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.
• We're well overdue for a new Bruins Bear commercial, but the Boston Bruins playoff billboards around the arena are certainly helping to tide us over. [@HackswithHaggs]
• What kind of impact are the Boston Bruins making with local fans? Here's a bit on ticket prices and which player jersey/shirt the retailers can't keep in stock. (Hint: Max Pacioretty thinks this player won the competition by a nose.) [Boston Herald]
• Bruins center David Krejci addresses Pierre McGuire's rather absurd notion expressed on VERSUS on Thursday night that he is "Boston's version of Pavel Datsyuk." Said Krejci: "I think he's a little different player than I am." [Big Bad Blog]
• Sidney Crosby update: No workouts for the Pittsburgh Penguins star, but doctors remain optimistic about his recovery from the concussion. [Post Gazette]
• Great piece by Ian Walker on the Making of Ryan Kesler, talking to his father and his college coach about his growth as a player and a man. [Vancouver Sun]
• Mr. Plank offers his take on the Canucks and Sharks in the West finals. [Fear The Fin]
• Henrik Sedin on the matchup with the Sharks: "I think our team fits this style of play with the way our defence moves the puck. You don't have to be the fastest skaters to play fast. You have to be able to move the puck and know where to move the puck when you get it. We showed we can win in different ways. We showed we can play against Chicago. We showed we can play against Nashville." [Province]
• What exactly did Jeremy Roenick do wrong in his critique of San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau? [Hockey Wilderness]
• Kevin Allen of USA Today on the NHL, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg: "The ownership situation in Atlanta hasn't been ideal by any definition, particularly when you consider a lawsuit had to be filed to settle an ownership dispute. But this group has paid its bills. Clearly the group wants out now. But considering how much time, effort and cash went into saving the Coyotes, it will seem like a rush job if the Thrashers are moved this summer." [USA Today]
• The Octopus-chucker who was given a $500 fine was due to have his day in court. [Malik Report]
• Ed Snider wants the Philadelphia Flyers and their 35 cents of cap space to find a goalie. Here are some of the best options, some of whom will cost free-agent millions and some of which will cost talent on the trade market. [Sporting News]
• Remember the conference semifinals? Bro Bible does. Here are the top saves, hits and goals of the NHL's second playoff round. Pekka Rinne, FTW. [Bro Bible]
• Ken Hitchcock is ready to coach in the NHL again. Will it be the New Jersey Devils? And if so, will he snark on Ilya Kovalchuk in the media like he did while coaching Team Canada at Worlds? [CP]
• All the experts are saying Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be our No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft. [NHL.com]
• "Hawks' owners prepare to sell Thrashers for Canadian move." [Examiner]
• "Thrashers Staying in Atlanta for Now." [FOX Sports South]
• One Atlanta columnist pleased the city won't go the Glendale route to keep the team, and bids the Thrashers farewell should they relocate. [AJC]
• Can we just point out how infinitely silly it is for a story on NHL.com about the 2012 Winter Classic between the Flyers and Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on Jan. 2 to be attributed to "reports"? You're the official news apparatus — and PR delivery system — of the National Hockey League, and you're writing things like "if the reports are accurate." Hey, crazy idea: Tell us if they are! [NHL.com]
• Houses of the Hockey on the Philly Winter Classic: "This repetition of teams is starting to get old. Plus, you just know that the game will come to Washington sooner than later too, so there's some more repetition. Even the Heritage Classic has this problem as the Habs have played in both Canadian outdoor games. The league seems content with trotting out the same few teams every year and expecting people to care. Well, at least it's not the Penguins." [HOTH]
• The 6th Sens published the logo on the left as potentially the shield for the Ottawa Senators' "heritage jersey" next season. Icethetics, your home for all things future jersey releases, debunks this accordingly: "Arial font? Really? Hello, red flag. Show me a designer who would use Arial in a major sports team identity and I'll show you a hack. Plus, it's clear from the photo that the text is not set in Arial." [Icethetics]
• Retro fun with Tim Thomas and Marty St. Louis at the University of Vermont. [NESN]
• Your 2011 Kelly Cup preview. [ECHL]
• The end of Jamie McLennan with the Calgary Flames. [Flames]
• The Buffalo Sabres are going to increase their payroll by 15 percent. And hey, fans are only going to have to pay 5 percent more for tickets! [Die By The Blade]
• The Montreal Canadiens sign Swiss defenseman Raphael Diaz. The notion of a Raphael Diaz and a Scott Gomez on the same power play made us start singing "Ole!" this morning. [Habs]
• What now for Mike Modano, who was a scratch for Game 7 as the Detroit Red Wings were eliminated? From Defending Big D: "We'll be hoping for a Dallas Stars contract for Mr. Modano; A contract of the one-day variety and a press conference sometime in July (or sooner) announcing the end of an inspiring, stellar career and the return home of Stars' fans favorite son. (Or if you like, the father of hockey in North Texas)." [DBD, and Heika]
• Will Teemu Selanne come back for another season with the Anaheim Ducks? "I have no idea. … I try to almost avoid that thinking because it's still not stable. But I have to be honest. I've had a lot of fun this year. It's going to be a tough decision." [OC Register]
• Finally, here the top-10 goals scored at worlds, via the NHL: