3 questions facing Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL.com
Replacing Marner’s production, finding forward depth among unknowns
NHL logoMike Zeisberger
Top prospects for Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL.com
Forward Cowan could be ready this season; Danford, Chadwick are promising defensemen
NHL logoMike Zeisberger
Carolina Hurricanes sign Oliver Kylington, Givanni Smith to PTOs | TSN
The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenceman Oliver Kylington and forward Givani Smith to professional tryout agreements on Wednesday.
TSNTSN.ca Staff

The Hurricanes also signed a prospect to an ELC. No trades again for another day.

Matthew Caldwell leaving Florida Panthers, becoming CEO of Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx | TSN
Matthew Caldwell is stepping down as the business operations president of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and accepting a 10-year deal as CEO of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
TSNThe Canadian Press

Surprisingly honest:

Calgary Flames Mikael Backlund: ‘It’s obvious’ Rasmus Andersson is getting traded | TSN
Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund doesn’t expect teammate Rasmus Andersson to remain in a Flames jersey.
TSNTSN.ca Staff

Interesting CBC article with some specifics about how CHL players going to the NCAA affects teams:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ncca-changes-resshaping-canadian-hockey-1.7618402

Meanwhile, Canadian universities are noticing a change in where their men's hockey players are coming from. 
"As players came to the end of their CHL careers, 45-50 per cent of players that would be recruited to U Sports came from the CHL," U Sports's Arsenault said.
But in the first season following the NCAA changing CHL players' eligibility, the percentage of recruits from the CHL for the 2025-26 U Sports season is 16 per cent, down from 44.4 per cent the previous year. 
However, U Sports is seeing a jump in the percentage of Canadian Junior A and BCHL players coming to it – 62.6 per cent from 50.2 per cent — as well as a jump across other categories the governing body tracked. 

Another take:

How NCAA money is changing the traditional path to pro hockey
Can Canadian junior teams still compete with NCAA schools for top talent? Gavin McKenna’s Penn State deal shows dramatic shift in landscape.
Toronto SunDan Barnes

And read this and ask yourself what the rules even are:

Beavers finalize 2025-26 roster; former pros cleared to skate in NCAA through Eligibility Center
Through the NCAA Eligibility Center, the Bemidji State men’s hockey team was cleared to add two former professional hockey players to its 2025-26 roster. A look under the hood of the Beavers’ newly finalized roster.
Bemidji PioneerJared Rubado

And finally, the NHL announced a host of game time changes, so check the schedule anew if you're after tickets. Broadcasters have released their schedules as well.

That's it have a good day, everyone.

From The Branches