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.
• From one of our new favorite people, ChicagoNativeSon.
• Vancouver Canucks right wing Mikael Samuelsson underwent surgery Thursday to repair an adductor tendon and sports hernia. The team announced he would be out of the lineup indefinitely. [NHL]
• In case you haven't heard, the HUGE sports media news of the day is that Dick Ebersol is leaving NBC Sports after 22 years because of a contract dispute. Mark Lazarus takes over. Now things get really interesting for the 2014 Olympic bid. [Fourth Place Medal]
• Eric Lindros talks about the psychological damage he suffered while skating with his head down being concussed on multiple occasions in the NHL. [Macleans]
• Congrats to the NHL for winning Sports League of the Year. [Puck The Media]
• On the Edmonton Oilers arena deal framework that was announced on Wednesday night: "There are holes in the funding still, there is much work to do in every area, whether it's design, timing, funding from the provincial and/or federal government." [Edmonton Journal]
• Great post by Botta on the New York Islanders and what the heck they're going to do with Evgeni Nabokov: "This is a team with a goal of making the playoffs. Nabokov could end up being a lot more valuable to the Islanders as a goalie than as a trade chip." [NYI Point Blank]
• Interesting take by Mike Heika on the sexiest head coaching vacancy in the NHL, which may be the Dallas Stars: "The team appears to have the choice between going even younger or using whatever financial wiggle room a new owner might bring to sign free agents or swing a trade for a big-name player that might carry a little salary with him." [Dallas Stars Blog]
• Why the notion of trading Mike Green to "shake up" the Washington Capitals is a silly one. [Japers' Rink]
• Adam Proteau believes Game 3 of the conference finals is the definitive moment for the San Jose Sharks: "This is a make-or-break moment — the make-or-break moment — for the Sharks. We'll see whether they're truly kings of the sea or fodder for opponents that truly understand how to seize the moment in their teeth and never let it go." [THN]
• And you will know the name of Marc-Andre Gragnani! [Die By The Blade]
• Further exploration of hockey's growth in the Southern U.S., and how that growth will be affected if there's relocation. [United States of Hockey]
• Looking at the exchange rates and how they affect NHL expansion. [Behind The Net]
• On the future of Brooks Laich with the Washington Capitals ... and, maybe, the Toronto Maple Leafs. [Hockey Independent]
• The Detroit Red Wings today announced that Assistant Coach Brad McCrimmon will not return to the club for next season. McCrimmon's contract expired at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season and the former Red Wing player and long-time NHL assistant has decided to pursue other career opportunities.
• Sadly fold your red and blue glasses and put them away. CBC is not doing 3D coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals this season. [CP]
• From Ben Eager of the San Jose Sharks' Wikipedia page. Nice. (s/t to Eric MacKenzie)
• Claude Lemieux dives into a new gig. [Calgary Herald]
• Why the New Jersey Devils should consider a "Coach Tasting." [Puck Update]
• It appears Freddy Modin is retiring after 14 NHL seasons, robbing someone of an overpaid fourth liner with more injuries than goals. [Too Many Men on the Site]
• We're all about the charity stuff here, so please check out this summer hike raising money for the fight against Breast Cancer that features officials from Junior hockey leagues such as the NAHL, USHL and NCAA games. [Hiking Colorado for a Cure]
• The "So You've Just Lost a Playoff Game To The Vancouver Canucks" survival guide. [Pegasus News]
• What Ben Eager may or may not have said to Roberto Luongo last night. [HOTH]
• The Colorado Avalanche are getting their own official state license plates. Dibs on "STOALVR". [Avalanche]
• Here is the History Will Be Made for the Sedin Twins. We want to believe the tag line has something to do with boobs.
