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Jimmy Howard's role; Chris Pronger's current HOF worth (Puck Headlines)

Josh Cooper

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 puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com.

WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 31: Winnipeg Jets fans put an image of Dustin Byfuglien #33 behind New York Rangers' assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson as he stands on the bench in third-period action in an NHL game at the MTS Centre on March 31, 2015 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 31: Winnipeg Jets fans put an image of Dustin Byfuglien #33 behind New York Rangers' assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson as he stands on the bench in third-period action in an NHL game at the MTS Centre on March 31, 2015 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)

• Rangers assistant Ulf Samuelsson does not fear the giant Dustin Byfuglien cardboard cut out. [Getty]

• There is pressure on Jimmy Howard to reclaim the No. 1 goaltending spot for the Detroit Red Wings. But Detroit hopes Howard rises to this challenge. [Yahoo]

• Why rush to put Chris Pronger in the Hall of Fame. What is his status in the NHL right now anyway? [Bleacher Report]

• A counterpoint on why Chris Pronger is indeed a Hall of Fame player right now. [NHL on the Ice]

• The Predators are not nearly as good a team without Shea Weber in the lineup as they are with him. [Nashville Post]

• No suspension will come on Alex Burrows for his hit on Paul Gaustad. [Canucks Army]

• To make the playoffs, the best strategy is to play just to get points. Who cares about winning? Such is the NHL these days. [FiveThirtyEight]

• Dylan Strome helps Erie to a 3-1 series lead over Sarnia, and other OHL playoff notes. [Buzzing the Net]

• A look at some of the top lines, and defense pairings, in the NHL. [Dobber Hockey]

• The difficulties of the Los Angeles Kings in poetry-type form. This is good, and thought provoking, stuff. [Jewels from the Crown]

• What will happen with coach Ken Hitchcock and the St. Louis Blues for next season? As of right now he doesn’t have a contract. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

• The Kings have signed college scorer Jonny Brodzinski from St. Cloud State: "While not the same player as Jeff Carter or Tyler Toffoli, he is believed to be cut from a similar cloth, in that he is a pure goal scorer, a real sniper." [Mayors' Manor]

• Why Martin St. Louis’ knee injury could actually be a good for the Rangers for a few different reasons. An update on New York's walking wounded. [New York Post]

• Former NHL defenseman Darius Kasparaitis has launched a real estate company in the Miami area. Said the former hard-hitting agitating blueliner: “I’m very grateful that they taught me how to play and now to be in this beautiful country living the American dream.” [Forbes]

• Though the Maple Leafs have been quite bad this year, Morgan Rielly has been one of the few positives for Toronto this season. [Globe and Mail]

• Nassau County politicians are trying to bring the Islanders back? Aren’t they already leaving? This feels a little like the Raiders and Oakland/Los Angeles [Islanders Insight]

• How to maximize the Winnipeg Jets’ lower lines. Winnipeg has both depth and options as it makes a playoff push. [Jets Nation]

• Taylor Fedun made his Sharks debut Sunday. And the travel sounded brutal for the 26-year-old to do so. Three games in three days in three cities? Yikes.  [CSN Bay Area]

• The month of March was all over the place for the Washington Capitals, but ultimately ended on a winning note. [Capitals Outsider]

• What do the Frozen Four teams have in common? A deep look at what should be a competitive end to the tournament. [College Hockey News]

• The Devils are one of the worst NHL teams at drawing power plays and puck possession based on Corsi-for percentage. Are the two stats related to each other? No. But it’s still troubling. [In Lou we Trust]

• Craig Berube’s biggest problem this season was the stalled development of Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier. The Flyers coach saw them both take a step back. [Philadelphia Daily News]

• Is Pittsburgh’s fourth line better than its third line? And other burning questions about the Penguins, Maxim Lapierre and Pitt’s college free agent non-signings. [Pens Blog]

• Blowouts in women’s hockey international competitions are on the decline. "Closer scores mean more exciting hockey, and enrolment in the women’s game is likely to surge when countries outside North America feel they have a better chance of winning." [IIHF]

• Finally, That was a bad miss by Petr Vrana of Ak Bars in the KHL. Just a bit outside.

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