Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading while wondering if it’s a good thing, or a very bad thing, that another billionaire might be throwing his hat in the ring for the Presidency.
*PHT writer James O’Brien has the Florida Panthers locking up Aleksander Barkov to a big, big money deal for a restricted free agent at six years and $35.4 million dollars. The 20-year-old Barkov has never had more than 16 goals or 36 points in an NHL season.
*Plenty of eyes in Columbus watching the Blue Jackets as they prepare to dish off more veterans, according to TSN, who also kindly links to my Loui Eriksson story as well.
*Steven Stamkos is not talking about the validity of stories about contract offers to him from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and what he thinks of them.
*FOH (Friend of Haggs) Elliotte Friedman has his 30 thoughts including plenty about the KHL and Artemi Panarin tearing it up for the Blackhawks.
*Devan Dubnyk was jokingly asking the media to refrain from keeping goalie stats for the NHL All-Star game with the 3-on-3 format.
*The Edmonton Oilers will catch a much-needed breath during the NHL All-Star break, and will get Connor McDavid back afterward. That will be kind of a big deal.
*Former NHL referee Paul Stewart says that Milan Lucic has earned the mistrust he’s received from officials around the league, in the wake of his one-game suspension for a sucker punch.
*For something completely different: Sarah Spain is doling out advice to Millenials that somehow don’t understand the power of social media.