Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading on a wonderful day to be alive with justice served in the Tom Brady hearing.
*FOH (Friend of Haggs) Greg Wyshynski has some details on a pretty hardcore, racially involved prank played in the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room that was revealed in a Jarkko Ruutu book. Georges Laraque has since gone on twitter and said the whole thing was his idea, and that there are clarifications that need to be made about the original telling of the story.
*Speaking of Finns, Antti Raanta says that he never rooted against the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s a denial of a translation of an interview he did in Finnish where he reportedly did admit that happened.
*The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly seeking $750 million in a sale of the franchise, according to report on Pro Hockey Talk.
*All I need to hear is Alex Ovechkin and Vladimir Putin, and my interest in piqued. I won’t deny it.
*Evander Kane apparently won back his girlfriend by renting out a billboard in another sign that the Buffalo Sabres winger is living large…as if the cash phone wasn’t evidence enough.
*It can be a very abrupt and difficult transition for some NHL players when their playing days have come to an end.
*Interesting interview with Brian Burke where he talks about giving back, and also about the state of hockey in Ireland.
*For something completely different: All I can think of when I see this story about the ice bucket challenge helping lead to breakthroughs is the snarky, annoying Huffington Post piece that called it “slacktivism” at its worst. We can now only hope that writer is actually doing some good for the world rather than writing worthless “think pieces.” Good call, Huffington Post.