Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading, while glad I got to skip the Fred Compliment Combine.
*The Florida Panthers were the team where Brandon Pirri had some of his best success in the NHL, and they’re looking for more of that while giving him a PTO for training camp. Pirri is among a slew of veterans agreeing to tryout deals this summer.
*The Vancouver Canucks are among a number of teams still keeping a light on for veteran winger Thomas Vanek, who has yet to sign a contract with any team. It’s a little surprising that a player of Vanek’s production level is still without a team, but he’s a big, slower, skilled body in a league going for faster and sleeker. Could the Bruins be interested in a player like Vanek? It’s possible if he came to camp on a tryout, but I really think the B’s are committed to looking at their young forwards before going the veteran route.
*Pride of Melrose, Mass., Conor Sheary, shared his day with the Stanley Cup among a group of locals that have supported him in his career.
*PHT has the details on legendary Shane Doan retiring after 21 seasons of stellar NHL player for the Arizona Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets. Doan is one of a number of veteran players that didn’t end up signing this summer and it will be interesting to see if he possibly finishes up his career by playing in the Olympics for Team Canada this winter. Four hundred-plus goals and almost 1,000 points with his notoriously rugged style is quite a body of work.
*The Calgary Flames may be going young with their bottom pairing defensemen this season, and that’s not a big surprise given some of the big names on their back end.
*Puck Daddy has some interesting details on hockey becoming a surprisingly popular sport in the Philippines.
Boston Bruins
*For something completely different: It’s awful what’s going on in Texas, so here’s a link to the Red Cross, where you can donate to help with all the efforts to help those people affected. Thoughts and prayers are with all of them.