Wickenheiser on Sochi; goalie pad reductions; All-Star Game for Phoenix? (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.
• Let's play a game. Here's a photo from a match between the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden in 1957. Find a woman. [History Pics]
• The NHL and NHLPA have agreed to a pad reduction for next season. Good luck getting used to that in a month, goalies! [The Score]
• Hayley Wickenheiser speaks out against Russia's anti-gay laws: “I think it comes down to a human rights issue, not even a gay rights issue. For me, it makes me feel proud to be a Canadian, to live in a country that strives for equality whether it’s race, religion, or sexual orientation. As far as we’re concerned, we’re going to the Games to perform and to uphold the standards we as Canadians have and hopefully demonstrate that to the rest of the world. But, for me, it’s really a human rights issue.” [Calgary Herald]
• Doug Armstrong refuses to put a deadline on negotiations with Alex Pietrangelo, but the goal is to have him signed by training camp, which makes sense. That's when you need him. [BND]
• Sounds like Phoenix is getting an All-Star Game, which is like that time my dad took me to my favourite restaurant to apologize for giving away my dog. "Sorry about all that. Here's a small gesture that can't possibly make you feel entirely better." [Arizona Republic]
• Shawn Burr's funeral will be private, but it sounds like there will be a public memorial. [Kukla's Korner]
• "Former San Jose Sharks assistant coach Vasily Tikhonov, whose legendary Soviet head coach father and NHL draft pick son made him part of one of Russia’s great hockey families, died Wednesday at his home in Moscow." [Moscow News]
• Avangard Omsk and Ryan Potulny have agreed to sever ties less than three months after the American signed a two-year contract. [Ria Novosti]
• Steve Lepore chats with new American darlings Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole, who are seriously the best. [SB Nation]
• He may have a Norris, but P.K. Subban could get better. [PHT]
• The Red Wings are nearing a deal with Gustav Nyquist. [FreeP]
• The Flyers announce Flight Plan, a behind-the-scenes webisode series that would have been way better if they hadn't bought Ilya Bryzgalov out a month ago. [Flyers]
• Theo Fleury helps a little girl find the money she needs for hockey. [WJON]
• The San Jose Sharks get in on Shark Week. [Sharks]
• The Clutterbuck Chronicles, volume 1. [Eye on Isles]
• Top 10 goalies in the Metropolitan division. [Japers' Rink]
• Neat little piece here on a little boy learning about the Wayne Gretzky trade. [The Farm Club]
• Here's a cool little mini-doc on Jaromir Jagr's training regimen.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Old contract shows how referees' pay has changed
• Stephen Walkom moves back to NHL front office
• Andrew Shaw auctioning face stitches for charity
