And so, it begins. Silly season. The media is rife with rumours that Mitch Marner will not sign with Toronto and instead will seek out other teams for the highest bidder.

How much could he get? A lot. So many teams are now rumoured to be interested that there's no point in listing half the league here, but that shows there will be some kind of bidding war for his services.

It's too bad we don't have master negotiator Paul Holmgren as a GM in the league anymore as it would go like this:

MITCH: I want $14 million per season for seven seasons.
HOLMGREN: $16 million.
MITCH: Uh... what?
HOLMGREN: Fine. $17 million.
MITCH: You don't actually know how negotiations work, do you?
HOLMGREN: $3 million.
MITCH: I think I'll be on my way.
HOLMGREN: Plus an unlimited lifetime supply of Skittles.
MITCH: Deal. Where do I sign?

Other News

An interesting moment in the AHL Calder Cup Final game #1. The Abbotsford Canucks are playing the Charlotte Checkers (Florida Panthers affiliates) in the final, and the game had gone all the way to a second overtime tied 3-3. That's when the Checkers scored, but the goal was waived off under very unusual circumstances.

The puck was shot right into the net off a face-off, but the decision was that the linesman dropped the puck too quickly, the Abbotsford goalie wasn't ready for it, and he was in fact facing away from it, still drinking from his water bottle at the back of the net. Abbotsford then went on to win the game.

The 7th round draft pick is really what made this huge trade work.

Chicago has traded Victor Soderstrom to Boston for Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick. #Blackhawks #NHLBruins #NHL #StanleyCup

— NHL Trade Alert (@nhltradealert.bsky.social) 2025-06-13T22:11:05.301Z

It's game #5 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight (Saturday), starting at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Major Oilers line-up shuffle: Two veterans moved in, two out, one bumped up
Major Oilers line-up shuffle: Two veterans moved in, two out, one bumped up
Edmonton JournalNews

Jaromir Jagr won a Regional Emmy Award "from his work as a producer and writer on last year’s broadcast of his jersey retirement ceremony at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh." I guess when you are Jagr you can plan and write the script for your own retirement party yourself.

Jagr wins regional Emmy Award for jersey retirement ceremony | NHL.com
Former Penguins forward earns new hardware as producer, writer on broadcast
NHL logoChristopher Detwiler

Atlanta, round three.

Atlanta expansion bid clears major arena hurdle
The process for the NHL to return to Atlanta cleared another hurdle on Wednesday.
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff

Have a nice weekend and get outside to have some fun before hockey tonight. There will be a PPP After Dark for tonight.

Cocktail of the week: Sucre’s agave breeze – recipe | The good mixer
Tequila and lime play nicely with summer strawberries in this refreshing long drink
The GuardianGlenn Gicquel
From The Branches