Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading after the glorious sight of Tom Brady throwing passes in a game on an NFL field Thursday night. Imagine that.
*The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Jacques Lemaire as assistant coach on Mike Babcock’s staff in a further reunion of former New Jersey Devils architects.
*Everything you’d always want to know from a legal perspective about Mike Richards, and the NHLPA grieving his termination by the Los Angeles Kings.
*In this month’s New England Hockey Journal, I looked at the classy way that Milan Lucic and the Bruins ended their relationship. It’s a rarity in this day and age that a pro athlete of Lucic’s stature can leave Boston on such good terms.
*Speaking of the Bruins, Pro Hockey Talk has a poll asking if the Stanley Cup window has closed on this current edition of the B’s. I would definitively say “yes” to that one, and that they will be hard-pressed to even make the playoffs as currently constituted. They will be more entertaining to watch and will play a tougher brand of hockey, but many teams in the East have improved greatly from last season as well.
*There are plenty of concussion questions about Ryane Clowe and the New Jersey Devils, and his long layoff working against him.
*The Edmonton Oilers hope that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is bracing for a breakout season along with the rest of the Oil hockey club.
Boston Bruins
*Sami Salo is retiring from the NHL, and leaving behind an impressive body of work with the Vancouver Canucks.
For something completely different: This is outstanding...welcome to the CSNNE family Fred, Rich, Jon, Adolfo, Dan and the rest of the Toucher and Rich show.