Mr. Hockey turns 86; Isles sale talks; dissecting the Leafs (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.
• It's Mr. Hockey's 86th birthday. Here's a great read from Helene St. James on Gordie Howe's battle with dementia and how it's not keeping him down. [Freep]
• It's come out that Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Barroway has been in talks to purchase the New York Islanders. Barroway was previously linked to the New Jersey Devils sale last summer. NY Post]
• Mirtle goes all in on the Toronto Maple Leafs: how missing the playoffs could be the best thing for the franchise. [Globe and Mail]
• Randy Carlyle is having a heckua time in Toronto right now. You know who knows what he's going through? Ron Wilson. [ESPN.com]
• Is Guy Boucher and his 1-3-1 the solution for the Leafs' woes? [The Leafs Nation]
• Dave Poulin doesn't understand score effects. [mc79hockey]
• Some good news: Tim Bozon is out of the hospital after battling meningitis and was on the ice to drop the puck prior to the Kootenay-Calgary playoff game on Saturday night. [Buzzing the Net]
• Seth Jones was back on the ice with the Nashville Predators Sunday as he continues his comeback from a concussion. [Tennessean]
• Is there a relationship between finishing the regular season strong and making a run at the Stanley Cup? [SB Nation]
• On the same day Tomas Plekanec returned after dealing with a personal matter, Alexei Emelin has left the Canadiens to return to Montreal for family reasons. [Hockey Inside/Out]
• Kyle Turris, Patrice Bergeron and T.J. Oshie are your Three Stars of the Week. [NHL]
• Masterton nominees are beginning to trickle out. For the New York Rangers, it's Dominic Moore, while Rich Peverley will represent the Dallas Stars. Colin McDonald is the Islanders' nominee.
• Chatting with Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan. [The Hockey Writers] -Is the 2013-14 fantasy hockey MVP Sidney Crosby over Alex Ovechkin? [Dobber Hockey]
• In praise of Jarome Iginla, the best signing of the summer by the Boston Bruins. [Bruins Daily]
• A Bruins fan is offering a free Iggy jersey to Vancouver Canucks fans in exchange for switching allegiances. [PITB]
• Is it time for new faces of the Nashville Predators? [On the Forecheck]
• Will the Anaheim Ducks pursue Ryan Kesler at the draft in June? [Edmonton Journal]
• Who are the best and worst defenseman in the NHL in terms of possession? [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
• Finally, the Carolina Hurricanes helped a member of the U.S. Air Force reunite with his family before Friday's game:
