Puck Headlines: Jets gear selling fast; Versus and college puck?
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.
• Stanley and Shawn Thornton. Just chillin' during his day with the Cup in Oshawa. [@NHLBruins]
• Kris Draper officially announced his retirement this morning at a press conference at Joe Louis Arena. Winging It In Motown gives him a send off: "One thing for me that gets Draper on this list is the fact that he has played over 1000 games as a Red Wing; only Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom accomplished. 1000 games with one team by anyone is a major feat for anyone, and even more so when you consider that Draper has never been a 'star'" [WIM]
• Since releasing their logos on Friday and selling new merchandises, the Winnipeg Jets have brought in over $200,000 in sales. [Global Winnipeg s/t Kukla]
• Down Goes Brown on what's left for the Winnipeg Jets' off-season task list: "Organize some sort of orientation for lifelong Atlanta Thrasher players who will be now dealing with issues they've never faced before such as a harsh climate, Canadian tax laws, and fans." [DGB]
• Alexei Yashin tells Katie Strang that he's in no rush to make a decision on his future just yet. [Newsday sub. required]
• Ryan Boogaard emailed several media outlets including Puck Daddy early this morning with a statement regarding the recent arrest of his brother Aaron on drug possession charges. Michael Russo has the full text. [Star Tribune]
• From over the weekend, but good news for hockey fans. Versus is interested in picking up college hockey games beginning in January. [Daily Gazette]
• Jonathan Toews. Enjoying his off-season. [Barstool Sports]
• Our good bud Lyle Richardson points out that the reason why we haven't seen offer sheets handed out this summer isn't because of collusion among NHL GMs. [The Hockey News]
• Former NHL head coach Andy Murray has accepted a five-year deal to step behind the bench of the Western Michigan University Broncos. [True Hockey]
• New York Ranger forward Ryan Callahan's arbitration hearing is scheduled for Thursday. If the two sides don't agree to a deal before then, will that affect whether or not he's given the team captaincy? [Blueshirt Banter]
• Brandon Worley on why Mike Ribeiro should have been included in Sam McCaig's "Top 25 centers" post yesterday. [Defending Big D]
• Jim Neveau chimes in with five changes he'd make to McCaig's list. [The Hockey Writers]
• So this is now two separate Q&A's with agent Don Meehan in a week and neither have had questions about his two clients, Drew Doughty and Luke Schenn, who need new deals. [Toronto Star]
• Kevin Allen on NHL goaltenders getting less cash than skaters. He points out that the average salary of a starting netminder will be around $3.8 million, while a No. 1 defenseman will average in the neighborhood of $4.1 million. [USA Today]
• A look at the Chicago Blackhawks' defense and why they'll be tougher to play against this coming season. [Blackhawk Up]
• Jason Williams signs a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins worth $600,000. [Penguins]
• Have you grown tired of watching the same 2011 Stanley Cup Playoff game on NHL Network this summer? Us too. Here's four programming suggestions, including our favorite of having a team top five block. [Section 303]
• Cam Janssen talks about joining the New Jersey Devils again and why a change was needed in his career. [STL Today]
• "Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty to refrain from any future references to hockey in his quest to gain the 2012 Republican nomination." PARODY [The Washington Fancy s/t Eric F.]
• Byron Bitz is your newest member of the Vancouver Canucks. [Canucks]
• Finally, the newest NHL 12 was released yesterday featuring the new "anticipation AI". Is it September 13 yet?
