Good moring Maple Leafs fans!

It's a lazy Saturday at 4AM as I write this, lazy because it's 4AM and that's what it should be so can someone please tell my dog this?

I bring you some news to chat about, light as it is, and we can enjoy the lack of news for one final weekend before we get inundated with prospect GIFs, training camp rosters, PTO signings and more.

The Traverse City prospect showcase roster will be released soon, but junior teams are announcing player invites already.

Mazden Leslie is a defender from the Vancouver Giants, and had 50 points (12G, 38A) in 66 games last season.

The National Women's team camp will be held at Canada Games Park in Thorold, ON next week, and the roster has been released.

2023 BFL National Women’s Team Fall Festival Roster
Hockey Canada logo

The PWHL draft is a few days later, so lots of extra eyes will be on the skates and games.

PWHL Free Agency: where do we stand?
Six wingers, five centres, four defenders, and three goalies have signed.
PPP LeafsHardev

Swiss hockey news isn't usually here, but when arrests happen, it makes it. Sounds like embezzlement is on the table.

The president of the Ladies Lugano was arrested
He was arrested last Friday on suspicion of committing a series of financial crimes.
swisshockeynews.chHC Ladies Lugano

Fraser Minten is getting a familiar teammate in Kamloops. He's shared the backseat of the car, now they'll share the back of the bus.

Bryce Minten is a Blazer, and I love it when brothers play on the same team.

Wondering who signed a PTO? Where some ex-Leafs went? Yahoo! Sports is always helpful.

NHL ‘PTO’ tracker: Players entering training camps on professional tryout agreements
Several NHL veterans are vying for roster spots on professional tryout agreements this fall. Here’s the up-to-date list.
Yahoo SportsYahoo Sports Staff

The campaigning to come back continues.

Quenneville, Bowman meet with NHL GMs and coaches in Chicago
Almost two years after resigning their positions from NHL teams in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal, former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and former coach Joel Quenneville met with league general managers and coaches in Chicago Friday.
Sportsnet| September 8, 2023, 5:20 PM
According to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, neither were mandated to be at the meeting at the Hyatt Regency, near O’Hare International Airport, but were given the opportunity to be there “to tell everybody about their experience and lessons learned.”
“They were here voluntarily,” Bettman said. “It wasn’t something that they were told they needed to do. We said, ‘If you’d like the opportunity to address the group, you could have it.’”

Finally, mark your calendars, because the NHL trade dealine is March 8th!

Only six more months of "trade Nylander" talk!

Sigh.

Enjoy your weekend!

From The Branches