Grand Rapids wins Calder Cup; Predators reveal injuries; Cunningham's story (Puck Headlines)
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. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com.
• Congrats to the Grand Rapids Griffins on winning the 2017 Calder Cup! [AHL]
• NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly held a conference call with the league’s general managers on Tuesday to answer any final questions regarding the expansion draft. He also reportedly told them not to leak any deals they make with the Vegas Golden Knights before next Wednesday. Good luck with that! [TSN]
• The Nashville Predators are holding locker clean out day today and we’re learning of the injuries they battled through, like James Neal’s broken hand and Colin Wilson’s bum hamstring. [Tennessean]
• Yannick Weber will be back with the Predators after signing a one-year extension. [Predators]
• Good read on how Predators broadcaster Brent Peterson turned down the Calgary Flames head coaching job in 2000, which may have saved his life. [Calgary Sun]
• New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein is thinking of retiring from the NHL to pursue hockey opportunities in Europe. [NY Post]
• Don’t expect Dion Phaneuf to waive his no-move clause in order to be exposed for the expansion draft. [Ottawa Citizen]
• Doesn’t sound like the New Jersey Devils will trade the first pick. It’s Nico or Nolan for Ray Shero. [NHL.com]
• The Florida Panthers have promoted former NHLer Bryan McCabe to Director of Player Personnel. [Panthers]
• Matt Greene has been activated from injured reserve as the Los Angeles Kings prepare to buy out the final year of his contract. [LA Kings Insider]
• On three-time Stanley Cup champion Stan Bowman: “The Blackhawks had all the assets to become the salary cap era’s unquestioned dynasty. Unfortunately for Chicago, Bowman has mismanaged those assets.” [FanRag Sports]
• How Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock could be in play for the New York Islanders this summer. [Isles Beat]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins will take the last spot currently open on the Stanley Cup, which means the ring featuring the names of Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull will be removed for next year’s champions. [Greatest Hockey Legends]
• Is it possible for rounds 2-7 of the NHL draft to be considered “weak?” [Maple Leaf Hot Stove]
• Darius Kasparaitis and Andrei Nikolishin will help new Edinburgh Capitals head coach Dmitri Khristich in recruiting players for the EIHL side. [Elite League]
• Here are the top 200 fantasy hockey prospect forwards. [Dobber Hockey]
• Finally, here’s the Craig Cunningham story, as told by ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi:
