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.
• This is what the Heritage Classic will look like at McMahon Stadium in Calgary next weekend. Might want to consider plowing the parking lot at some point before or during the game. By and by the way, I'll be in Calgary for this fun. Plan accordingly. [NHL]
• OK, here come the injuries. From the Penguins: "Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL and torn MCL in his right knee, the team announced today. Malkin's rehabilitation period will take six months, and he will be ready for the start of training camp in September, general manager Ray Shero said." [Penguins]
• "The Rangers announced this afternoon that captain Chris Drury would undergo surgery on his left knee. He is expected to be out six weeks." [NorthJersey.com]
• Some rain clouds for the Calgary Flames' otherwise sunny
days: Alex Tanguay is out indefinitely with a concussion. "There is no
pin-point as to when exactly this happened however, it is thought that it
happened in the third period of Monday's win against the Blackhawks." (Update: The Flames have corrected their own report, saying he has a "neck strain.") [Flames]
• Daniel Alfredsson is out "a couple of weeks" with a lower back problem, according to the Ottawa Senators. [Slam]
• From the Islanders: "Goalie Kevin Poulin has a dislocated left knee cap which will require surgery and keep him out for the remainder of the season." [Islanders]
• The Ducks place Jonas Hiller on IR. [Ducks]
• Ian Walker writes about Ryan Getzlaf returning tonight for the Anaheim Ducks against the Vancouver Canucks, wearing a visor. Said Getzlaf: "I think you'll see a day where eventually everyone's wearing visors. ... It's hard to say how long before they grandfather it in, but we're kind of leaning towards that." [Vancouver Sun]
• Ron Wilson on the Toronto Maple Leafs picking up Joffrey Lupul: "We think that we're deep enough as an organization to give up a player like (Beauchemin), who's played well for us and who was a leader on and off the ice. We need to score more goals and giving Lupul an opportunity, he should be able to help us offensively." [Toronto Sun]
• Philadelphia Flyers brawler Jody Shelley's five rules for fighting. No. 5 is actually a nice life lesson. [Philly.com, via Clinton Williamson]
• The Canadian government could funnel millions of federal gasoline tax revenues to build "large entertainment centres" such as the proposed new Quebec City arena. The irony of course being that whatever they build will be some sort of environmentally conscious "green" arena made out of old toilet paper rolls or some such. [CBC News, via Mike G]
• Anton Volchenkov's suspension doesn't carry over to practice. [Fire & Ice]
• Adrian Dater reports that Peter Forsberg will not play against the Minnesota Wild tonight for the Colorado Avalanche, but that he could play against either or both of the Columbus Blue Jackets and/or Nashville Predators this weekend, both road games. [Denver Post]
• According to Darren Dreger, teams are calling the New York Rangers GM Glen Sather and asking about Marian Gaborik. Presumably not, "You spent how much on this guy?" [TSN]
• The OKC Barons, the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate, played a morning game for "Kid's Day" today. One problem, writes Eric Rodgers: "It was supposed to be a Kid's Day game, but schools all closed due to snow storm last night. About 300 total made it out." Pretty cool photo though, huh?
• Joe Yerdon on Matt Cooke: "Playing physical and finishing your check is fine and a great part of hockey. When going out of your way to attempt to injure players to do so is when it all goes wrong. If the NHL wants to send that message and give Cooke a stiff punishment, we're all for it. A fine or a slap on the wrist courtesy suspension isn't going to cut it anymore." [PHT]
• Interesting piece about how the NHL and media protect players like Matt Cooke: "The day NHL owners and general managers value having players like Sidney Crosby, Marc Savard, and Steven Stamkos on the ice more than the ‘element' Cooke can deliver, then things will again be in balance in the League. Only one problem, he will like get a job coaching in the O, or the AHL, or someplace where he can ‘educate' young players." [View From My Seats]
• Tough talk from Tom Benjamin on Canucks Corner: "The league wants reckless abandon and big collisions because violence sells. The league does not like the ugly incidents but it is not yet prepared to take real action to prevent them. Instead the league punishes players who cross the line and pretends the punishment will have an impact. We have learned that Colin Campbell can't prevent the inevitable with suspensions." [Canucks Corner]
• Tyler Seguin? Scratched. [ESPN Boston]
• James Neal is doubtful tonight for the Dallas Stars. [Defending Big D]
• Where is Los Angeles Kings D-man Rob Scuderi's Stanley Cup ring? "I'm not a jewelry person, so it's in a bank at home in Boston." [LA Kings Insider]
• Finally, we expect Petey will be a hot commodity in next summer's draft. Get your beak in there, Petey!