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Puck Headlines: Rentals, salary dumps and American contraction

Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Weekend 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.

• Our buddy David Staples has a great read this weekend about the current economics of the NHL and how teams with long-term deals are going to be looking to turn them into expiring contracts. Which is one reason that, despite their drawbacks, teams could be sniffing around Maxim Afinogenov and Tim Connolly of the Buffalo Sabres, for example. [Cult of Hockey]

• If the Boston Bruins are looking to make a move near the deadline to bolster their offense due to injury, Kevin Paul Dupont suggests the following names: Keith Tkachuk, Jason Williams, Erik Cole, Steve Reinprecht and Nik Antropov. Tkachuk, a rental? Surely you jest, sir. [Boston Globe]

• Making the case for Jay Bouwmeester to remain with the Florida Panthers this season, pending departure be damned: "All he did was provide another reminder why the Panthers should not trade him before the trade deadline, even if he is likely to bolt when his contract expires at season's end. Forget later, for a change. The Panthers need to make the playoffs sometime this century, and his presence makes it more possible." [Sun Sentinel]

• The CBC Satellite Hot Stove roundtable had all sorts of contraction talk. Teams will relocate before contraction. Ask the NHLPA why. [CBC Sports]

• Finally on the financial front, On Frozen Blog takes an in-depth look at how American franchises in non-traditional markets are struggling and could continue to struggle for some time. Probably won't be the last time we hear the words "Dispersal Draft." [OFB]

• Bruce "Malkin to the Kings" Garrioch writes that the Edmonton Oilers could be interested in Ottawa Senators center Mike Fisher. Hmmm, wonder why ... [Ottawa Sun]

• Dominik Hasek has been hired to run the Czech Hockey Hall of Fame. First order of business: no photos of Brett Hull. Ever. [NY Times]

• Brad Lukowich of the San Jose Sharks may have a sports hernia. Ouchy. [Working the Corners]

• Scotty Hockey knew the Ottawa Senators were bad, but not this bad before their loss to the New York Rangers: "Wow, to think that this Ottawa Senator squad made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in the not-too-distant past is utterly shocking. They were unorganized, unmotivated and had trouble even completing simple passes while constantly sitting on their heels as the Rangers attacked." [Scotty Hockey]

• Uh, eat your heart out Wrigley? Team Jagr wins the KHL All-Star Game in Red Square. [Slap Shot]

• So Wayne Fleming wasn't actually fired during a KHL game? [ESPN]

• Chris Cooley's adventures at a Capitals game. "Everyone in the city loves to yell 'Coooooley!' Like were in the stadium. I guess kind of fitting in the hockey game, but kind of weird on the street. [Cooley blog]

• John Tavares has a three-point night in his London Knights debut. [TSN]

• Razor makes a great point: It is a tad disheartening for the Dallas Stars when Brendan Morrow is tied for seventh in team scoring. [Razor With an Edge]

• Larry Brooks on the Don Sanderson tragedy. [NY Post]

• Michael Ryder is having fun up in Boston. Actually producing offense relative to your salary can do that to a guy. [Bruins]

• According to Rudy Kelly, Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings is your favorite garage band you just heard on the radio for the first time: "Dustin Brown is reaching a status in the league where he's pretty much universally beloved. I get annoyed watching the broadcasts of opposing teams because they always spend about 5 minutes fawning all over him. He's basically become Grady Sizemore, without the flock of ladies following him around." [Battle of California]

• Mats Sundin scores for Vancouver; mops at GM Place get an extra workout. [CBC Sports]

• Finally, here's Craig Weller of the Minnesota Wild and Jared Boll of the Columbus Blue Jackets, dropping bombs: