Here are your Evening 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.
• ESPN "content guru" John Skipper says that the WWL will commit to more live sports coverage and fewer scripted shows, reality shows and original movies. According to Media Week, "reclaiming the National Hockey League is also on his to-do list. The NHL is slated to run on Versus through the 2010-2011 season." Wait, the NHL isn't scripted? [Media Week]
• Remember our question about Sergei Gonchar's status for the rest of the season? According to ESPN, the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is going to miss 4-6 months due to surgery on his dislocated shoulder. Either way, that would in theory make him available to Zubov his way back for the postseason. [ESPN]
• The most unintentionally hilarious thing we've heard all day: Former NHLer Zdeno Ciger left the Tampa Bay Lightning because John Tortorella used to give him panic attacks. [Lightning Strikes]
• The latest on Nikolai Khabibulin: "If he does clear waivers, the Hawks could send him to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and also be clear of his salary. [GM] Tallon is also likely working to trade Khabibulin." [Chicago Tribune]
• NHLPA chief Paul Kelly notes that the divide between rich and poor has become sickening; names Barack Obama as VP of Hope and Rainbows. (Kidding.) Kelly is starting his fall tour of locker rooms, and revenue sharing is going to be a hot topic. [CP]
• Sidney Crosby is enjoying the fact that no one recognizes him in Sweden. They must have Versus, too. [NHL]
• Austin Kent from a new hockey blog called The Good Point talks with super prospect John Tavares about Stefan Legein quitting hockey, whether his mother is his agent and wearing No. 91. Good stuff. [The Good Point]
• Rod Brind'Amour injures his recently reconstructed knee in a "fun run." Are we going to find out that Justin Williams got jacked up in sack race next? [Lord Stanley's Blog, via Carolina on Ice]
• How Canada is using hockey to subvert the American economy in an effort to one day move its population to sunny climates and ship U.S. citizens to the Yukon. You know, this theory doesn't exactly have the sturdiest premise ... [Big Noel]
• The ECHL adopts Rick Nash's least favorite rule: The puck over the glass delay of game penalty for non-goalie defensive players. [ECHL]
• The New York Islanders claim Tomas Pock from the Rangers. So it's gotten to the point where they're taking chances on Blueshirt never-wuzzes. [Beyond the Blueshirts]
• The Hockey East coaches' poll is out. Boston College is No. 1, Boston University is No. 2. Commence loud arguments with siblings at local bars, Beantown. [Projo Sports]
• It seemed that Jason Ward, David Koci and Michel Ouellet were on the bubble for the Lightning last week. Well, it burst today for Ouellet. [Lightning Strikes]
• Finally, what if Wayne Gretzky and Rocket Richard played on the same team?
