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.
• Cool stuff from NHL.com, making Pavel Datsyuk’s end-to-end goal look sorta like NHL ’94. But c’mon, no star under the skates?
• Centering Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton tonight for the Boston Bruins? Ryan Spooner! [Bruins Blog]
• Braden Holtby isn’t happy with the Washington Capitals’ intensity, and hopes Brooks Laich increases it: “The main part, hopefully, it helps our intensity. We haven’t been even close to intense enough this year,” goaltender Braden Holtby said when asked about the impact of Laich’s return. “And a guy like him, he brings it every day and I hope he can be a big leader on this team because right now we need it.” [Washington Post]
• No Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang against the Capitals tonight for the Pittsburgh Penguins. [CP]
• Rory Boylen on Corey Perry's contract and the Ducks as contenders: "But are they really a top team or are they not quite as they appear? Granted, the Ducks have a fair amount of star power, but it’s all up front with lingering concerns on defense and around consistency in the crease. While the Ducks are a playoff team and a tough squad to deal with, their .727 winning percentage when trailing after one period and .667 percentage when trailing after two screams of a second half decline. And considering they were a bottom-rung lottery team a year ago, you still have to question where they truly sit in the NHL hierarchy." [THN]
• In case you missed it, here’s how Corey Perry’s contract breaks down. [ESPN]
• What does Perry’s contract mean for Evgeni Malkin’s next deal? “At the end of the day, the choice is Malkin’s. When you have a superstar in his prime, he calls the shots on the contract. He did last time when he signed the identical second contract as Crosby did ($8.7 million for five years) and he will hold the cards this time too. Given that Malkin can’t sign the same contract that Crosby can under the new CBA, Malkin definitely deserves to have a higher cap hit, to get his fair share of the money he’s earned.” [Pensburgh]
• The Ottawa Senators will be without Milan Michalek for a while after knee surgery. [Rotowire]
• After a scary scene, Patrick Eaves is only day-to-day for the Detroit Red Wings. [Malik Report]
• Looks like Jonathan Bernier time for the Los Angeles Kings vs. the Phoenix Coyotes. [LA Kings Insider]
• Bourne breaks down a 3-on-2 in his latest Systems Analyst. [Backhand Shelf]
• Andy McDonald is back for the St. Louis Blues. [STL Today]
• Catching up with draft bust Huge Speciman: “I think me getting to Nashville, getting to Milwaukee (AHL) was a great opportunity for me. It didn’t maybe pan out in Nashville, but at the end of the road to the NHL, when I finally got there with Florida, I realized how valuable it was getting out of New York.” [NY Hockey Journal]
• The AHL handed out suspensions for that “Brawl on the Bench” between Chicago and Rockford. [Hockey Fights]
• Ryan Kennedy on the NHL’s next wave of talent. [THN]
• Finally, Ducks fans have been asking if this Joe Thornton “head shot” should get him suspended. Frankly we’re not sure it’s a head shot, but take a gander: