Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading while we’re getting to the funny part of the season for negotiations and hockey rumors.
*In the interest of self-promotion, here’s my hit with CSN New England’s Boston Sports Tonight on Monday night talking David Pastrnak’s contract negotiations and trade rumors. The bottom line is that Pastrnak isn’t going anywhere.
*In a double-dose, here’s FOH (Friend of Haggs) Mike Felger completely not trusting Don Sweeney to get good value if he were to ever trade David Pastrnak. Once again Bruins fans…I assure you that Pastrnak is going nowhere.
*Interesting study from Travis Yost about which players are best at getting close to the net, paying the price and reaping the quality chances that arise because of that skill.
Boston Bruins
*The Boston Bruins continue to be linked to Will Butcher once he officially becomes a free agent defenseman, but I just don’t see it with the B’s in any way, shape or form. He’s going to get stuck among a glut of good, young D-men and the B’s already have this type of defenseman in the form of Torey Krug. They don’t need another one.
*A number of rumors from around the NHL including just how comparable Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak are, and how the negotiations for the two players are linked together.
*ESPN ranks the NHL teams in term of their prospect pipelines, and the Bruins come in at 10th among the 31 teams. I think that’s a bit low given the wealth of top-notch prospects they have to go along with a player of star quality like Charlie McAvoy. I’d put them among the top-5 teams in the NHL right now given their wealth of strong prospects.
*Boy, that Phil Kessel is really putting some mustard on his trolling job. He must really relish his day with the Cup. Should I keep going?
*For something completely different: I’m officially at the point where I start reading anything related to Game of Thrones. Somebody please help me.