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.
• Alexei Kovalev tosses on his No. 27 Ottawa Senators jersey and comes to the immediate realization that winning games while wearing that jersey might be easier if Dany Heatley is also wearing one. While one might think the guy who demanded a trade might have the responsibility to make that happen, Kovalev said it's on the media, actually: "If you make it more comfortable for him, I'm sure he'd have no problem to stay." Sure thing, newbie. [Sun Media]
• Regarding Kovy's former team, the Montreal Canadiens: Tomas Plekanec avoids salary arbitration with to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million. [TSN]
• Blueshirt Banter plays a little fantasy GM, playing off the idea that Brad Richards of the Dallas Stars and his elephantine salary could be headed to Broadway: "Sure Richards is a Torts favorite and he would be a nice fit with Marian Gaborik, but it's a bad idea. Acquiring Richards spits in the face of the Rangers NY style youth movement. Brandon Dubinsky deserves a shot at pivoting Gabs, he should be given the opportunity for good of the organization." [Blueshirt Banter]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins sign goalie Brent Johnson from the Capitals for a one-year deal; great pickup, provided the hip holds up. Varlamov for backup or starter? [Penguins]
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC on Ilya Kovalchuk and the hard sell with the Atlanta Thrashers: "The belief is, it's going to take far more than his own contract to get him to sign. He's going to have to be convinced that ownership and Waddell are committed to building a winner." [AJC]
Sports
• Afrogator sighted at LPGA event! [Winging It]
• The Devils and Travis Zajac are likely headed to arbitration. This will end well. [Star Ledger]
• Kevin Weekes doesn't believe he'll be picking up pastry crumbs for backing up Martin Brodeur next season with the New Jersey Devils. [Fire & Ice]
• Speaking of Brodeur, he gets the NHLPA's back in its dispute with the Olympic orientation camps insurance issue; Rick Nash and Joe Thornton, not so much. [CTV]
• Clarke MacArthur and Andrej Sekera sign with the Buffalo Sabres, with MacArthur avoiding arbitration. [Die By The Blade]
• Look, maybe you think new Montreal Canadiens goalie Curtis Sanford is an insignificant player in a significant position. But know this: He shares a birthday with Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy. Booyah. [Canadiens]
• The Edmonton Oilers have signed restricted free agent defenseman Denis Grebeshkov to a one-year contract worth $3.15 million. [TSN]
• Oilers GM Steve Tambellini is taking some grief for the team's offseason; Lowetide reminds fans that nothing the Oilers do or don't do will compare with the hellish Summer of 2006. [Lowetide]
• NHL 10 has been getting the headlines; please to be remembering that NHL 2K10 has itself Alexander Ovechkin as a cover boy, which means plenty of the above. Now what's the button combo for the Phoenix goal? [First Cuts]
• Speaking of Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals personalized license plate thing in DC is getting out of hand. [MYFO]
• John Grigg of The Hockey News is wondering what the San Jose Sharks are going to do to change the culture of their team. Here's the thing: Maybe the changes that need to be made are of the blowing up the team variety, and maybe that's just not something Doug Wilson's ready to do. [THN]
• Sidney Crosby's speed-bag signs a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Thrashers. [Thrash]
• The New York Times reports that the 2010 IIHF World Championship could begin with a new record for hockey attendance: The opener is scheduled for the 76,000-seat Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen between hosts Germany and the U.S. C'mon NHL: Winter Classic, Beaver Stadium. Make it so. [Slap Shot]
• Quebec City wants to be an NHL city again. How cute. [Slam Sports]
• Finally, some people like this circus act, so here are the top 10 shootout goals:
