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.
• The latest All-Star Game vote totals. For goalies, James Reimer of the Toronto Maple Leafs (308,025) leads Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins (295,815); Jimmy Howard is moving up the charts with 118,405. [NHL]
• Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman probably thought a 2-year contract with a no-trade clause would have made Antti Miettinen slip through waivers. He thought wrong, as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff claimed him for the Winnipeg Jets: "It gives (head coach) Claude (Noel) a lot of versatility. He's someone who has played a lot on the power play, he's played penalty kill minutes and he's an experienced NHL player that can come into the lineup and can fit in a lot of different places." [Winnipeg Free Press]
• Dallas Stars Coach Glen Gulutzan on his team facing Brad Richards tonight: "For me it's not as much, but certainly for the guys in that locker room it is. You hope - and it usually does take place - that your players rise a little bit to a level. That's what we are hoping for tonight. We'll see what matchups they want tonight, if any, and we'll go from there. We know he's out there, we know he is a great player. Just hope our battle and compete level are higher because of that fact." [Dallas Stars Blog]
• Richards, on leaving the Stars: "We were not in the playoffs for three straight years, and we were not spending the money that six, seven, eight teams are in a tough Western Conference," Richards said. "I wanted that stability. It's nobody's fault." [NorthJersey.com]
• Oh crap: Jeff Skinner is out for the Carolina Hurricanes, and there are some concussion concerns. [Canes Now]
• Now that the Los Angeles Kings have asked for permission to speak with Darryl Sutter, it seems like it's just a question of when he'll be hired: "If the sides work out an agreement — Sutter would also have to reach a financial agreement with the Calgary Flames, in terms of the rest of his contract — Sutter could be announced as the Kings' coach this week, although it's unlikely that he would be behind the bench Thursday in Columbus. Sutter also helps tend to the family farm in Alberta and might need some time to get his personal affairs in order." [LA Kings Insider]
• Calgary Flames blogger Kent Wilson on the potential hiring of Sutter by the Kings: "I'm not sure how Darryl will adapt to coaching in the post-lock-out NHL some 6 or so years since last stepping behind the bench, but his re-surfacing in LA under ex-Sharks colleague Lombardi isn't nearly as bizarre as it would have been had someone hired him to be a general manager again." [Flames Nation]
• For those interesting, the John Steigerwald apology after last week's steroid accusations and Ryan Lambert throwdown: "It turns out that I incorrectly and unfairly wrote that Ovechkin was in some way linked to a Canadian doctor, who had been charged with trying to bring steroids over the U.S. border from Canada and had treated lots of famous athletes, including Tiger Woods. Ovechkin's name was, in fact, never linked to that doctor." [Observer-Reporter]
• Kings blogger The Mayor makes the case for Sutter: "So, for all the talk about a 'player's coach' or something similar, go back to what many of the players talked about before the season started - 'This team has the talent to win the Western Conference.' What they've shown is they need a coach to hold them accountable." [Mayor's Manor]
• Quisp on why Sutter-for-Murray isn't confusing at all: "Lombardi doesn't want to change the philosophy of the team. He wants to change how that philosophy is taught. Terry Murray is a nice guy, a teacher, a beneficent father figure. Darryl Sutter, for all of his obvious charms, is a snarling crazy person" [Jewels From The Crown]
• Head-clearing time for the San Jose Sharks. [CSN Bay Area]
• Previewing the Sharks and the Avs. [MHH]
• No Gregory Campbell for the Boston Bruins tonight; Zdeno Chara likely joins him. [ESPN Boston]
• Sheldon Kennedy spoke before Congress about child sex abuse. [The Note]
• Seriously, we're as upset about Sidney Crosby's injury relapse as anyone. But did the CP or any other outlet ever do this for David Perron, like, even once? [CP]
• How the Philadelphia Flyers are hurt without Claude Giroux. [The Checking Line]
• St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Tuesday the club has placed forward Vladimir Sobotka on Injured Reserve. Doesn't mention it's because Alex Steen hit him with the puck. [Blues]
• Another start for Ray Emery against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. The Chicago Blackhawks goaltending plot thickens. [CSN Chicago]
• Bourne breaks down a Steve Downie tally for the Lightning last night. [Backhand Shelf]
• Bizarro Game Day matchup is an interesting concept. [The Cannon]
• Thanks to Real Clear Sports for naming us one of their Top 10 blogs of 2011 (along with our buddies at Big League Stew and Ball Don't Lie). And thanks to all of you for the continued support of this silly blog. [RCS]
• Finally, things can get a little heavy in hockey at times. With that we present KITTY VS. HOCKEY TAPE.