Good morning New England, and hope you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep!

No need this morning, but at least you have to start setting your fantasy rosters again!

Let me explain. No new news, no Red Sox, no need for SportsCenter today. If you’re opening your laptop to view this as you turn on ESPN, close it and turn off the tube. Come back in an hour.

The Red Sox return to action (finally) tomorrow with a series in Toronto that will be marked by both a big debut and a couple of key returns.

While it is almost certainly a bigger deal that Boston will be getting the left side of their infield back in Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie, it is understandable for Sox fans to be more excited to see what Clay Buchholz can do in his first start of the season tomorrow when he goes up against Toronto’s Ricky Romero. Buchholz has posted a 2.36 ERA at Pawtucket while striking out 89 batters through 99 innings. His 0.98 WHIP is second in the International League.

While nobody expects Buchholz to repeat his 2007 no-hitter or May 25 one-hitter this season, he is very capable of doing something that only three Sox starters have done this season: pitch seven innings. In 29 combined starts between Brad Penny, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and John Smoltz, there has been a grand total of zero seven-inning outings. Buchholz has accomplished the feat five times this season at Triple A.

As for Lowrie, the shortstop has seemingly dealt with the unglamorous aspects of the business (injuries, trade rumors, etc.) more than he has dealt with actually playing the game. He said last night that he’s ready for that to change.

Confirming what anyone who has followed Joe Haggerty has already known for quite some time, the Bruins and NHL announced yesterday that the team will take on the Flyers on Jan. 1 at Fenway. This won’t be a game that you’ll want to be sitting in section 48 for. Though it will be far away from the ice, the Budweiser deck and Green Monster appear to be the best seats in the house for the event, barring any additional seating that will be added. Imagine that overhead view!

Maybe this time every golden ticket won't be placed in the same box

Between the Winter Classic thing unofficially being old news and the sight of the image to the right, the coolest thing of the day involving the Bruins has nothing to do with Fenway Park. The Golden Ticket Giveaway is something any Bruins/Celtics/anything at the Garden fan won’t want to miss.

If you’re going to make it out to any of the participating location, it won’t hurt to go the Michael Scott as Willy Wonka route. (It won’t help, but it won’t hurt.) Also there’s free chocolate. Everyone’s a winner!

With training camp just two short weeks away, WEEI.com’s Christopher Price has the latest news the Patriots continue to reach agreements with their ’09 draft class, including two of their three second rounders. Seventh-round defensive lineman Darryl Richard is the latest to agree to a deal, making him the fourth Patriots selection to come to an agreement. Top two picks Patrick Chung and Ron Brace remain unsigned.

[UPDATE: Price is reporting that Brace and the Pats are close on a four-year pact]

Speaking of signings, the New York Post is reporting that Jon Lester may not be the only flame-throwing lefty in Boston in the future. As if the Red Sox were thin on pitching prospects. Cue the classic “You can never have enough pitching.” Tell that to Buchholz.

That does it for this edition of LEEInks. Try to hang in there without the Sox and, for God’s sake, go find a golden ticket!