Las Vegas name update; Koivu to captain Finland (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. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com.

• Matt Murray shows off his Team North America mask. [Matt Murray]

• Night Hawks is still the backup plan for the Las Vegas NHL franchise, but a different name has been selected for the expansion team. [Sin Bin Vegas]

• Taking a look at the first hires for the Las Vegas NHL franchise. How has the organization decided to build its team from a management perspective? [Sportsnet]

• The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the club has named Mark Hunter as Assistant General Manager. Hunter, who was director of player personnel, will share the role along with current Assistant General Manager Kyle Dubas. [Toronto Maple Leafs]

• Mikko Koivu was named captain for Team Finland in the World Cup of Hockey. [NHL]

• Calgary Flames franchise winger Johnny Gaudreau still hasn’t been signed. When should Flames fans start to get nervous about Gaudreau? [Flames Nation]

• The five most memorable NHL gimmicks from the 1990s. The list includes the glow puck and some of the more memorable third jerseys. [The Hockey News]

• Focusing on signing college free agent Jimmy Vesey was a waste of time for the Boston Bruins. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

• New York Islanders captain John Tavares talks about the World Cup of Hockey, his offseason regimen and his future. [ESPN]

• Mismanagement is the reason the Boston Bruins are mired in mediocrity. [Boston Sports Desk]

• Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa says he would like to play past his current two-year deal with the team. [The Province]

• Defenseman Dan Hamhuis talks about his move to the Dallas Stars: “I’m hoping (coach) Lindy (Ruff) is giving me a little more ice time than he gave me at the Olympics.” [Dallas Morning News]

• Fighting in the Ontario Hockey League has been staggered by another thundering body blow. In the quest to make fighting an insignificant part of the game, the OHL has instituted several rules to penalize players whose major contribution to the game is fisticuffs. [London Free Press]

• What shot assists can tell us about trends in the NHL. [Today’s Slapshot]

• A Q&A with New Jersey Devils goaltending prospect Ken Appleby about his journey from one year ago until today, his friendship/rivalry with Mackenzie Blackwood and his equipment preferences as well. [The Hockey Writers]

• The Windsor Spitfires released their 2017 Memorial Cup logo for the May 18-28 tournament next year. [Windsor Star]

• UNLV’s men’s ice hockey is a club team, but it acts more like an NCAA Division I program, which it aspires to be within three years. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

• The top unheralded rookies for the 2016-17 season from a fantasy perspective. [Dobber Hockey]

• Jack Parker took up skiing at the urging of his twin brother after retiring from BU three years ago, but there was nowhere to hide from a lifelong uneasiness with heights when faced with the prospect of whizzing down an 8,000-foot mountain in Utah. [Boston Globe]

• Forward Kayla Tutino was selected first overall on Sunday by the Boston Blades in the 2016 Canadian Women’s Hockey League draft. [CP via Yahoo!]

• An interview with former Team Canada captain, and current Hockey Night in Canada reporter, Cassie Campbell-Pascall. [Silver Seven]

• Finally, Brent Burns with a surprise for youth hockey players.