was captain of the Oshawa Generals with eight games played, one goal, three assists, five PIMs, and a -10 in the 2025-26 season.

— Maple Leafs & Marlies News (@leafschronicle.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T02:44:24.434Z

He might get to play less is the thing. He was, somewhat amusingly, getting some PP time, and that's likely stopping now. I really like Danford, and I think he endeared himself to everyone in training camp, so I hope this is a positive move for him. Another Memorial Cup would be cool.

That's all I've got today. Mercifully, the Leafs don't play until Saturday, so if all goes well on Friday, we'll be too happy to care. (Offer not valid for any stray Dodgers fans around.)

See you Friday for the Jays game.

From The Branches