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
• It took us a minute to figure out what it was we were looking at here, but this actually a bedazzled, handcrafted Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup hat. Wow, that's quite an effort. We've often said the Stanley Cup Final in Vancouver is a lot like the Kentucky Derby, what with the fancy hats and the smell of horse[expletive] rising from Tony Gallagher's conspiracy theory columns.
• We have our political wager for the Cup Final! Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has wagered New England clam chowder on the Boston Bruins and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has anted up British Columbia smoked salmon on the Vancouver Canucks. And here we figured it'd be Sam Adams and weed. [Patriot Ledger]
• The Make Way for Ducklings statue and statue of George Washington in Boston are decked out in Bruins attire in Boston. [WCVB]
• No Manny Malhotra in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but the Canucks could still come out to a flying start. [White Towel]
• Who knew the Boston Bruins Bear ads would inspire more fan-created greatness than the NHL's second batch of "History Will Be Made" commercials? [Days of Y'Orr]
• An epic tale of Vancouver Canucks fans' journey to see them play in San Jose that involves women and near-death experiences and is one drug-dealing monkey away from being "The Hangover Part 3." Great stuff from Deadspin. [Deadspin]
• Blake Wheeler on his Thrashers moving to Winnipeg: "Guys with families and homes in Atlanta are bummed because they have to completely uproot and move, but from a hockey perspective everyone is excited about the opportunity." [Globe & Mail]
• How radical should the NHL's realignment get? [Canes Country]
• Eric Duhatschek on the resignation of Colin Campbell: "In my view, Campbell's integrity is unimpeachable, but eventually the optics of being the head of discipline in a league where his son had a prominent role this season became too difficult to ignore." [Globe & Mail]
• Predictably, lists of Campbell's greatest misses are being complied in his honor. Here's your chance to see Marc Savard get knocked out one more time. [Houses of the Hockey]
• The richest man in Canada and new co-owners of the still-Thrashers believes "the Jets is a fine name" for a hockey team. For what it's worth. [Free Press]
• Florida Panthers Executive Vice President & General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that Kevin Dineen has been named the 11th head coach in the club's history. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Kevin Dineen to the Florida Panthers organization," said Tallon. "Kevin brings to our organization more than 25 years of playing and coaching experience. He played in more than 1,100 National Hockey League games and is one of only seven players in the league's history to score more than 350 goals, while registering more than 2,000 penalty minutes."
• Thrashers GM Rick Dudley is boys with True North Sports and Entertainment co-owner Mark Chipman, and expects to be a part of the new team in Winnipeg. [National Post]
• You can purchase the game puck from the last Atlanta Thrashers' win in the NHL. No, it's not from February, you jerks. [eBay]
• Is Atlanta a Triple-A sports town without the Thrashers? [AJC]
• The Philadelphia Flyers will really, really miss the Atlanta Thrashers. [700 Level]
• Clever song in tribute to Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas. But the vocals … we'd rather hear Neil Young sing Katy Perry.
• The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the title addition of Chief Executive Officer to Team President John McDonough. Where does he go from here? Supreme Chancellor? Lord of the Underverse? [Blackhawks]
• It's the 11th hour for the Calgary Flames to sign Tim Erixon and things are looking bleak. [Matchsticks and Gasoline]
• In praise of the ageless Mark Recchi, M.D. [NY Times]
• Howard Berger is over, done at Fan 590. [PPP]
• Alright, for real: Someone needs to step their ass up and save the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. We're looking at you, Anson Carter. [Shreveport Times]
• The Washington Capitals have signed free agent center Mattias Sjogren to a two-year entry-level, after he spent last season with Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. The big news: His agent is Claude Lemieux. Negotiations must be fun: Claude surprises the GM with an offer and then turtles when the GM retaliates. [Japers Rink]
• Barstool's Boston/Vancouver breakdown. [Barstool]
• Finally, the Chicago Blackhawks are not playing for the Stanley Cup. But they are using an exercise ball in this new Reebok spot. Gonna fly now!