Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading while admiring the rock star offseason that the NBA is enjoying right now. Wow.
*FOH (Friend of Haggs) Dan Rosen says that the Arizona Coyotes made the right decision not to re-sign Shane Doan for another season. I don’t know if I agree. It might have been a good decision for the hockey operations department, but I’m not sure that handling it the way that they did was the right move. Why not sign him this season to a reasonable one-year deal, explain to him he'll probably be traded at the deadline and allow him a last stretch as a member of the Coyotes where he knows it’s coming to an end? This feels like they pulled the rug out from under the greatest player in the history of their franchise and their longtime captain. Players pay attention to how organizations treat those guys and a face-to-face “You’re Fired!” session isn’t really good enough in that case.
*Here’s how the NHL expansion draft is expected to impact each of the Canadian markets as they brace for tomorrow’s event.
*A great goodbye gesture from Marc-Andre Fleury, who opens a state-of-the-art playground in Pittsburgh just as he’s likely to be leaving the city.
*Oh, to be a reporter in Las Vegas doing “man on the street” interviews to get an idea of how much anticipation there is for the Golden Knights.
*Speaking of Vegas, PHT writer and FOH (Friend of Haggs) Jason Brough has GM George McPhee telling reporters that he thinks his hockey club is “going to be good” in Year 1. I guess we’ll see about that.
*It appears that the New York Islanders are one of a handful of teams that have deals in place with Vegas to steer them clear of some of their prospects and roster players.
Boston Bruins
*Are the Colorado Avalanche zeroing in on UMass-bound defenseman Cale Makar as we ready for the NHL draft this weekend.
*For something completely different: Former Patriots offensive lineman Ryan O’Callaghan has come out as a gay man, and his story is the kind that certainly helps everybody understand the social pressure that closeted pro athletes must feel. It’s a good thing that whole dynamic continues to evolve and improve with the help of organizations like “You Can Play.”