Toews in Machu Picchu; ’18 WJC host finalists; Konopka eyes NHL return (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].
• Where in the world is Jonathan Toews? Hiking in Machu Picchu, apparently. The Chicago Blackhawks captain was spotted by a couple hockey fans and posed for a pic with a beautiful backdrop. [Only Oswego]
• Congrats to Buffalo, Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Tampa on your selection as finalists to host 2018 World Junior Championship. [USA Hockey]
• Let the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics debate begin! The IIHF, NHL, and NHLPA have started preliminary talks about the players possible involvement in the games. [Causeway Crowd]
• The NHL has a breaking news problem: “Wait for a team to publicly announce a signing, note its refusal to actually mention the dollar value of the deal, and then see how many minutes it takes for a media insider to get the goods.” [Grantland]
• ‘What Glendale did “is almost the exact opposite of what happens in these extortion situations,” said sports economist Victor Matheson of College of the Holy Cross. “Typically the team extorts more payments out of the taxpayers.”’ [Forbes]
• Russ Brandon leads the charge to synthesize the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres franchises, both owned by Terry and Kim Pegula. [Buffalo News]
• Is Mike Hoffman worth the $3.4-million he’s asking for from the Ottawa Senators? His arbitration hearing is looming. [Today’s Slapshot]
• What’s holding up the Blackhawks and Marcus Kruger from making a deal? [Chicago Tribune]
• Great article on what it’s like to get a concussion, the after effects, and the damage it can cause. [PPP]
• The New York Rangers won’t find much relief, cap wise, next off-season with more key players needing contracts. [North Jersey]
• Examining the successes and failures of Lou Lamoriello’s draft record in New Jersey. [TSN]
• Jordan Leopold’s second half of last season was one he’ll treasure forever thanks to his daughter. As an unsigned UFA, he’s come to grips that it might be time to hang ’em up. [Star Tribune]
• Remember Zenon Konopka? He was suspended for violating the league’s PED policy. He’d like to come back to the NHL but realizes retirement could be looming. [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
• After a few major roster shakeups this off-season, the St. Louis Blues are expecting a new look and attitude up front. [St. Louis Today]
• Pros and cons of Las Vegas and Quebec City as NHL expansion destinations. [Bleacher Report]
• After spending nearly 1,000 games in an Oilers sweater, Ryan Smyth is ready to return to Edmonton in a new role. [Edmonton Journal]
• The Anaheim Ducks are on the NBC national schedule four times next season. With their regular season success, why aren’t they on TV more? [Anaheim Calling]
• Taking a look at the passing statistics (with pictures!) for Blackhawks youngster Teuvo Teravainen. [Committed Indian]
• Here’s an idea for NHL realignment: no divisions, no conferences. (Good luck getting in the playoffs, eastern teams.) [The Hockey Writers]
• Kiruna’s Ice Hockey club of Sweden frequently campaigns for LBTQ rights. They’re inviting other sports clubs to join them in the Stockholm Pride Parade this weekend. [The Local]
• David Backes continues his charitable contributions by donating $100K to his alma mater Minnesota State. [MSU Mavericks]
• Fantasy hockey spin on the top 10 remaining unrestricted free agents. [Dobber]
• The OHL’s Owen Sound Attack hire Ryan McGill as their new head coach. McGill was last with the Kootenay Ice where his contract was not renewed. [Buzzing The Net]
• Congrats to the residents of Southamptonm New York, your newest resident is Sean Avery. [Curbed]
• Finally, time lapse video of the construction at Connor McDavid’s future home rink, Rogers Place. (From far away, the construction workers look like the Doozers from Fraggle Rock.):
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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.
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