Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

Huge news in Leafs-land as they signed a defender yesterday, solidifying the blueline for the season.

Maple Leafs grab another defenceman from the Ducks
Once you have John Klingberg, you might as well get his D partner too.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

Is this not getting you hyped for the season?

Me neither, but! There was some big news on the women's front last night.

The Professional Women's Hockey League announced a press conference for this morning at 11AM, so of course all of the information leaked ahead of time.

So, here's what we know so far. Thanks to Jeff Marek and Hailey Salvian for these dates.

Free agency period begins September 1st.

Draft declaration deadline is September 3rd.

Initial free agency period ends September 10th.

Each team will be able to sign three players before the draft.

Training Camp begins November 15th.

Where will these teams play? Someone did a twitter search and found these accounts:

New York, Minnesota, Boston in the US and Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa in Canada. No Calgary, but that cuts down on travel costs with everyone else being a bus ride apart, aside from Minnesota.

With Toronto and Ottawa being in the league the Battle of Ontario now knows no gender lines.

Now the important question of the day:

Will the Toronto team be good and proper and take the Leafs colours like the Furies did or go evil and bad and wear Senators colours with a stupid name like the Six?

Another question is where will they play? With camp set for the 15th, I can assume start of the season will be the beginning of December, so arena dates have to be locked up by now. Toronto should play somewhere a bit more easily accessible than the last couple teams. Coca Cola Coliseum? Get a double feature with the Marlies going?

This would make the Marlies ice worse, so maybe they wouldn't be into it, but it would be a good promotion.

There's also Maple Leafs Gardens, or whatever TMU is calling it these days. It's a small capacity, so worries about playing in front of a half empty would be less, and it's easily accessed by transit and out of towners. Depends on the Toronto Metro University hockey schedule I guess.

Lots of information coming out as we go, and we'll try to update after the press conference this morning.

Here's some more news to get you talking.

We are in the top 10 of the top 25, are you feeling more upbeat about our prospects yet?

2023 Top 25 Under 25: Roni Hirvonen is 9th
Hirvonen is a prospect that’s difficult to project because of where and how he’s played. He’s been in Finland’s pro league before Toronto even drafted him, as well as being part of Team Finland in various junior tournaments for years. But who is he as a player by now?
PPP LeafsBrian S

Some feel good news for you ahead of the Traverse City prospect tournament.

Rising Cree hockey star heads to NHL prospect tournament and camp | CBC News
Israel Mianscum, 20, from Mistissini, Que., is currently playing in the QMJHL with the Sherbrooke Phoenix and has been invited to the NHL Prospect Tournament and Detroit Red Wings development camp.
CBCCelina Wapachee

The Washington Capitals are doing some succession planning, with GM Brian MacLellan moving upstairs to the Presidents office while still being GM.

MacLellan Promoted to President of Hockey Operations & General Manager
Capitals Promote Brian MacLellan to President of Hockey Operations & General Manager; Chris Patrick to Associate General Manager; Dick Patrick appointed to Chairman of the Washington Capitals
NHL.com

John Tavares raised big bucks in his charity hockey game.

Second annual Hockey Night in Brampton raises more than $1M for city’s second hospital and John Tavares Foundation
The second annual Hockey Night in Brampton has raised more than $1 million for Brampton’s second hospital and the John Tavares Foundation.
Brampton GuardianKyle Marshall Brampton Guardian

And I raised big interest in the news today. We're all heroes.

Enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches