> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Thursday's FTB: The Leafs head west
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/thursdays-ftb-the-leafs-head-west/
- Published: 2026-10-08T09:40:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T09:40:34.000Z
- Description: The first late start of the season is tonight.
- Author: Species
- Tags: From The Branches

Ah, Vegas. Actually, I've never been there, but I know of someone who lives there, Mitch Marner, and he is all you are going to hear about tonight if you stay up to watch the game. The comparisons to him and McKenna will be excruciatingly grating. It starts at 10:00 p.m. ET, so if you work in Ontario, schedule a nap in this evening, or better yet, book a work from home day or a vacation day for tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's some news.

[NHL EDGE stats: McKenna’s early role with Maple Leafs | NHL.comRookie scored first goal on mid-range shot, excels in skating speed, on offensive zone plays![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32-9c6f273d-7313-4177-8435-88ab4c329506.png)NHL logoFantasy Hockey Staff![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/ltla43z1cmygrk69iav9-d4db1010-aac2-46d4-a63b-b75e8977673f.jpg)](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-edge/nhl-edge-stats-gavin-mckenna-toronto-maple-leafs-rookie-start-2026-27?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

An interesting comparison done by Marshall Rifai.

[Why Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford is being compared to Fraser MintenThe maturity and poise in Ben Danford’s game has him on a path to one day patrolling the blue line for the Maple Leafs. Read more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-tsun-848b6cd1-fc76-4f40-870c-fd52c1d38a05.ico)Toronto SunTerry Koshan![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/1008-ben-danford-maple-leafs-camp-fefd9415-26a5-4466-ba96-769c51cec19e.jpg)](https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/prospect-ben-danford-compared-fraser-minten?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

### Other News

Brad Marchand finally came back from a serious injury to play again, and now Brad Marchand is out with a serious injury.

[Panthers’ Marchand (leg) helped off the ice days after return from injuryFlorida Panthers forward Brad Marchand had to be helped off the ice during his team’s game with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday with an apparent lower-body injury.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-f0549eda-2789-4761-a081-82e63042d6f3.ico)TSNThe Canadian Press![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/RAE6WPCI7FDG7B73D5XLBYJG2I-44212c1e-97c8-4e9a-9900-98175b2ebdae.jpg)](https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/panthers-marchand-helped-off-the-ice-days-after-return-from-injury/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Brad Marchand had to be helped off the ice and didn't seem to be able to put pressure on his left leg. [pic.twitter.com/XK95J4zAON](https://t.co/XK95J4zAON?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — TSN (@TSN\_Sports) [October 7, 2026](https://x.com/TSN%5FSports/status/2107683505073213939?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

### Finally

Do you like balls? These are some easy balls to make. Serve them with some nice sauce.

[Rachel Roddy’s recipe for cheese and bread balls | A kitchen in RomeThese highly crunchable cheesy bread balls are a great way to use up odds and ends![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32-ab3097c8-204e-4f5c-99ae-9a85795ff5e8.ico)The GuardianRachel Roddy![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/2772-9ca825a5-e985-463f-8ad7-2fd8b27be9de.jpg)](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/oct/08/cheese-and-bread-balls-recipe-rachel-roddy-polpette?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Also, I found this oddly entertaining.

We'll have a preview of the game out.... I'm not sure if it will be this morning or not because there won't be a morning skate in our morning, so we'll see. Tonight, there will be a PPP After Dark.