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Rangers add microchips to jerseys; Carlyle 'unplugged'; Harding out with ankle injury (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.

• SAMSONITE! I was waaaaaay off.

• The Rangers are taking analytics to the next level. Uniforms will be outfitted with microchips to track the players on the ice. Players will also be given iPads to study film, and are expected to watch their shifts after each game in order to be prepared for the next practice. [SNY Rangers Blog]

• New York's decision to incorporate advanced analytics and more film study will suit Derick Brassard just fine. The self-proclaimed 'hockey nerd' had been using media to track his progress for a while. [CBS New York]

• Continuing with the Rangers, defenseman Marc Staal is still without a contract. From his agent: “I’m not giving daily updates, not getting into ‘close or not close'. The tenor of the talks has been good, so we’ll keep going and keep working on it. There’s certainly no deadline on our part for getting this done." [New York Post]

• Our own Nick Cotsonika talks with Lester Patrick Trophy winner, and deputy commissioner of the NHL, Bill Daly, on his journey to this point, and of course, future expansion of the league. [Yahoo Sports]

• Wild netminder Josh Harding is out until further notice with an ankle injury. The severity of the injury is unknown. It happened off-ice and the goalie is on crutches. Time to call Bryz? [Hockey Wilderness]

• Sean McIndoe addresses the NHL's 'Analytics Awakining'. [Grantland]

• Part one of an 'unplugged' conversation with Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. He addresses the criticism directed at him, Tim Leiweke's parting shots, and more [Toronto Sun]

• Senators owner (and CSI-gumshoe) Eugene Melnyk word vomited on Fan 590‘s ‘Prime Time Sports’. The man just loves the sound of his own voice. [The 6th Sens]

• Maybe a bridge contract is something the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen should consider? It can be mutually beneficial. [Arctic Ice Hockey]

• Should the Penguins just accept the fact that the Stanley Cup isn't in the cards this season? [Tribune Live]

• Tampa Bay assistant general manager and general manager of their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, Julien BriseBois, provides insight into the AHL's changes that will (hopefully) improve the pace of the game and impact the utilization of fighters. [Syracuse.com]

• Ducks wrecking ball Devante Smith-Pelly inked a two-year, one-way contract extension. DSP was one of the top performers for Anaheim in the playoffs. [Color of Hockey]

• Chicago is revving up for another run at the big prize. Goaltender Corey Crawford plays a huge part in achieving that goal (duh), and now he's got a new six-year at $6-million per deal to live up to. [NBC Chicago]

• Chad LaRose is attempting an NHL comeback after suffering a leg injury; however, the leg isn't at 100% and he's been left off the Hurricanes camp roster for now. [Cardiac Canes]

• Seth Jones and his mother made a deal before he turned pro that the young star will live in a rented house with her as he makes the transition from boy to Predator. [NHL]

• Fancy stats Cats. Advanced stats preview of the Panthers wingers. [Litter Box Cats]

• Adding Bryan Trottier to the Sabres coaching staff gives Ted Nolan another veteran voice for the young squad to listen to. [Buffalo Hockey Beat]

• Is there a team in the Eastern Conference that is a true Stanley Cup contender? [Two Pad Stack]

• With the Victoria Royals stepping out of the race, It's down to two teams to host the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup: Vancouver Giants and Red Deer Rebels. [Buzzing the Net]

• First post in a series focused on the fantasy implications of the top 30 scoring defensemen in the NHL. [Dobber Hockey]

• Need another reason to be on your mobile device all day? NHL 2K is coming (back) to an iOS and/or Android device near year. [Polygon]

• Finally, I bet Ryan Kesler didn't know he was in for extra work, off the ice, at the season ticket counter, when he was traded. [Anaheim Ducks]