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.

• Wayne Gretzky has been off the grid since parting ways with the Phoenix Coyotes, and Elliotte Friedman reports that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is seeking an audience with one of the game's greatest ambassadors to smooth things over. Gretzky said he needs more time to process things, which is also partially what he told Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman. If we're Stevie Y, we keep Gretz on the sidelines until Canada meets Russia in the medal round and then BOOM: Bring him to the locker room for a Herbie Brooks moment. [CBC Sports]

• The top 10 Don Cherry quotes of all-time. No. 3, on being pulled over by a motorcycle policeman: "He was wearing a visor. I thought he was Russian." [Greatest Hockey Legends]

• Fantastic take by Rudy Kelly on Alexander Frolov(notes) and why the Russian winger should be traded by the Los Angeles Kings. "Frolov is my favorite player but I'd rather he go somewhere else and not be subjected to this type of abuse." [Battle of California]

• The Pittsburgh Penguins are on Versus tonight against the St. Louis Blues, so it's the Stanley Cup champs turn to urge disgruntled DirecTV subscribers to let their voices be heard in the dispute. [Penguins]

• In praise of Todd McLellan's handling of Dany Heatley(notes) thus far with the San Jose Sharks. No pouting. Yet. [Puck Update]

• The Tampa Bay Lightning have a "naked practice." No word if Victor Hedman(notes) took part. [@erlendssontrib]

• You know who probably isn't thrilled with the news that Atlanta Thrashers forward Rich Peverley(notes) has earned a two-year deal worth $2.6 million for his stellar play? David Poile. [TSN]

• Los Angeles Kings fan Rob Zombie gets it. From an interview with The Hockey News: "What the Kings should have done - and the NHL can use this slogan if they like -- was take somebody like Ian Laperriere(notes) when he was still on the team, have a big portrait of his face, smiling with no teeth and his big, messed-up nose, and the slogan - 'You think you're tough? KINGS.'" Again, the NHL wouldn't have half its problems today if Bettman's marketing approach to the League in his first 10 years as commissioner wasn't a total joke. [THN]

• Former NHLer Bob Sirois's new book "Quebec bodychecked: discrimination against Quebeckers in the NHL" has stirred the hornets' nest and Calgary Flames Coach Brent Sutter is steamed about the claims. [Sun Media]

• Andrew Podnieks of IIHF writes a lengthy rebuttal against claims anti-French-Canadian bias in the book. Hey, look: Hard facts to refute sensationalism. Neat. [IIHF]

• Razor gets a little more contentious with Sirois's claims: "Bob Sirois is crying 'discrimination' but his tears are merely pooling in age-old French-Canadian self-pity and entitlement." [Razor With An Edge]

• Why Todd Bertuzzi(notes) of the Detroit Red Wings hasn't dropped the gloves yet this season. [Snapshots]

• Pete DeBoer stands by the underperforming top line of center Stephen Weiss(notes) and wingers David Booth(notes) and Nathan Horton(notes). Because what the hell else is he going to do? [Sun Sentinel]

• A Montreal Canadiens fan decides to abandon his team because the latest incarnation of the Habs is ... too goonish? Seriously? Wow, that sucks: Losing your favorite team and evidently lacking the ability to operate a television in order to watch them this season. [Hockey Independent]

• "No, really Handzus: There was a puck near your head. I swear." [Getty]

• Mike Modano(notes) and Jere Lehtinen(notes) are on injured reserve for the Dallas Stars. [Defending Big D]

• The trade of Chuck Kobasew(notes) has left the Boston Bruins surprised but understanding that it's the nature of the business. Of course, had they gotten their act together sooner, Chuckie would still be invited to poker night. [Boston.com]

• Yikes: Jason Smith, 34 of Grand Forks, is in serious condition after fracturing his skull following a postgame altercation with another man after Friday's University of North Dakota-Minnesota men's hockey game. [Grand Forks Herald]

• Two bits of info from New Jersey Devils practice yesterday: Still no Patrik Elias(notes) on the ice, and Travis Zajac(notes) skated off of the Parise line. [NJ.com]

• The Philadelphia Flyers acquire troubled, enigmatic right wing Stefan Legein(notes) from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Michael Ratchuk(notes). [Philly.com]

• The Nashville Predators place Jason Arnott(notes) on injured reserve and call up celebrated journeyman Dave Scatchard(notes). [Preds]

• Towering Tyler Myers(notes) of the Buffalo Sabres, and the chances that he can Schenn his way onto the team instead of being sent back to the WHL. [Sabres]

• Finally, Rick Rypien(notes) throws about 10,000 punches in this emphatic win over Zack Stortini(notes) in last night's Vancouver Canucks/Edmonton Oilers game. [Hockey Fights]

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism, Gary Bettman, Commissioner for Life, When Hockey and Hollywood Collide, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo