If you took the weekend off from the internet, I salute you. I came pretty close and got some gardening done and enjoyed the broiling unseasonable weather. The Leafs did some pruning too.

Maple Leafs trim the executive tree
Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey are leaving.
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

After the fact Elliotte Friedman discussed this on 32 Thoughts, and the story on the loss of Brandon Pridham is simple. Pridham interviewed with the Leafs for the GM job, and Friedman said that didn't go well, but he didn't expand on what that meant. Obviously he wasn't promoted.

What would you do if you were he? He's not going to advance where he is, and I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't want to be in on a young and maverick GM-led revamp of the team structure. Kyle Dubas wanted him, maybe that's his ultimate destination now. This is what a total change of management structure often means, the loss of good people, new good people coming in. Much like when Pridham himself was hired.

Also on 32 Thoughts on the holiday Monday there was word that the Leafs have had an initial conversation with David Carle.

The David Carle Hype Show
What’s this all about?
PPP LeafsCathy Squires

Friedman was emphatic that the Leafs are serious about interviewing a lot of people, so this will keep happening. They will reach out, they will interview, and trying to decide who they will hire will be as successful as all those Mike Gillis guesses were.

Is it time yet to start believing what the Leafs say instead of insisting they'll do the median NHL team thing. They did actually interview dozens of people for the GM position, it wasn't a put-up job. They did actually decide for themselves if the coach should remain, they didn't do the median team routine of keeping the guy on contract for another year to see how it worked out. And now they will actually look at a wide range of coaching options.

I enjoy watching people grapple with the Leafs not being the median NHL team as much as I enjoy the anticipation of what they might do.

Little of both here:

What should be on the Maple Leafs’ off-season shopping list?
The Maple Leafs probably won’t be contenders next season, but they aren’t rebuilding either. As Toronto looks to thread the needle, Justin Bourne examines its greatest off-season needs.
Sportsnet.caJustin Bourne

Meanwhile, Friedman also reported on Monday that the Oilers had sought permission to speak to Craig Berube. The Leafs are, naturally, not going to stand in his way of finding another coaching position. Later Ryan Rishaug filled in the story:

The Marlies dropped game two to the Monsters, so they will try to take the lead again tomorrow.

In PWHL news, the Charge, facing elimination, beat the Victoire at home to force game four tomorrow in Ottawa.

In IIHF news from Men's Worlds, Team Canada kicked the crap out of Italy and then got goalied by a Dane for two periods before kicking the crap out of Denmark.

In a more interesting game, Sweden dropped a game to the Czechs that was epic in so many ways it's impossible to overstate it. But from a prospect-watching perspective two things are true: Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck are the legitimate top line players on this team and they also keep losing.

If you're in it for prospects, Sweden next plays a serious opponent a week from now. There seems to be way too many teams in this event and a lot of lopsided games.

The CHL playoffs are all decided:

The Mem Cup ends just in time for the Combine at the end of May.

And for draft watchers, I watched this outside in the heat and still found it interesting in many ways. You get to decide what you think:

A titch more actual discussion about the defencemen would have been a good idea.

And in NHL news, the Canadiens beat the Sabres in OT in Game 7 to advance to face the Hurricanes in the conference finals.

And that is all for now. The NHL begins those conference finals tomorrow, so tonight is that last no-hockey day for a few days. If any team wants to make big news, now is the time!

From The Branches