Sensible July 1 deals; free agent fallout; ‘Moose’ heads to San Jose (Puck Headlines)
Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at [email protected].
• That’s a nice shiny, brand new Brandon Saad Blue Jackets jersey. Better act now before the unsigned restricted free agent gets offer-sheeted by another NHL team. [@MearsyNHL]
• “I don’t want to say Saad got bad advice, because he’s going to get at least a 500% raise and make more money than we’ll ever dream of to play hockey. But I guess you can say that if Saad genuinely wanted to stay and would have taken less money to do it and his agent got him punted to Ohio.” [The Committed Indian]
• The opening of free agency saw a lot of sensible deals. What gives? Are GMs getting smarter? [Sporting News]
• “Kessel cared, but he cared in his own weird Kessel way. He wanted to win, but he wasn’t the kind of player who could bleed on the ice in an obvious lost cause – like the end of last season – night after night.” [Globe and Mail]
• The Islanders were pretty quiet on Day 1 of free agency. Do they have some trades brewing? [Isles Beat]
• What’s the fantasy spin of Matt Beleskey landing in Boston? [Dobber Hockey]
• Is Beleskey worth it for the Bruins? [Today’s Slap Shot]
• There are plenty of questions about the Vancouver Canucks’ moves so far, but GM Jim Benning deserves patience. [Province]
• Really great first-person read about Rich Clune and his battle with sobriety. [The Players’ Tribune]
• Good read on painkillers and culture in the NHL. [Pension Plan Puppets]
• “NBCSN pulled in just 252,000 viewers for the first day of the draft Friday night, the smallest audience since 2012’s 207,000 and a 25 per cent drop from last year’s 337,000.” [Awful Announcing]
• Examing the numbers of new Washington Capital Justin Williams. [Japers’ Rink]
• Remembering the good times that Williams helped deliver in Los Angeles. [Jewels From the Crown]
• The Dallas Stars made changes up front and in goal. So what’s up with the defense? [Dallas Morning News]
• Bob Boughner joins the San Jose Sharks as assistant coach, while Johan Hedberg is the team’s new goaltending coach. [Sharks]
• Scott Clemmensen has called it quits and is joining the New Jersey Devils as their goalie development coach. [NJ.com]
• Interesting in-depth look at the LA Kings and their draft process. [Mayor’s Manor]
• Breaking down the Zack Kassian addition for the Montreal Canadiens. [Rabid Habs]
• The Detroit Red Wings made some good signings on Wednesday that should help keep their playoff streak alive. [Bleacher Report]
• But more moves are needed, says Ken Holland. [Winging It In Motown]
• This is not a good look for a national hockey columnist. [Litter Box Cats]
• There were a number of gamble picks during the CHL Import Draft, and there are a number of general managers hoping they pay off. [Buzzing the Net]
• Finally, here’s Connor McDavid talking after taking the ice for the first time with the Edmonton Oilers:
