Kings to retire Blake's number; Teemu talks; Backstrom to finally get silver medal (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.
• Those ugly sweaters we wrote about a few weeks back also come in player versions. [Clark Toys]
• The LA Kings will retire Rob Blake’s no. 4 before their Jan. 17 game against the Anaheim Ducks. [LA Kings Insider]
• Teemu Selanne spoke Monday during the announcement of a training facility he's helping to run in Helsinki. On the decision about whether he’ll play for KHL side Jokerit this season Selanne said, “My NHL career is over, but I've promised to give it serious thought. Time will tell.” [@Amateur_Hockey]
• Nicklas Backstrom will finally be given his silver medal from the Sochi Games later this month. [Hockey Ramblings]
• A plea deal for Ryan Malone in his DUI and cocaine possession case could be coming by his next court appearance on Aug. 19. [Tampa Bay Times]
• Good news for Marc Savard. According to Chris Stevenson, the former Boston Bruin will be a scout this upcoming season for the Ottawa 67’s. [@CJ_Stevenson]
• Panthers ownership only needed to speak with Gerard Gallant before determing that he was the man for the job in Florida. [Fox Sports Florida]
• Analytics are here to stay in hockey and the data collected by teams will only get better. [Boston Globe]
• Is condescension from those who promote analytics holding its advancement back? [Upper Body Inquiry]
• Talks to lock up Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot have stalled. He’s scheduled to become a UFA next summer. [Ottawa Citizen]
• Meet Jack Eichel, 17, the next American superstar of hockey. [Buzzing the Net]
• Who are the 50 most valuable players in the NHL? [Angus Certified]
• The owners of the Vancouver Canucks were sniffing around the sale of the Buffalo Bills, but decided against pursuing a deal. [Buffalo News]
• Remember Peter Forsberg’s 22 games as a Nashville Predator? OK, nevermind. Let’s just forget about that. [The Hockey Writers]
• When can we expect to see Washington Capitals prospect Andre Burakovsky in the NHL? [Japers’ Rink]
• Soldier Field in Chicago will see more outdoor hockey next season when Michigan plays Michigan State University and Miami University faces-off versus Western Michigan University. [Crain’s Chicago]
• Division I hockey coming to Arizona State? If the school’s athletic director has his way, it could happen. [House of Sparky]
• There has been a lot written this summer about the Winnipeg Jets’ plan. Is it simply that they’re tanking for Connor McDavid? [Backhand Shelf]
• Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey was terrible. Just the worst. Now, Wayne Gretzky Hockey for PC, that’s where it was at. [Hockey Wilderness]
