NHL Ponzi scheme; exploiting teams over salary cap; Nieuwendyk hired by 'Canes (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.

• They grow up so fast. Pictured here in a more innocent time is young fake-criminal Sidney Crosby.

• Hear that noise? It's everyone backpedaling on the 'Sidney Crosby was arrested' story. [Toronto Sun]

• Is the NHL just one gigantic Ponzi scheme? This author seems to think so, and believes the alleged expansion of the NHL is just another layer in the pyramid. [Arctic Ice Hockey]

• One team's maxed out credit card could turn into another team's gain. The Senators have the cap room to take on some of the contracts that need to be unloaded by those over-the-cap. [Welcome To Your Karlsson Years]

• The Hurricanes announced Joe Nieuwendyk has been added to the organization as a 'Pro Scout/Advisor'. According the 'Canes VP Ron Francis, "He will be based in Dallas, and will be a major asset to the Hurricanes in player evaluations.” Best. Job. Ever. Doesn't even have to move to North Carolina. [Carolina Hurricanes]

• Rookies have nine games to prove they belong up with the big club before burning a year off their entry-level contract. Nine games is a small sample size to determine a player's value; however, the Flames took the chance with Sean Monahan last year, and are probably going to do the same with Sam Bennett this year. [Matchsticks and Gasoline]

• The Rangers have expressed interest in bringing Ryan Malone to camp on a PTO contract. Malone was bought-out by the Tampa Bay Lightning after being arrested for DUI and cocaine possession. Should Malone make a positive impression on the Rangers brass, where does that leave J.T. Miller in the mix? [Blue Line Station]

• Daniel Alfredsson is a man without a team. The free agent is hanging out in Detroit, skating with his Red Wings buddies, as he waits for GM Ken Holland's decision on whether to sign him or not. [Detroit Free Press]

• Journeyman defenseman Shane O'Brien has been invited to Florida Panthers camp on a PTO contract. O'Brien, 31, has played for six different teams, the most recent being the Calgary Flames. Not too surprising he was cut loose from them seeing as Flames boss Brian Burke traded O'Brien away while with the Ducks. [Litter Box Cats]

• Could Connor McDavid be moved out of Erie (OHL) before the trade deadline? Anything is possible; it just depends on where the Otters are in the standings at that time. [Buzzing the Net]

• Jay Feaster is in a newly-created position with the Tampa Bay Lightning as 'Executive Director, Community Hockey Development'. He chats about his new task of with growing youth hockey in Florida as many teams in 'non-traditional hockey markets' are attempting to do. [Raw Charge]

• Have you already forgotten that Peter Laviolette is the new coach of the Nashville Predators? Lavi is super excited to get on the ice with his new team, one that he's had a hand in crafting for the first time in a long time. [Section 303]

• A look at the Top 10 Washington Capitals under 25-years-old. Highlights include: incredible puck-handling goal-scorer, Jakub Vrana, and highly touted prospect who had a taste of the NHL last season, Evgeny Kuznetsov. [Japers' Rink]

• Jacob Trouba has the potential to be an outstanding NHL player. The main question surrounding his future is if he can stay healthy in order to live up to the hype enveloping him in Winnipeg. [Jets Nation]

• The B.C. teachers' strike is eerily similar to the NHL lockout. [PITB]

• Mike Grier and Eddie Olczyk will be the coaches for the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo. All you really need to know is that wunderkind Jack Eichel is playing in this game. [USA Hockey]

• Time for a 'trust-fall' between the Penguins and their fans. Pittsburgh's new third jerseys are available for pre-order, but they won't be officially unveiled until September 19th. [Icethetics]

• Part One of a series displaying the new masks to be donned this upcoming season by NHL netminders. Up first are Ducks goalies John Gibson, Frederik Andersen, and Jason LaBarbara, and from the Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Talbot. How they keep topping themselves creatively each season is really impressive. [Hockey By Design]

• Matt Fraser, one of the player acquired by the Bruins in the Tyler Seguin trade, talks about his experience in Boston and what he looks forward to in his second season with the B's. He also deconstructs his OT game-winner against Montreal from the time he woke up to when the puck went in. [Shnarped]

• Fantasy (hockey) cage match: Rick Nash vs. Marian Gaborik. Who you got? Or rather, who should you get? [Dobber Hockey]

• Q & A with former-Cup winner Tom Chorske. Chorske spent five seasons in New Jersey and won a Cup with the organization in 1995. He's currently a TV analyst for the Minnesota Wild. [The Hockey Writers]

• Finally, Eddie Lack, Kevin Bieksa, and Fin of the Vancouver Canucks get ready for a roller coaster season by ... riding a roller coaster (heyoooooo)! [YouTube]