Russian girls hockey fight; Steven Stamkos wins player of month; ref whining (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.
• This is not a symbolic representation of the Erik Cole trade. [Getty]
• Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the month of February. Yes, Ray Emery. [NHL]
• Panthers C Jonathan Huberdeau is named NHL rookie of the month for February, just edging out Chris Kreider. [Panthers]
• Scott Burnside says it’s time for us to stop whining about the borderline incompetent officiating: “It's easy to forget that on-ice officials -- to their eternal credit -- did not steal one job during the lockout, and officiated no games in Europe or the minor leagues. They also did not have even a shortened training camp but were scattered to the winds when the lockout ended and the season was rushed into existence in mid-January.” [ESPN]
• Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson on his timetable for return: “I can skate, I can stop, I can push, I can do a lot of things that a forward can do. I haven't taken the step yet to see what a goalie can do. I think that's going to be the next step is see how it is tomorrow and see if I can get into the butterfly at all.” [Senators]
• Someone please find Gustav Nyquist’s first NHL goal puck! [MLive]
• What are the best fights of 2012-13? We have a leader, and Colton Orr was a part of it. [Hockey Fights]
• Speaking of which: “Russian youth girls’ hockey final results in violent bench-clearing brawl.” Prep Rally, doing god's work. [Prep Rally]
• Brian Burke spoke at the MIT Sloan Analytics Conference, and said “the harder the coach is, the shorter his shelf life.” [NESN]
• Mike Green’s groin prevents his traveling to Winnipeg. [WashPost]
• On Alex Ovechkin and Mike Milbury: “Mike Milbury’s question about Ovechkin and why he fails to live up to Milbury’s expectations is that Milbury’s expectations are too high. Ovechkin is on the wrong side of his scoring peak. The NHL no longer gives out powerplays like cake at a birthday party, and the Capitals are no longer good enough to be able to generate offensive opportunities for Ovechkin. Ovechkin, even with his miserable season, is on pace for 35 goals over 82 games shooting two percentage points below his career average. The expectation for him to get 50 every year is simply putting too much of a burden on a player who physically can no longer do it, not without significant help from his teammates or from variance.” [Backhand Shelf]
• The Dallas Stars announced today that forward Tom Wandell cleared waivers and was assigned to the Texas Stars, Dallas' development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Wandell had been skating with Texas the last two weeks as part of a conditioning assignment. [Stars]
• Tom Sestito, new Canuck, on leaving the Philadelphia Flyers: “My reaction is bittersweet,” he said. “I loved it here in Philly and now I have a new chance with a great organization.” [Philly.com]
• Finally, the Vancouver Canucks reveal their Vancouver Millionaires replica jerseys. Or in the case of Dale Weise, a Vancouver SixHundredThousandaire.
