Welcome once again to Hockey Hugs, the Puck Daddy feature that will warm you from the inside, like a cup of cocoa after a day in the cold. Or spontaneous combustion.
I mean, who could dislike the scene happening above? That's some touching dude-love going on up there. To anyone concerned about whether or not Brad Richards would fit in on the Rangers -- looks like he's made a fast friend in Brandon Dubinsky.
Great form on the leaping superhug, too. Duby's got both his legs tucked back in Kessel-esque fashion, and Richards appears to be lifting with his knees, not with his back. Think they practice this? We'll find out on 24/7 Rangers Flyers.
On the flipside, here's an example of shakier form, as Florida Panthers' assistant coach Craig Ramsay puts a quick squeeze on Stephen Weiss from behind.
Weiss seems less than into it. Hugging tip: it's always a good idea to check with the intended huggee for some sort of consent.
We've got plenty more examples of good and bad hugging practices in our countdown of the best five hugs of the past two weeks.
No. 5: Tampa Bay Lightning
Here's an example of especially bad form. Some people don't realize that there's an art to hugging. You take both arms, you wrap them around the target, and you press in. You don't take your sweaty glove and cram it into Ryan Malone's eye. That's just bad form.
Or maybe Kubina really wants to be the next one to hug Steven Stamkos? I could buy that. After last week's hug, it's clear that, when it comes to man-snuggles, Stamkos is boss.
No. 4: Philadelphia Flyers
After all, when you want to hug someone, you can't Jakub Voracek stand in your way. As you can see here, Scott Hartnell appears to have a soft spot for Andreas Lilja. It's in his arms.
Get out of the way, Jakub... Andreas is coming.
No. 3: Columbus Blue Jackets
Some hugs are private affairs. Others are very, very public, such as this fabulous embrace between R.J. "Loveburger" Umberger and Mark "Love to the Rescue" Letestu. We love each other!
Meanwhile, the fans are decidedly not into this PDF (that's "public declaration of friendship). Check out the guy just above them. He simply does not approve of this level of male-on-male contact.
No. 2: Nashville Predators
I love this hug because it tells a story. A story in which Mike Fisher awkwardly approaches a embrace to which he's clearly not invited. Check out the look on Martin Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn's faces. They're completely disheartened to see him. Maybe he smells?
Oh... listen Mike, this is sort of private.
No. 1: Buffalo Sabres
But the best hug of the past two weeks is this joyous embrace between Patrick Kaleta and netminder Jhonas Enroth. I haven't seen a hug with this much emotion since Shadow runs into Peter's arms at the end of "Homeward Bound."
People keep saying the Buffalo Sabres are soft. As far as I'm concerned, this photo is proof that, sometimes, that's okay.