Ovechkin and Oates, soulmates; John Scott hates stuff; Zamboni Google doodle (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.

• Via @FlyGoalScoredBy, I just absolutely love this photo of Rick Tocchet and Murray Craven, for what I assume are obvious reasons.

• Adam Oates and Alex Ovechkin are going to be soulmates. Oates‘ college coach at RPI, Mike Addesa: “I think Adam will find the key to Alex Ovechkin’s soul.” Brett Hull: “Ovechkin is going to be like a kid again. Oatesy’s going to make him so happy." [Washington Times]

• Why trade for Roberto Luongo when you can tank for prospects? said the Toronto media, moments after running Brian Burke out of town for failing to get the Leafs to the playoffs. [Toronto Star]

• It's a few days old, but I really enjoyed this story on "Canadian roulette", the insane financial gamble so many Canadian parents to help their kids get to the NHL. [National Post]

• The AHL says goodbye to hybrid icing. AHL president David Andrews: "We believe that 564 games has been a sufficient test period for ‘hybrid icing’ and that the application of the rule has been positive for the most part. But because we have more than 300 players recalled to the National Hockey League each season, it is our view that these players should have the benefit of a consistent application of the icing rule in both the AHL and NHL." [Edmonton Journal]

• John Scott's in Buffalo, and he wants you to know how much he hates stuff. “That’s why I’m here. I don’t want stuff to go on. Whenever it happens and whoever it happens with, that’s my job. I’m here to prevent that stuff. So, yeah, if I was on the team last year I would like to think something like that wouldn’t happen. If it happens again, I’ll take care of it.” [Buffalo Hockey Beat]

• Like the LA Kings before them, the Dallas Stars have hired their own beat reporter. Will the NHL stay out of it this time? [Deadspin]

• Sean O'Donnell retires after 1,224 NHL games over 17 seasons. [TSN]

• Lubomir Visnovsky said he looks forward to reporting to the NYI after tending to "personal reasons" which have kept him from reporting. [Neil Sheehy]

• Scarier than a horror movie: is Pavel Datsyuk playing on his last NHL contract before going home? [Detroit Free Press]

• Controversial argument: Rick Nash's success as a Ranger isn't entirely dependent on scoring goals. [Blueshirt Banter]

• Sheldon Souray on the Ducks' blueline, now that he and Bryan Allen are on it: "A little more sandpaper. A little more harder to play against." More harder indeed. [OC Register]

• RFA Dmitry Kulikov and the Panthers remain far apart both financially and geographically. Kulikov has yet to return home from the KHL, and Panthers' assistant GM Mike Santos says he doesn't consider the two sides close to a contract. [Sun-
Sentinel]

• Dellow on Mark Fistric, the magic age, and whether third-pairing defencemen develop after 25. [MC79 Hockey]

• The Iron Sheik weighs in on the NHL lockout and it's great: "I love the Boston forever. The hockey begin now because the no good raisin balls Gary Bettman and the no good jabroni the Donald Duck or the Donald Fehr whatever you want me to call him make deal. They make me mad because they make the fan lose the respect for the sport. Now the player have to work hard to make the fan happy so they pay the big money to come and see them play the sport. I respect the hockey I love the fan forever. If you don’t like the hockey than you deserve to like only the cricket because hockey is real sport like the Wrestling." [Days of Y'orr]

• He's hardly a fan favourite, but due to injuries, Mason Raymond is now all that remains of the Canucks' second line, so now everybody has no choice but to love Raymond. [Vancouver Sun]

• Thomas Drance is using fancy stats to preview and predict the Canucks, and you can bet on his predictions. [Play Now]

• If you're wondering which SB Nation hockey blog drops the most eff bombs, here you go. Shame on you, St. Louis Game Time. [Battle of Cali]

• Wednesday's Google Doodle is an interactive tribute to Frank Zamboni, inventor of the Zamboni, who was born on this day, January 16, in 1901.