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.
CapsPoncho• Washington Capitals' owner Ted Leonsis (right) begins his slow descent into madness: "My friend Seth Hurwitz gave me a Caps poncho that he bought in Mexico — it is so ugly it is beautiful. He insisted I wear it to rally the team! I did — and boom — we get the two points! Thank you Seth! Rally Poncho!" Looking forward to when someone discovers Leonsis's notebook full of crude sketches of the mothman. [Ted's Take]
• Bruce Arthur on the Toronto Maple Leafs: "But as this season has skidded onto yet another ledge, next to yet another early April abyss, this organization has become an exercise in excuses, in misdirection and in incoherence." Ouch. [National Post]
• As if things weren't bad enough in Toronto, Sean Fitz-Gerald with the gut punch: "Toronto is in danger of missing the playoffs for the seventh season in a row, which would tie the Calgary Flames (1996-97 to 2002-03) for the longest post-season drought endured by an active Canadian franchise." [National Post]
• Hockey Canada is looking to ban fighting at all levels. [Buzzing the Net]
• Great stuff here on John Scott joining the Rangers. The death of Derek Boogaard still weighs heavily on all involved. [New York Times]
• Bad news for the Minnesota Wild: Mikko Koivu will be shut down without contact for the next two weeks, so he'll be out awhile. [Star-Tribune]
• Bad news for the Chicago Blackhawks: Joel Quenneville's not sure when captain Jonathan Toews will be back. "It's tough to answer that question," he said when asked. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Good news for the Calgary Flames: David Moss, who has been out since November with an ankle injury, skated on a line with Olli Jokinen and Curtis Glencross and appears ready to slot into the lineup on Thursday. [Calgary Sun]
• Meet Demi Russo, the only female player in the Catholic High School Hockey League. [SI Live]
• Speaking of women playing hockey, co-ed dressing rooms have been approved in Sudbury, Ontario, because it's cheaper than renovating old arenas. Let the record show that nothing expedites progress quite like a municipal budget. [Sudbury Star]
• Columbus Blue Jackets fans show their support for Rick Nash. In fairness, at this point, if you have to choose between supporting Scott Howson and another guy, the other guy wins by default. [Blue Jackets Xtra]
• Nash's name came up a lot on trade deadline day, as this nifty infographic illustrates. [Backhand Shelf]
• Is it time for the Edmonton Oilers to give Linus Omark a second look? [Oilers Nation]
• On the economic impact the Winter Classic will have in Detroit. [Red Wings]
• Wherein Cody Hodgson is compared to the giant diamond that once imprisoned Legion of Super-heroes martial arts' master, Karate Kid. [PITB]
• Wherein the loss of the Thrashers helps the city of Atlanta tops Forbes' list of the most miserable sports cities in America. Also on the list: Buffalo. [Forbes]
• I don't think this guy likes Mike Comrie. [Vice]
• Welcoming Brian Lee and Mike Commodore to Tampa Bay. [Bolts by the Bay]
• Next time you see a woman (or a man, I guess) wearing Huggz boots, know that the inspiration for the product came from watching hockey. [Huffington Post]
• The NHL has finally rustled up footage of Vernon Fiddler's angry Bieksa face, which clearly doubles as a De Niro impression.
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