Here are the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading while saying a prayer for Patriots offensive lineman Nate Solder’s family while they go through something that no family should ever have to face: an infant diagnosed with cancer.
*Elliotte Friedman has some headlines, including a rumor that Colorado defenseman Tyson Barrie could be on the trade block.
*NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made almost $10 million last season. Now you know why he was able to stand strong during the 2013 NHL lockout knowing the Board of Governors had a giant payday waiting for him on the other side. While it’s an astronomical amount of money in a vacuum, the NHL has never been more well-positioned before and far be it for me to denounce somebody making as much money as they possibly can in a free market economy.
*A cute video of a young Ottawa Senators fan having as much fun as possible at an NHL game.
*Calling more penalties is not going to fix the NHL’s scoring crisis, and this should be obvious to anybody that loves the game.
*Yahoo’s Puck Daddy, Greg Wyshynski has a long take on Travis Yost slamming the NHL’s league website for their statistics package. I totally respect Yost’s articulate passion on the subject, but it’s just not something I can get that worked about.
*FOH (Friend of Haggs) Jason Brough has the Pittsburgh Penguins insisting they really do get along, and they’re not “mad at each other” as Evgeni Malkin said a couple of days ago. I’ve actually heard there are some issues behind closed doors with that team and Sidney Crosby’s place within it, but they’re denying it for now.
*Mark Divver has some analysis of the Providence Bruins from the last week, who sound a great deal like the parent club at this point with a good power play, and a horrendous defense. The numbers for both Malcolm Subban and Zach McIntyre are rough.
*Alex Prewitt says that Mike Green is settling into his new surroundings in Detroit after a long run in Washington.
*For something completely different: good piece from Bruce Arthur about every North American winning against terrorism by booing, cheering and attending sporting events no matter how many times unspeakable evil rears its head.