Loonie value dropping; Maatta making progress; O'Brien back in Anaheim (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.
• Caption from Geno: "u kogo krasivee kon?)))" Because, of course, why would he say anything else? :))))))))) [EMalkin71Geno]
• The Canadian loonie is decreasing in value. This is NOT good news for any Canadian professional sports team, regardless of league. [Canadian Press]
• Believe it or not, there are at least 10 free agents whose names you know still available. [Grantland]
• Much to the relief of Pittsburgh Penguins fans, Olli Maatta is making progress after a series of serious step backs over the past two seasons. [Penguins]
• Mikhail Grigorenko signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The center was acquired in the trade that sent Ryan O'Reilly to the Buffalo Sabres. [Denver Post]
• Oh wonderful. Shane O'Brien has returned to the Anaheim Ducks organization. [Ducks]
• Despite a better than expected season, are the Vancouver Canucks looking at a rebuild? [Along The Boards]
• The Oilers have approximately a million defensemen. Seth Jones could be another one if the price is right. [Beer League Heroes]
• If not Seth Jones to the Oilers, how about Brent Seabrook? [Oilers Nation]
• Exploring the theory of how Cam Talbot success was due in part to the Rangers' defense being even better. [Because Oilers]
• Adding Cup winners like Brandon Saad and Gregory Campbell to the roster in Columbus adds a winning mentality and experience of deep playoff runs to a young group. [Union and Blue]
• Sean Kuraly is a name Boston Bruins fans should become acquainted with. The prospect was acquired from San Jose in the Martin Jones deal. [Bruins Daily]
• If Braden Holtby gets $6-million per year in his new deal, here's a list of some things he can do with the money. [Puck Buddys]
• The earnings of Michael Del Zotto's peers around the NHL set the market value for his new deal. [CSN Philly]
• Expect these five players to have hot starts when the puck finally drops in October. [The Puck Exchange]
• An interview with Penguins second round pick, Daniel Sprong, from Pittsburgh's prospect camp. [From The Point]
• Informative and immersive discussion of what it's like for a trans NHL fan to get to the rink and the issues around it. [Welcome to Your Karlsson Years]
• Incredible personal story of how one Detroit Red Wings fan fell in love with his team. [Winging It In Motown]
• Developing hockey in South Korea is a steep uphill battle. [AP]
• Chris Snow went from Moneyball to Money Puck. Meet the Calagary Flames director of video and statistical analysis. [The Hockey Writers]
• Is something fishy going on in the AHL? Teams in the newly established western league will play 68 games as opposed to the 76 played by all the other teams back east. [The Sin Bin]
• After winning the Clarkson Cup with the Boston Blades, goaltender Brittany Ott takes a 'leap of faith' and joins the Boston Pride of the NWHL. [Today's Slap Shot]
• The NCAA has amended the goalie interference rule after it became a point of contention during the men's ice hockey tournament. [College Hockey News]
• Referee T.J. Luxemore and linesman Trent Knorr have been promoted to full-time officials in the NHL. They replace the now-retired Paul Devorski and Jean Morin. All the best to those guys as they transition to getting yelled at by millionaires. [Scouting The Refs]
• "Two Manitoba girls have pleaded guilty to assault charges for their part in a minor hockey game melee that made international headlines." The girls are 15-years-old. Yikes. [Winnipeg Sun]
• Preview some of the new masks being donned by goaltenders this upcoming season. [Hockey by Design]
• "[Martin] Rucinsky was one of the best Czech forwards of the post-Czechoslovak era. With his retirement Jaromir Jagr becomes the only active player remaining from the team that won gold in Nagano 1998, the first Olympics with full participation of NHL players." [IIHF]
• Finally, TSN's Sports Science takes a look at the 'clothesline' in hockey. Let's all laugh at the misfortunes of Mitch Skiba again:
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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter!
