> ## 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.

# Tuesday FTB: A Mermis for a Minten
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/tuesday-ftb-a-mermis-for-a-minten/
- Published: 2025-02-04T11:00:09.000Z
- Updated: 2025-02-04T11:00:12.000Z
- Description: The Maple Leafs swap AHL players as Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mitch Marner are iffy for Calgary
- Author: Adam Selvig
- Tags: From The Branches

Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

It's a very late game day, so don't forget the Leafs are in Calgary and the game won't start until 9PM Toronto time. Can't force a start time change on a weekday, sadly.

Yesterday, after OEL left Saturday's game against the Oilers early, the Maple Leafs recalled defender Dakota Mermis from the Toronto Marlies and sent Fraser Minten back home. 

[Leafs Officially Demote Rookie, Recall Veteran Defenseman Amid Ekman-Larsson Injury SpeculationThe Toronto Maple Leafs have officially demoted rookie forward Fraser Minten and have recalled a defenseman amid injury speculation for Oliver Ekman-Larsson.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-106.png)H&L Media IncRyan Smitheram![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/524686.webp)](https://www.mapleleafsdaily.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/leafs-officially-demote-rookie-recall-veteran-defenseman-amid-ekman-larsson-injury-speculation?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The defense could use some inspiration and young blood, especially when veterans like Morgan Rielly are having underwhelming seasons.

[Craig Berube on Morgan Rielly’s 2024-25 season: “He has been battling defensively, and I know the plus/minus doesn’t show it, but a lot of those are with the goalie out... Offensively, we’re going to need \[more production\] from him”After Monday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube discussed OEL and Mitch Marner’s absences from practice and Morgan Rielly’s 2024-25 season. Practice Lines – Feb. 3 Note: It was a maintenance day for Mitch Marner Lines at Leafs practice Knies – Matthews – DomiPacioretty – Tavares – Nylander McMann – Holmberg – RobertsonLorentz – Kampf – \[…\]![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/MLHS-LOGO2-EMBLEM-500x500-18.png)Maple Leafs HotstoveMLHS Staff![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/berube-leafs-mtl.jpg)](https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2025/02/03/craig-berube-on-morgan-riellys-2024-25-season/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Mitch Marner also sat out practice yesterday, making people wonder if he'll be in or out tonight. We've been wondering plenty about Marner since he's a pending free agent, and with the salary cap estimates out....

[How NHL’s biggest-ever cap leap affects Mitch Marner, Maple LeafsThe rapidly rising salary cap adds a new wrinkle to the Mitch Marner contract talks with the Maple Leafs. Luke Fox looks at what a deal could look like.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Sportsnet.caLuke Fox![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/marner_mitch1280.jpg)](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/how-nhls-biggest-ever-cap-leap-affects-mitch-marner-maple-leafs/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

I hate the beginning of the headline, but they really won me over with the end.

[Winnipeg Jets top Canadian teams in NHL Power Ranking; Montreal Canadiens hurtling towards bottom | TSNThe Winnipeg Jets are back on top as the highest-ranked Canadian team in our Power Rankings. The Jets are a wagon and will be contending for top spot on our list before long.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-107.png)TSNSportlogiq![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/josh-morrissey--jets-celebrate-1-2245963-1738604272083.jpeg)](https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/winnipeg-jets-top-canadian-teams-in-nhl-power-ranking-montreal-canadiens-hurtling-towards-bottom-1.2245917?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com#main)

The names are fine, but these logos are just Create a Team logos from NHL14

> Can confirm these are the official logos that have been presented to [@utahhockeyclub](https://twitter.com/utahhockeyclub?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) fans as part of their team name vote.  
>  
> Now that you’ve seen them, which one would you vote for? [pic.twitter.com/TRVb5w1xxq](https://t.co/TRVb5w1xxq?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Frank Seravalli (@frank\_seravalli) [February 3, 2025](https://twitter.com/frank%5Fseravalli/status/1886475382238433315?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

With labour under constant and direct attack always, but especially now, it's good to see the two men's PA's affiliate with a national organizer in the US.

[NHL Players’ Association and Professional Hockey Players’ Association join the AFL-CIOThe National Hockey League Players’ Association and Professional Hockey Players’ Association are affiliating with the AFL-CIO and joining the labor organization’s sports council.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-108.png)AP NewsUpdated \[hour\]:\[minute\] \[AMPM\] \[timezone\], \[monthFull\] \[day\], \[year\]![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/90-1)](https://apnews.com/article/nhlpa-afl-cio-78aedb0f6e395b6ff4b5caf24bf53b33?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Finally, the final two games of the Rivalry Series between the Canadian and American women's national teams will be play Thursday night in Halifax and Saturday night in Summerside, PEI. The Americans will be missing big names, and that's just fine by me.

[US women’s hockey team missing stars vs. CanadaThe U.S. women’s national hockey team announced Monday that it will be missing several key players in closing out its pre-world championship Rivalry Series schedule against Canada this week.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/espn-icon-180x180-19.png)ESPNRamona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/i-19)](https://www.espn.com/espn/story/%5F/id/43681831/us-women-national-hockey-team-missing-key-players-vs-canada?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Enjoy your day everyone!