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.
• We've been teased by labor peace between the NHL and the KHL before, but it appears in the case of Jiri Hudler and the Detroit Red Wings that the Russians will honor an arbitrator's decision on Hudler before filing his contract with Dinamo Moscow. [Slap Shot]
• Bangin' Panger has the latest round in the NHL television wars, taking sides with Versus and claiming that NBC is simply promoting the same teams over and over again. This is not the way to get invited to Pierre McGuire's holiday party, sir. [Bangin' Panger]
• Judging from the headline, not sure if George James Malik is digging the whole NBC thing for the League: "NHL to continue to bend playoff schedule into pretzels for NBC." [Snapshots]
• Along with others like Shaone Morrisonn, defenseman Jeff Schultz re-signs with the Washington Capitals after some momentary confusion that may have had some wondering if Dale Tallon was interning in the team offices. [Capitals Insider]
• Speaking of Tallon, the transcript of his chat with the media is here, including his thoughts on Marty Havlat's strong words: "I don't read Twitter, but the contract negotiations go on between every player and myself." Also, Marc Bergevin goes from assistant coach to Director of Player Personnel. [NHL]
Sports
• Eric Duhatschek reports on Tallon's presser, inferring on several occasions that the former GM sounded robotic and canned with his answers. [Globe & Mail]
• Alex Tanguay is talking to the New York Islanders. Literally. [NYI Point Blank]
• Calgary Flames president: "I can haz outdoor gamez LOL?" [Sun Media]
• Gary Bettman claims that the NHL has stolen college football's thunder on New Year's Day. Does the Winter Classic also have a parade of fancy floats made entirely of flora that we somehow missed? (BTW: A Tournament of Winter Classic parade would be all kinds of awesome, with floats made of snow. Or beer. Or snow with beer in it. Wait, that'd be yellow snow. Never mind.) [Original Six Hockey]
• Can Carter Ashton be considered an NHL-ready prospect for the Tampa Bay Lightning when he looks like he should be on a Disney Channel sitcom? [Joe Bolts Fan]
• All due respect to the ultra-competitive and feisty Scott Nichol, but when exactly do the San Jose Sharks start making dramatic changes this offseason? [Mercury News]
• Attention scalpers: The Pittsburgh Penguins will once again cap their season ticket base at 14,000 fans. [The Confluence]
• The Carolina Hurricanes sign former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Andrew Alberts to a two-year, $2.1 million deal. [Philly.com]
• Speaking of those two franchises, Keith Primeau has been named Special Assistant to the General Manager/Director of Player Development for the Las Vegas Wranglers. Rick Tocchet = hella jealous. [Wranglers]
• Thanks to the dozen or so of you who sent in the note that Puck Daddy approved pugilist Jon Mirasty has been inked by the Columbus Blue Jackets. [Puck-rakers]
• BD Gallof checks out the options for the New York Islanders, including a run at Phil Kessel. [Islanders Independent]
• This is the Frank S. take on the Chicago mess. Clever, sir. Thanks.
• The Atlanta Thrashers sign Colby Armstrong to a deal (no terms yet) and RFA Kari Lehtonen to a 1-year, $3 million contract, ensuring at the moment that they'll have a three-headed goalie controversy until Lehtonen inevitably gets injured. [Bird Watchers Anonymous]
• Mike Sullivan finally joins the New York Rangers as John Tortorella's right hand man. [Blueshirt Banter]
• The Colorado Avalanche have signed Matt Duchene to an entry-level contract. [Avs]
• The Puck Stops Here makes the case that a player skipping the all-star game in baseball because his wife is having complications in her pregnancy is somehow relatable to the Detroit Red Wings quasi-suspensions in the NHL last season. [Puck Stops Here]
• The Vancouver Canucks ownership situation has sussed itself out. [Nucks Misconduct]
• Finally, it's been much too long since we had a midget-level hockey fight here. (Didn't hear any NSFW language, but be wary.)
