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.
• J.S. Giguere's new goalie mask. It's subtle, but see if you can guess which team he's playing for next season. [InGoal Magazine, via 25Stanley]
• Dan Carcillo continues his series of shoot interviews as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. After targeting members (well, one current member) of the Vancouver Canucks in his introductory press conference, Carcillo was asked about his feelings regarding the Philadelphia media by the Chicago Sun-Times: "Yeah. It's ridiculous. . . . If you lose, people look for excuses, and they nitpick. They make stories out of nothing. It's unfortunate. That's just the way it is. It's kind of their culture. People are kind of outspoken and rude." [Sun-Times, Broad Street Hockey]
• Bill Daly of the NHL on the New York Islanders' "brawl party": "We do not approve of the use, based on what we know." [USA Today]
• Did you know 19 out of 30 NHL general managers were primarily hockey players before becoming suits? [Copper and Blue]
• Alex Ovechkin? Inside a vodka club? Well that doesn't seem like him … [Alex Ovetjkin]
• Mike Brophy on Zach Bogosian of the Winnipeg Jets: "A good source in Atlanta suggested Bogosian's play was hampered by the fact that he was replaced on the power play by newcomer Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom. Both of those players are very likely to man the point on the power play moving forward as the franchise attempts to establish itself in Winnipeg which means Bogosian will have trouble putting up the type of numbers he did in his first two years in the league. That in itself may affect his desire to sign long-term with the team." [Sportsnet]
• One of Rick Rypien's teammates said the late Jets forward "was definitely the happiest I'd even seen him" when the two signed with Winnipeg. [CP]
• NHL players remember Rick Rypien. [Eye On Hockey]
• Harrison Mooney on Rypien's legacy: "Rypien will be given the "former Canuck" label in all formal media reports because he signed with the Winnipeg Jets just under a month and a half ago, but that's not right. The Vancouver Canucks were the only NHL team he ever suited up for. As far as I'm concerned, Rypien died a Canuck. Mind you, it doesn't matter who he plays for, because this has nothing to do with hockey. Sometimes we forget that these athletes, skilful, fit and practiced though they may be, are just people — that they struggle with the same problems as anybody, that they're just as fragile, just as human. It's absolutely devastating to be reminded in such a sickening fashion. Rick Rypien will be missed and mourned." [PITB]
• From 1998, ESPN presents mullets against drugs. [YouTube]
• Looking at the new Madison Square Garden, from the design to the ticket prices. [The Good Point]
• A bit of satire about the New York Islanders' viewing party of the Penguins brawl game. [Lighthouse Hockey]
• Here's a 9-year-old being better at life than Wyshynski scoring a 'Michigan goal.'
• What CORSI tells us about Zenon Konopka: "Konopka has the third worst team and zone adjusted Corsi rating on the New York Islanders in 2010/11. Matt Martin and Milan Jurcina are worse. These numbers show that Konopka is an acceptable NHL player who played a tough role for the Islanders. He is no world beater, but he is NHL caliber." [Puck Stops Here]
• Lowetide on Cam Barker and the Edmonton Oilers: "This fall is serious business for Cam Barker. A good season could mean a long term contract and real security for a young man trying to get back; a poor season could mean a trip to the minors or Europe in order to re-set his career and earn another chance in the NHL." [Lowetide]
• Patrick White came to the San Jose Sharks in the Christian Ehrhoff trade, but it appears as though he's not going to remain a Shark. [Fear The Fin]
• The Washington Capitals are using an alumni All-Star Game to help push tickets for their fan convention. [Capitals Insider]
• Looking back at some of the worst ways to promote hockey, including another dance around the dog poo that was (is) the NHL Guardian Project. [HOTH]
• Prepare to sing along with "Mony Mony" and "Don't Bring Me Down" during NHL 12. [EA Sports]
• Finally, gather 'round kids and hear the man who helped give the world Wayne Gretzky (still the best assist by a Gretzky ever) sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider":